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MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement

Introduction

Put a smile on your face and replace your upper case.

What you need

  1. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement, MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following 10 screws securing the lower case to the Air:

    • Six 2.8 mm Phillips screws.

    • Two 3.8 mm Phillips screws.

    • Two 5.4 mm Phillips screws.

  2. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Slightly lift the lower case near the vents and push it toward the rear of the computer to free the mounting tabs.

  3. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the battery connector by pulling it straight out of its socket.

  4. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following nine screws securing the battery to the Air:

    • Four 2.9 mm Phillips.

    • Four 3.8 mm Phillips.

    • One 7.2 mm Phillips.

  5. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the battery out of the Air.

  6. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • Disconnect the port hatch ribbon cable from the logic board by pulling it straight up by its black pull tab.

    • Pull the audio out ribbon cable off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

    • Use a spudger to pry the audio out ribbon cable connector board off the hard drive bracket.

  7. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the audio out cable from its socket on the port hatch ribbon cable.

  8. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • Use a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector up off the logic board.

  9. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • Use the sharp end of a spudger to de-route the microphone cable from the hard drive bracket.

    • Remove the cosmetic screw cover from the adhesive securing it to the hard drive bracket.

  10. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the four Phillips screws securing the hard drive assembly to the upper case:

    • Two 4.7 mm screws.

    • Two 3.9 mm screws.

  11. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the hard drive assembly out of the upper case.

  12. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Use the tip of a spudger to pull the fan cable connector straight away from its connector on the logic board.

  13. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 2

    • Use the tip of a spudger to move the cosmetic fan cover aside.

  14. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • If you have the original version of the MacBook Air (A1237), refer to picture 1. Remove the following screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:

    • One 5.9 mm Phillips screw.

    • Two 1.9 mm Phillips screws.

    • One 1.9 mm Phillips screw.

    • If you have the A1304 version of MacBook Air, refer to picture 2. Remove the following screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:

    • One 5.0 mm Phillips screw

    • Five 1.9 mm Philips screws.

    • One 2.5 mm Phillips screw.

  16. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the processor clamp off the heat sink.

  17. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Deroute the microphone cable away from the channel in the fan.

  18. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the heat sink up off the logic board.

    • Be mindful of the microphone cable when lifting the heat sink, as it can get tangled on the top edge of the fan.

    • When you mount the heat sink back onto the logic board, be sure to apply a new layer of thermal paste. We have a guide that makes replacing the thermal paste easy.

  19. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 1

    • Use a spudger to pry the audio cable connector up off the logic board.

  20. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1

    • If present, remove the small piece of black tape covering the microphone cable connector.

    • Disconnect the microphone cable by pulling its connector straight away from the socket on the logic board.

  21. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the two small Phillips screws securing the logic board bracket to the upper case.

    • Lift the logic board bracket out of the upper case.

  22. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 21, image 2 of 2

    • Use a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth and trackpad control cable connectors up off the logic board.

  23. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the DC-In cable by pulling its connector straight away from the socket on the logic board.

  24. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 23, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the small Phillips screw securing the display data cable ground loop to the upper case.

    • Disconnect the display data cable by pulling its connector straight away from the socket on the logic board.

  25. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the three Phillips screws securing the logic board to the upper case.

  26. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the logic board out of the upper case.

  27. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 26, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two following screws securing the AirPort/Bluetooth board bracket to the upper case:

    • One 4.7 mm Phillips.

    • One 3.9 mm Phillips.

  28. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the AirPort/Bluetooth bracket out of the upper case.

  29. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 28, image 1 of 1

    • Use a spudger to pry the three antenna cables up off the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

  30. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 29, image 1 of 1

    • Peel the antenna cables up off the adhesive securing them to the upper case.

  31. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 30, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the single Phillips screw securing the microphone cable ground loop to the upper case.

  32. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 31, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following 15 screws:

    • Thirteen 2.3 mm Phillips.

    • Two T6 Torx.

    • Leave one T6 Torx screw in each side of the display bracket.

  33. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 32, image 1 of 1

    • Open the Air so the display is perpendicular to the upper case and place it on a table as shown.

    • While holding the top of the Air with one hand, remove the T6 Torx screw from the lower display bracket.

  34. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 33, image 1 of 1

    • Be sure to hold the Air together while you remove the last Torx screw. Failure to do so may cause the display/upper case to fall, potentially damaging both components.

    • Remove the T6 Torx screw from the upper display bracket.

  35. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 34, image 1 of 1

    • Pull the upper case straight away from the display, minding any cables that may get caught.

  36. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 35, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two Phillips screws securing the speaker assembly to the upper case.

  37. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 36, image 1 of 1

    • Rotate the speaker assembly toward the center of the Air.

    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry the audio cable connector up off the audio board.

  38. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 37, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 37, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the four partially threaded Phillips screws securing the port hatch assembly to the upper case.

    • Lift the port hatch assembly out of the upper case.

  39. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 38, image 1 of 1

    • Peel the audio cable off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

  40. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 39, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 39, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 39, image 3 of 3

    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the trackpad control cable socket.

    • Peel the trackpad control cable off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

    • Pull the trackpad control cable out of its socket.

  41. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 40, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 40, image 2 of 2

    • Use a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth cable connector up off the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

    • Peel the AirPort/Bluetooth cable off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

  42. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 41, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 41, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the single Phillips screw securing the AirPort/Bluetooth board to the upper case.

    • Lift the AirPort/Bluetooth board out of the upper case.

  43. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 42, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Upper Case Replacement: step 42, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the two Phillips screws securing the DC-In board to the upper case.

    • Lift the DC-In board out of the upper case.

    • Upper case remains.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

System

Member since: 09/24/09

2,562 Guides authored

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