2011 13" MBA: F5-F12 keys don't work, even AFTER replacing keyboard - argh!

[JPamplin]

Hi folks,

Bought a mid-2011 13" MBA off Craigslist - turns out, they guy selling it bundled an Apple wireless keyboard with it, saying some of the keys didn't work. The backlight was also spotty, so I have replaced the keyboard and backlight on it. It's not a fun job BTW - iFixit doesn't even talk about that.

So after a new keyboard and new backlight, SMC resets, PRAM resets, and a couple of start-fresh 10.9 installs - the new keyboard is doing the exact same thing.

F5 (lower backlight) - just beeps
F6 (increase backlight) - does nothing
F7 (previous track / rewind) - launches iTunes
F8 (play / pause) - does nothing
F9 (fast forward / next track) - mutes the volume
F10 (mute) - lowers the volume
F11 (lower volume) - increases the volume
F12 (increase volume) - does nothing

Every other key works fine. Backlight is great except I can't change the illumination level with F5 / F6. Tried switching the Fn key on to see if the key combo would change anything - nothing.

I have spent a LOT of time completely disassembling the entire MBA to replace the keyboard and I am not happy. Could it be the trackpad? That's where it plugs in after all. Can I reapply a keyboard firmware for this unit (if it exists)?

I'm about to give up. Any assistance would be appreciated.

JP

 

[JPamplin]

Is this thing on?

Beuller? I used the app Karabiner to assign Fn + Function keys to everything, and they all work properly now except for the F5 / F6 backlight keys. Backlight is set to a medium level, and lights up / goes off as expected, but I can't get the level adjustment to work.

Any thoughts on that one?

 

[kolax]

Is it definitely a 2011 MacBook Air? The 2010 one didn't have a backlit keyboard, and I wonder if you've been mis-sold and the Mac specific drivers doesn't know anything about a backlit keyboard.

 

[JPamplin]

Is it definitely a 2011 MacBook Air? The 2010 one didn't have a backlit keyboard, and I wonder if you've been mis-sold and the Mac specific drivers doesn't know anything about a backlit keyboard.

You know, I wondered about that. But I checked the serial number, and it said "mid-2011". It also says that in About this Mac. And the main board has the power connector for the backlight.

HOWEVER - is it possible that somebody replaced the trackpad with a 2010 model? The keyboard plugs into the controller chip on the back of the trackpad. Maybe that?