2013 MBA WiFi issue

[Tekguy0]

I recently received a 2013 13" MacBook Air base model in almost-perfect physical condition, except that the WiFi does not work. At all. In fact, I cannot get the laptop to even acknowledge that it even has a WiFi card (a replacement card is in the mail). I have tried to force enable it in Terminal, except that I get a message stating that all AirPort network services are disabled. I have reset the SMC and NVRAM. Any tips on how to make the WiFi work?

 

[xboxbml]

I recently received a 2013 13" MacBook Air base model in almost-perfect physical condition, except that the WiFi does not work. At all. In fact, I cannot get the laptop to even acknowledge that it even has a WiFi card (a replacement card is in the mail). I have tried to force enable it in Terminal, except that I get a message stating that all AirPort network services are disabled. I have reset the SMC and NVRAM. Any tips on how to make the WiFi work?

Have you tried opening up and reseating the wifi card?

 

[Tekguy0]

Have you tried opening up and reseating the wifi card?

Yep, and there is no corrosion or anything to report. I now have a message stating that there is no WiFi hardware installed. I plan to go ahead with the replacement of the card.

 

[MBAir2010]

try IFixit
the wifi card either works, or does not.
there is really not to much you can do, since you dont know the history of that MacBook air.
you might have a faulty wifi card and might need that one in the mail.

 

[xboxbml]

Yep, and there is no corrosion or anything to report. I now have a message stating that there is no WiFi hardware installed. I plan to go ahead with the replacement of the card.

Yeah, ok. Those antenna cables are a pain.. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Audit13]

Do you have Bluetooth enabled?

WiFi and Bluetooth functionality are provided by the same card.

The WiFi cards from the mid-2013 to 2017 13" Air are interchangeable.

 

[Tekguy0]

Do you have Bluetooth enabled?

WiFi and Bluetooth functionality are provided by the same card.

The WiFi cards from the mid-2013 to 2017 13" Air are interchangeable.

I have disabled Bluetooth and Thunderbolt since I read both can cause WiFi issues. I did try a USB WiFi adapter I had lying around and installed the software for it, but that caused repeated crashing/reboots, though uninstalling it did produce an interesting behavior. The internal WiFi card would pick up networks, but the WiFi would keep turning itself on then off over and over again, and the card would cease to exist in system profiler. It now states that no hardware is present.

 

[Audit13]

It's possible the MacBook was exposed to liquids?

 

[Tekguy0]

It's possible the MacBook was exposed to liquids?

I suppose it is possible since I don't know the history of the laptop, but there is no corrosion or any visible damage (or even dust/pet hair), and the mac otherwise runs perfectly. I can check the other side of the logic board but I doubt it based on visual evidence that I have seen so far.

 

[Tekguy0]

Just installed the new WiFi card, same result as before, even after resetting the SMC and PRAM. The bluetooth at least shows up, while the machine claims that no WiFi hardware is installed.

Is there anything else I should try, or is this a logic board problem?

 

[Audit13]

I would use a WiFi usb dongle if you don't want to take apart and clean with pure isopropyl alcohol.