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Creaking PowerBook Hinge... anyone else?

Mechcozmo

Mechcozmo

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jul 17, 2004
5,215
2
My PowerBook G4 12" Rev. C has had this problem since it was dropped (literally) by FedEx at my doorstep. The hinge, when you open and close it, creaks. It is really annoying. I have mostly ignored it now, but it has started to bug me more and more. I have the extended AppleCare. There is a dent on it where I dropped it once (while in a case... still :mad: ) but that is in the front and shouldn't affect the PowerBook. Besides, the dent is rather new (~2 weeks, maybe) and the creaking is since July something. 17th is when I joined the forums... so... oh heck, the first day.

Anyone else have this issue? Should I call up AppleCare? :confused:

BTW I love it a heck of a lot... :D Very nice computer. I live around 10 minutes from an Apple Store, too...
 
I have the same problem with my 12" It had a minor drop here and there too.

I've learned to live with it.
 
Counterfit said:
There was a thread on here recently concerning this, but I'm too tired to search for it :p ;)

Anyways, I think I recommended a RadTech product to try and fix it.
Click to expand...

All four threads about powerbooks that make mention of a creaking hinge (the oldest one said that the hinges didn't creak!) were negative for either RadTech, a post by you, or a solution... shoot.
 
My 15" Rev C Powerbook has a creaky hinge too, on the left. It doesn't creak all the time ... just, every here and there. I've never dropped it or anything like that ... it just started creaking one day.

Is this the sort of thing Applecare would cover? I've been thinking about taking mine in too.
 
apple store

same problem. rev c. 12" pb. I went to the apple store in my town, and they said that they could ship it out to apple to get it fixed, that is the creaking sound oiled out or something. but 5 days....for creaking? (that doesn't even bother.)

ben
 
I have my Rev C 12 inch for a few months and now all of a sudden it has begun to get that creaking noise. It is not a big deal but it is just really annoying.
 
i would rather get the annoying noise and have my display stay where i put it, if the alternative would be no noise and unstable display. maybe yours is too tight? you can also try to clean it with pressurized air.
 
Friend's 12"

I am currently using a friend's 12" and it definately is creaky when I open it. I had a rev A and never had the problem. I think I'll save my friend a trip to the Apple store and spray it with WD-40. I'll let you know how it works.


Just kidding... (well, just about the WD-40 not the creak)
 
Just to make it clear, it was creaking before I dropped it. The drop might have made it better... but I'm not trying it again!
 
My 15" creaks too - agree that it was alarming at first, but I have just ignored it. I thought it was too trivial to take in under AppleCare (that and I don't want to be without it)
 
Mechcozmo said:
My PowerBook G4 12" Rev. C has had this problem since it was dropped (literally) by FedEx at my doorstep. The hinge, when you open and close it, creaks. It is really annoying. I have mostly ignored it now, but it has started to bug me more and more. I have the extended AppleCare. There is a dent on it where I dropped it once (while in a case... still :mad: ) but that is in the front and shouldn't affect the PowerBook. Besides, the dent is rather new (~2 weeks, maybe) and the creaking is since July something. 17th is when I joined the forums... so... oh heck, the first day.

Anyone else have this issue? Should I call up AppleCare? :confused:

BTW I love it a heck of a lot... :D Very nice computer. I live around 10 minutes from an Apple Store, too...
Click to expand...

I accidently dropped my PB1400 a couple of years ago and the hinges are also noisy, I just ignored it and works without problem ( it's no longer used nowdays)
 
My Rev A 12" has the creaking problem as well. However, I've found it creaks more the less you move the screen. That is, if you're just adjusting the screen a little bit, it creaks, and gives some resistance. However, if you're fully opening the screen, it gives no resistance, and doesn't creak. I just tend not to adjust it too much.
 
Anyone with a squeeky hinge should take it in to Apple. I have replaced hinges under warranty for this problem before.

Note that the early iBook (dual USB) had a known fault with squeeky hinges and Apple was still replacing these free-of-charge, even if the computer was years out of warranty.
 
Rev. C. 12" PowerBook - Also has the creaking hinges.

Started, i believe, a week ago. Driving me up the wall!

(Although, I have to admit it's much better than the hinge issue my Pismo had - the sucker would just flop open and close....)
 
One time it made noise

My display used to grind( sand and dirt) and be stiff when i opened it but i sent it away to apple for them to replace the latch (it wasnt hooking) and when i got it back it was as smooth as when i first got it. Thanks apple.
 
My hing is so tight that it sometimes makes a loud popping sound when you move the display a little bit (I don't know if you would classify this as creaking?). Apple is fixing it right now :-D
 
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