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ScaldedApe

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 3, 2013
3
0
Hi everyone,

I'm hoping that someone can help with a problem. I have a 2009 Macbook Pro 17" running 10.9 and last night the bluetooth disappeared. I had an issue with the SSD in my macbook and swapped it out, and when I switched it back on the bluetooth wasn't working. It seems to be running ok otherwise.

i have a zigzag line going through the bluetooth icon on the menu bar. I Googled the "Bluetooth not available" message the menu bar icon give me, and theres a lot of info and recommendations to reset the SMC and the PRAM.

I've tried to reset both but the PRAM reset won't work !! CMD / ALT / P & R together, but it just boots as normal. I've checked the buttons and they all work. The SMC seems to reset because the magsafe led changed colour when I let the keys go.

The bluetooth option in system prefs has disappeared and the bluetooth exchange app says I have no bluetooth hahaha

I've tried lots of different things that I'll try to remember and list below

SMC reset
PRAM reset doesn't seem to work
Deleted - com.apple.Bluetooth.plist and restarted (Found a recommendation for that online)
Repaired Permissions with disk utility - Lots of repairs needed, then restarted but still not working
Reinstalled from Time Machine both most recent and old
Clean installed Mavericks - Same issue
Clean installed Mountain Lion - Same issue
Clean installed Leopard - Bluetooth was completely missing from OS

It seems that this happens to a lot of people, but the SMC reset sorts it for them ! Just not me !

I called Apple and I have an appointment with the Genius bar in 10 days, but I was hoping someone could help now.

Many thanks

J
 
I may have found the issue, but I want to run it by others first ....

I opened the back up again this mooring to see if anything obvious was wrong, but then I don't know what Im doing so didn't investigate very hard. I did notice though that a cable that goes to what I think is the Bluetooth module / radio thing is very loose.

This one (Taken from fixit and comedy arrow added)

mac.jpg


The cable going into the metal connector is very flimsy and feels like it would break if I looked at it to hard !!! Could this the problem ?

I've found a "Macbook Unibody 17" iSight cable" in the US that looks like its the one that would replace this. Its not that expensive and postage to the UK is ok, but I want to see what you guys thought before I spend any money on this.

Thanks
 
Fix it

It's taken a while for the cable to get across from the US but last night I stripped the Macbook down and fitted the new cable. Taking the whole machine apart including the glass & led screen was nerve wrecking but it all went well.

I have working bluetooth now lol

Thanks for the help
 
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