Faulty Screen or LVDS Cable. Help Please.

[HypedHamster]

So, I bought a late 2013 i5, 8GB RAM, 13" Macbook Pro (Model A1502) from eBay in October last year and it had been running well... until a few weeks ago when the screen suddenly started displaying heavy static across most of the display, you can see a pic of it here: https://twitter.com/SuperSmithBros/status/572467876621373440/photo/1

The macbook hadn't moved from my desk, didn't take knock or anything so I'm not sure why it happened.

Anyway, its not under applecare so I have to try and fix it myself, has anyone else experienced anything like this?

If I connect it to an external display it works fine, the screen also occasionally flickers back to normal but it doesn't last long and moving the screen sends it back into crazy static.

Ive taken the whole thing apart, removed the screen and reconnected it all incase of a loose connection but its the same as before. Could it just be the LVDS cable that connects the screen to the logic board that needs replacing or is it more likely that the whole screen assembly is faulty?

 

[duervo]

Most likely the cable. Doesn't matter if it's the cable or screen assembly, though, from cost point, because you have to buy the whole assembly to get the cable. Can't just get a cable, unless somebody out there rips it off a bad display and sells it separately, in which case you'll have to check eBay.

Apple Part #: 661-8153

 

[HypedHamster]

Thanks for the reply, do you reckon its worth taking a punt on buying the cable then? Ive already taken it apart and detached the cable at both ends and reattached it to check it wasn't just a dodgy connection, so getting it apart isnt a problem.

The cables are on eBay for around £13, they are for my model of macbook too.

Is static a likely symptom of a bad cable?

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My other option is to just call it a bad buy and sell it for spares/repairs on eBay. Ive already bought a brand new 15" MBP to replace it (and bought insurance cause I'm not letting this happen again).

If I sell it for repairs I'll lose around £500 though

 

[duervo]

Yes, it's a symptom.

I had a bad VGA cable a long time ago. Thought at first it was the monitor, until I went to swap it with another monitor. Touched the cable, and the image cleared up. I wiggled the cable a bit, and sometimes it would look like your pic, other times it would tint the screen different colors. Just a representation of the signal getting messed up due to bad cable.

I would just get one of those cables off eBay, watch a bunch of YouTube videos on how to replace it to become familiar with the process and any potential "gotchas", and then do it.

If that plan doesn't pan out, then I would sell it for parts and get a new one.

 

[HypedHamster]

Cool, thanks.

Just wanted someone to confirm it could be the cable before buying it since I wasn't sure, suppose its worth a go anyway since my only other options are gonna cost a hell of a lot more.

 

[HypedHamster]

Well turns out it wasn't the cable... sad times

Replaced it with a new one and have the exact same problem.

 

[duervo]

Display or Logic Board would be next step. At this point, though, I would probably sell it "as is" for parts and put the proceeds towards a new one.

 

[HypedHamster]

Yea, I'm gonna cut my losses and sell it on eBay for parts I think... it can be someone else problem now.

Ive already bought a brand new one to replace it, probably get around £300-400 for the faulty one, it hurts losing £500 on a laptop I only bought 5 months ago though

Thanks for your help anyway dude