MacBook Air 2015 Trackpad Jumpy

[MultiFinder17]

I've been having an odd issue with my Air lately. Out of the blue, the trackpad has become incredibly jumpy. It stops and starts, does not pick up all the fingers all the time, and occasionally jumps around and taps when it's not being touched. I have tried rebooting, a PRAM reset, and an SMC reset, and it is not becoming any better. Rebooting the machine into the recovery partition and Windows reveals the same issue. The keyboard works perfectly fine. Has anyone experienced this before, and what's might you have done to fix it? Many thanks
[doublepost=1498876574][/doublepost]Update: The trackpad seems to be completely and utterly unresponsive now. Also, it works perfectly with an external mouse.

 

[kohlson]

Could it be that a bluetooth mouse nearby is overriding your trackpad? This has happened to me: Magic Mouse in nearby backpack got switched on by accident.

 

[MultiFinder17]

Nope, nothing is around me and it happens in any location. Bluetooth is also turned off.

 

[Sedulous]

If you boot to EFI (hold option key before chime at boot), does everything work?

 

[MultiFinder17]

If you boot to EFI (hold option key before chime at boot), does everything work?

Nope, still jumpy at the boot selection screen.

 

[Sedulous]

Clicking trackpad is ok? I ask because battery swelling might push against trackpad. The keyboard also runs through the trackpad.

 

[MultiFinder17]

Clicking trackpad is ok? I ask because battery swelling might push against trackpad. The keyboard also runs through the trackpad.

Nope, clicking is just as hit or miss as regular tracking. The keyboard works perfectly fine and reliably. The trackpad has spent the last day now toggling between being dead and acting like someone is flailing wildly on it.

 

[DeltaMac]

Sounds like typical "response" when the battery is swelling.
Might be easily visible when you remove the bottom cover --- or take to a "genius" for a quick check.

 

[MultiFinder17]

Sounds like typical "response" when the battery is swelling.
Might be easily visible when you remove the bottom cover --- or take to a "genius" for a quick check.

I've taken off the bottom cover, and the battery is fine. No swelling at all.

 

[DeltaMac]

It's a hardware issue, and you say you have tested with other software, so reinstalling macOS shouldn't make any difference.
If it is not the battery swelling against the underneath side of the trackpad, then it's simply the trackpad failing.
Take to a "genius" for an evaluation. If you are in warranty/AppleCare (?), then the fix should be easy, assuming there's no evidence of accidental damage, such as from a drop, or a liquid spill. Again, the "genius" should sort that out.

 

[MultiFinder17]

Yeah, that's what I've been thinking. I have an appointment at the local Apple Store on Tuesday; I'll fill you all on with what they have to say.

 

[MultiFinder17]

So, bit of a late reply, but the Genius at the store was stumped. The machine passed all diagnostics, and he had no idea. I took it home, and it sat in my closet for the last two months. I was browsing eBay, and decided to look for trackpads for it. I came across a replacement trackpad for $25, and figured that I'd give it a go. It just arrived today and, ten minutes later, the MacBook Air is working perfectly fine. I guess it was just a bum trackpad.

 

[Rocko99991]

So, bit of a late reply, but the Genius at the store was stumped. The machine passed all diagnostics, and he had no idea. I took it home, and it sat in my closet for the last two months. I was browsing eBay, and decided to look for trackpads for it. I came across a replacement trackpad for $25, and figured that I'd give it a go. It just arrived today and, ten minutes later, the MacBook Air is working perfectly fine. I guess it was just a bum trackpad.

Nice@ Was is hard to replace?

 

[MultiFinder17]

Nice@ Was is hard to replace?

Nah. Ten screws for the bottom cover, five for the battery, and six for the trackpad. Took under 10 minutes.

 

[Rocko99991]

Nah. Ten screws for the bottom cover, five for the battery, and six for the trackpad. Took under 10 minutes.

Great. Much cheaper than what Apple would have charged I am sure.

 

[Sedulous]

Nice! Glad you sorted it out!