Macbook Pro Touchbar 15-inch 2016 burning smell from USB C charger

[diegovega]

This morning I arrived at my office and plugged in to charge my Macbook Pro Touchbar 15-inch 2016 using the original Apple AC Charger with the original Apple USB C cable. I started noticing an unusual burning smell but didn't know where it was coming from, and then I saw that my Macbook was not charging. I decided to unplug the charger from the wall and try another outlet but still it was not charging. Finally I noticed the smell was coming from the left side of the Macbook, it was the left USB C port closest to me in which I was charging the Macbook. When I unplugged the cable it had burnt marks in the pins and it still smells burnt. I tried a different charger and cable in a different USB C port and luckily it charges my mac, and my battery still works normally when unplugged from power. What I’m not sure if the "burnt port" is now damaged? I’m scared to try the damaged port with the other AC charger and cable that works in case of damaging this second charger and cable. I just tried my USB C Ethernet adapter on the "burnt port" and it’s not working and I received an OS X port overload warning. I still haven’t restarted the mac since I’m doing a Time Machine backup just in case. Maybe after restarting the port works again because there could be some kind of protection that disabled the port temporarily?

What sucks is I live in Ecuador and we don’t have official Apple Stores, I bought my Mac in December in Florida. I hope that I can even find a new Apple USB C cable locally and that my AC adapter still works, who knows maybe the adapter is also damaged not just the cable?

Has anyone heard anything like this happening? The cable and power adapter are both original and came with the Macbook, and they were not damaged in any way previously.

Lately Apple is letting me down, I’ve been a user of many Apple products since 2002 and have converted tons of people to Apple but now products don’t even last 2 years. My first iPhone 6 I had to replace on the first day, the replacement later had a bad battery, my launch Apple Watch has a problem with a noisy haptic engine and they wouldn’t replace it, now this problem with a new Macbook with 3 months use (sorry for the rant, I love Apple but these problems are driving me crazy and I treat my personal items with great care, I guess I will never buy 1st gen products again since I'm basically a beta tester).


Thanks for your help!
[doublepost=1491586185][/doublepost]UPDATE: My Time Machine backup has finished, I have restarted the Mac and tried the "burnt port" with my Ethernet adapter and it's not recognizing it. Apparently the port is toasted! I'm scared to try ac charger on this port. Maybe I can clean the port to make it work again? What should I use?

UPDATE 2: I tried resetting the SMC, tried again the "burnt port" with my Ethernet adapter and it doesn't work. I also noticed it's unusually heating up the connector on this port, and giving off more burning smell. So I won't keep trying this port.

 

[Sanpete]

I think you shouldn't try to use the burnt port, as you risk other damage. If you have no convenient option for repair, just use the other three ports, and a hub of you need more. Sorry you're having bad luck with your machines.

 

[bartvk]

Yeah, I've had a similar problem but not with the official charger. I hooked up a very well-reviewed 3rtd party charger. The MacBook played the connect/disconnect chime multiple times and then seemed to accept the charge.

But a day later, it wouldn't charge anymore, on any port. Brought it in for repair and they couldn't find the cause -- it started charging again!

If I were you, I'd do what Sanpete advised (don't use that damaged port) and I'd order a new MacBook. When it arrives, send the damaged one in for warranty, and include its charger.

 

[Sanpete]

If I were you, I'd do what Sanpete advised (don't use that damaged port) and I'd order a new MacBook. When it arrives, send the damaged one in for warranty, and include its charger.

Better check first to see how long the repair would take. If it takes more than two weeks you'll end up owning two MBPs, or be without one for a while, because you'll only have two weeks to return.

You may be able to get Apple to send you a new one first to replace the one you have.

 

[diegovega]

Unfortunately where I live I can't do what you guys suggest since there is no official Apple store, thanks anyways. I guess I will have to live with a damaged port until I travel again to USA to make a complaint with Apple. The problem is I will usually be on a trip of 5 days and they will tell me they need to repair it and the time won't be enough during my trip, and they also won't exchange it for a new one. Same thing happened with my Apple Watch, the time for repair is not enough and they won't exchange for a new one so I have no option.

 

[Sanpete]

You don't need an Apple Store. You can talk to Apple directly by phone if you want to explore your options. Apple does sometimes send a replacement unit first to an owner to replace a broken one.

 

[bartvk]

Better check first to see how long the repair would take. If it takes more than two weeks you'll end up owning two MBPs

I should've clarified this; I meant that topic starter keeps the new one and when the old one comes back, he sells it. That's what I do because I earn my money with this laptop.
[doublepost=1491596034][/doublepost]

Unfortunately where I live I can't do what you guys suggest since there is no official Apple store, thanks anyways

Wow, that seems like an awfully tight spot you're in... Is there nobody that can simply sell you a MacBook and take the old one in for repair??

 

[diegovega]

I have taken it to an Apple authorized tech and hopefully by Thursday I will have some news. I will let you know what they say.

 

[Mobster1983]

Glad to hear you found an authorized tech.

Even if you are in a country where there is no Apple Store, that is not a big deal. I was in Iraq and had a Hard drive fail on a 17" MBP. Talked to Apple, who allowed me to mail it to an authorized store, who replaced the HD it, and sent it back to me good as new.

 

[diegovega]

Apple is going to replace the whole logic board, the tech also told me they have another Macbook like mine with the same problem so it's probably not a random issue.

 

[Ps3.1]

Apple is going to replace the whole logic board, the tech also told me they have another Macbook like mine with the same problem so it's probably not a random issue.

Hi, Diego. I have same problem with my macbook 12 2015, unfortunatly i hav not same alternatives as you and can not use another USB-C port cause there is only one usb-c port on macbook 12"!!! And becouse ther is no warranty left on my mac I would like to know which part did apple exactly replace on your machine? I will do it by myself, as I said no Warranty.
Thanks