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MBP 2016: USB-C Ports loose connections

Pahanda

Pahanda

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 16, 2015
84
69
Hi all,

does anybody else have the problem of loosing connection with the ports? I got all ports replaced in January but they already start loosing the connections again and again...
Super annoying when you are rendering video footer from and to an external harddrive for example.
 
I think this is a common complaint about these newer Macbook Pros (quite a few on just Macrumors alone). I have no idea if there is a good fix at the moment.
 
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Do you have Apple Care ? If so, I would definitely have Apple service the computer. They will probably replace the main board.
 
Maxx Power said:
Do you have Apple Care ? If so, I would definitely have Apple service the computer. They will probably replace the main board.
Click to expand...

Actually, the ports are not soldered to the mainboard, they are attached to the topcase independently and then feed to the board through cables. Each side can be replaced on its own.
 
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hallux said:
Actually, the ports are not soldered to the mainboard, they are attached to the topcase independently and then feed to the board through cables. Each side can be replaced on its own.
Click to expand...
Right. I was thinking of the pre-TB ones. Good catch.
 
I'm wondering if this is going to become a long-term weakness of the USB-c style connection port?

That is to say, will they suffer a higher rate of failure (than does the USB-a style) due to weaknesses in the basic design? A deisgn that may have "looked good on paper, but not "robust enough" for the rigors of many connections/disconnections?
 
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The single usb c port on my macbook have also become less tight. This seems to be a common problem. From ifixit, I gather that they can just replace that single part when it gets loose; this applies to the Macbook 2015 and perhaps also the MacBook 2017, though I cannot confirm this.
 
Fishrrman said:
I'm wondering if this is going to become a long-term weakness of the USB-c style connection port?

That is to say, will they suffer a higher rate of failure (than does the USB-a style) due to weaknesses in the basic design? A deisgn that may have "looked good on paper, but not "robust enough" for the rigors of many connections/disconnections?
Click to expand...

USB-C was designed for 10,000 mating cycles, the same as micro USB. If the build quality is good, the ports should last as long.
 
Pahanda said:
Hi all,

does anybody else have the problem of loosing connection with the ports? I got all ports replaced in January but they already start loosing the connections again and again...
Super annoying when you are rendering video footer from and to an external harddrive for example.
Click to expand...

I'm having some trouble deciphering what you're saying. Are the connections loose? Are you losing connection? Or, is it both?
 
It will be interesting to see how Apple respond to this. Clearly there is not a physical enough connection which worsens over time.

Apple should carry out a modification to the USB-C port and recall of the affected products to address the issue free of charge.

Fortunately none of my Macs have USB-C but I will be following this with interest closely as it develops as it does not surprise me.
 
Here's the "deal" with the port design. The plastic inside of the connector (think the reverse of the Lightning connector where that tip is the computer side) can be replaced with A LOT of effort, but that is the only part of the "port" that is replaced. The "frame" or outer part of the port is actually the aluminum body of the computer. So, either that inside plastic part is wearing out or Apple got the tolerance on the port size wrong.

I'm having trouble with the ifixit site or I'd find a picture to add.
 
Böhme417 said:
I'm having some trouble deciphering what you're saying. Are the connections loose? Are you losing connection? Or, is it both?
Click to expand...

It's both and it's getting worse every day.

hallux said:
Here's the "deal" with the port design. The plastic inside of the connector (think the reverse of the Lightning connector where that tip is the computer side) can be replaced with A LOT of effort, but that is the only part of the "port" that is replaced. The "frame" or outer part of the port is actually the aluminum body of the computer. So, either that inside plastic part is wearing out or Apple got the tolerance on the port size wrong.

I'm having trouble with the ifixit site or I'd find a picture to add.
Click to expand...

Can you show me the picture? I'm unable to replace the plastic part.

I don't have Apple Care and my MBp is just out of warranty. Just yesterday I was rendering a video for a client from footage from an external hard drive, connected via USB-to.USB-C. Over the course of 4hours I lost the connection 7 times. Needless to say it's devastating.
 
Same occurred on my 12" rMB, just painful as the connection between the dongle and the computer will disconnect inadvertently 7 times out of 10 if you need to remove another plug from the dongle as the older ports have far higher retention.

Really frustrating and totally unnecessary on Apple's behalf, certainly not looking for more of the same, especially given others are capable of producing hardware without such basic defects...

Q-6
 
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