MBP 15" - Bottom Case Slight Flexing when pressure is applied!

A few days ago, I noticed something that really shocked me!
I picked up my closed macbook pro with two hands (my left hand grabbed the logic board side and my right hand grabbed the optical disc side) and the macbook pro was held vertically (parallel to my body / hinge sticking straight up into the air). My thumb on the screen side and my four fingers and the bottom case. Get the picture???
Some how by accident (and due to the lighting in the room), I noticed that if I applied pressure with my fingers, I could cause the bottom case to flex every-so-slightly. Honestly, I think it has enough "play" that if enough pressure was applied, it would make contact with the logic board! Is this type of flexing normal???
The bottom case is REALLY thin! I have taken mine off a few times! Dang, it is REALLY REALLY thin. I just don't see how this is abnormal. But I wanted to check and see if this is just cause to make a trip to my local AASP?

Christian McDonald wrote:
Bottom Case Slight Flexing when pressure is applied!
But I wanted to check and see if this is just cause to make a trip to my local AASP?
It is a non issue, really.

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Why does my MacBook Pro make clicking noises when pressure is applied to the unibody?

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Check if an AASP (Apple Authorised Service Provider) is closer, as some do not trust Geek Squad to diagnose something as simple as "all the keys are missing". But judge for yourself.: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1434

Computer freezes when pressure is applied and also won't exit sleep mode

I have a macbook pro mid 2010 with an i7 at 2.66 GHz, 8 Gb of RAM, a 500 Gb seagate hybrid drive and is running on 10.8.5 (Mountain Lion). The RAM and harddrive were installed by me a couple years ago and I generally haven't had any issues with them (I did try to install 10.8.6 but ended up reverting back to 10.8.5 via time machine). When I put pressue on the bottom of the base my computer instantly freezes, the display will do some funky nonsense stuff (not every time) and sometimes followed by 3 beeps (also does not happen every time). I know the 3 beeps often indicates a RAM issue, so I installed the software "memtest" and all my RAM passed. Also, when my computer goes to sleep by shutting the lid of the laptop, it frequently won't come out of sleep and the sleep mode light is stuck on. When it's stuck in sleep mode, the fans turn on and the battery starts running pretty hot. I've tried resetting the PRAM, NVRAM and SMC via this tutorial: http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_fix_mac_won%E2%80%99t_wake . I'm unsure of what steps to take next, and if the problem is a software issue, logic board or RAM issue.

That doesn't appear to be a US model, and this is the forums for Toshiba USA. You may want to contact Toshiba in your region.

[SL410:2842RK1] Certain keys work only when pressure is applied

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Solved!
Go to Solution.

Welcome to the Forum!
First thing I would do is give the keyboard a thorough cleaning. This may help to relieve the "sticky" keys. Use a 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol and water and follow the Keyboard cleaning instructions here: http://blog.lenovo.com/design/keeping-your-thinkpad-clean
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Is it normal for the Panels to make slight noises when applied with some pressure such as opening the and closing the Mac? It sounds like the screws are not tight enough or is it normal?

Hi, My Mac is around 2 months old, and I have recently come across a slight problem. I've experienced some slight noises happening such as when I open and close the macbook it makes some sort of clicking noises as if to say the panels are loose or have not been screwed properly... It only happens when pressure is applied e.g. when I am typing I tend to rest the palms of my hand on the two plain sections of the mac (next to the track pad) and this causes some sort of pressure to push down to the connecting panel underneath, this is when the clicking sound happens.
I don't know maybe I'm just expecting too much or it might just be what I think it is, anyway if anyone has experience this issue, feel free to share your point of views or past similar experience. Thanks.

Yes.. It's been a while, but I remember thinking the same thing!
Below are a couple of other links where folks reported the same thing!
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5755300&#5755300
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6552175&#6552175

Blackberry curve screen wont switch on unless pressure is applied to the back of the phone

My phone screen is intermitantly working, it appears that when I take the battery out to restart it the screen will only switch on when the back case is in a certain position and pressure is applied. i have tried several times to get the phone working but i have been having the same problem since yesterday that the screen only comes on when pressure is applied to the top section of the back of the phone. does anyone know what is wrong with it or how it can be repaired? thanks

Hello
Greetings it is best to take you to a service technician most likely that this screen is not doing well or they might touch screen is damaged
for more information dirigite a technical service of your choice in your country and so will tell you what is the problem with the screen of your Blackberry
Kudos **Do not forget to give those people who help and advise you regarding your questions, as well give the answer like**
@ gutijose14
BBM Channels PIN: C0007093A
Do not forget to give LIKE Those people who help you and advise you about your doubts. if the review has been SOLVED** # 4LL #ÉliteRoad Make a backup of your BlackBerry
BlackBerry Protect and BlackBerry Link constantly. #ichooseBlackBerry10 Gutijose14 Forums Veteran I

Slight Flex from under bottom cover!! Is it normal?

Hi Guys,
This is a weird issue that I have, and I wanted to run it by you guys first before I bring it up to the Apple geniuses, who seem to be trained to turn repairs down quite often I have noticed.
When I pick up my MBP Unibody (Mid 2009) with sealed-in battery, I noticed that in some cases I get a slight flex from under the bottom cover, it is very minor flex, but is the computer supposed to have any flex when you pick it up? To be more exact, I feel it under the SuperDrive when I grab the machine with one hand in that general area, it feel like a slight "creak".
Any comments and suggestions on this issue are appreciated.
Cheers,
Felix M.

I have come across some other posts in these forums regarding users noticing some flex in the bottom case.
Here's one:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10840979&#10840979
It's probably wise to always pick up your computer with two hands.

Replaced the bottom case on MBP (2006)...now screen is blank!? Need help ASAP...please!

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When I try to order a new bottom case for my macbook is sais that your macbook is not part of this program.

When I go on to google I type in replace bottom of macbook case it takes me to apple support I select 'feel free to order yourself' so I click that I select my country and enter my serial number and it comes up with 'The Apple product serial number you entered is not part of this program' What do I do?

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
If you see that your Mac isn't part of the program, that's because your MacBook isn't affected by that problem so, if the bottom case isn't damaged, you don't have to worry.
If it's affected, take the computer to an Apple Store or reseller to get the bottom case replaced. In this case, unless your Mac is in warranty, you will have to pay

MBP Bottom case

Hi. I have a late '08 MBP 17" (model identifier 4,1). Somehow the corner of the bottom case got slifgtly dented. If I replace the bottom case myself will it void my Applecare?

Yeah, I guess. It's just that although I use it a lot I kind of baby it. Was pretty perfect for a book that's been used for almost 2 years. Was brand new in Feb of '09. And until this it had no cosmetic blemishes. And I might add, I never had one problem with it. But, of course, it's a Mac
Have a great day.

Creaking noise coming from bottom case.

I just got a new macbook pro as a replacement for a lemon about a week ago. Everything seems to be working fine. There is one thing that is worrying me though. When im laying down and have my macbook on my chest I can hear it make creaking noises. At first I thought it was no big deal but its starting to annoy me. I put the bottom of the macbook up to my ear to see what the noise was and it sounds like the bottom case flexes and produces the creaking sound. Is this normal? I am trying to avoid any repairs on this macbook for this issue since I have had bad experiences with repairs in the past. Can anyone confirm if this is normal?

' Hey guys (and any gals)!
' I'm using the 17-inch unibody which doesn't have the removable panels etc. that some of you might - so I'm honestly not entirely sure how relevant this is - but I thought sharing this with you might prove useful or interesting anyways...
' AFAIK the story about the fans is a load of bull! The only fans in the Unibody system are right up almost against the screen's hinge and they aren't resting against or too near the casing.
' Even without the panels you have, my system occasionally creaks a little - generally when I have it sitting on a very uneven surface that itself moves and shifts where it's applying pressure to the bottom of the case. From my perspective, and on my machine, it would appear to be nothing other than a little "give-and-take" of the casing (i.e. the metal) itself. It's slight, infrequent, and seems perfectly natural and normal (to be expected) to me.
' Again - this may NOT be what you may be experiencing - I don't know. But maybe this info / perspective / experience helps...
~Menageryl
-Jack of All Trades, Master of Some!-

Dented Bottom Case on a 17" MacBook Pro

Recently my MacBook Pro had a painful meeting with a conrete floor resulting in a noticeable dent in the bottom left corner of the bottom casing (how it survived at all, I don't know). The machine is completely functional and the dent is only a cosmetic inconvenience. I took a trip into the Apple Store and was told that it would be $1500 to replace the bottom case. Needless to say, I laughed at the price quote and left. I've found retailers online who carry the casing part for the mbp but haven't been able to find a guide for replacing the bottom case (I already looked on iFixit, they have a guide that gets almost up to switching out the bottom case but I don't know if it covers everything since it indicates that many components are left attached to the case). I don't plan on having Apple replace the case as based on that price, I'd rather wait and get a new machine when the core2's are released but I would like to attempt at replacing the case myself. I'm fairly adept at this sort of material but admit that the deepest into an Apple portable I've gotten was reattaching an airport antenna on a 12" powerbook. Has anyone had experience with replacing the bottom case of a macbook pro (or a powerbook for that matter, I imagine its mostly the same only with some connectors changed and the IR port added). How complicated of a process is it? From what I can find online, I should have wished for the damanged to have affected the top case instead as its a much easier swap.

My understanding is that it is the most difficult of all of the tasks.
Many, if not all, Apple Repair centers ship out bottom case repairs to their Depot for repair.
I think you can get far with iFixit, but I think you may end up paying more then $1500 if you mess up the install, so is not worth it.
So, here's my thought:
Go to an apple store, talk to one of the people that actually repairs computers. Ask them, if you got them a bottom case, if they could do it for you. Offer them $100-200 for their service minimum.
If not, search around for another apple authorized repair center.
You could also check out colorwarepc.com to see if they replace bottom cases, or just spray paint them.

Broken bottom case clip

I recently replaced the hard drive in my MBP, but when I removed the bottom case the two plastic clips holding the bottom case in the middle of the laptop broke. As a result the bottom case touches the surface and gets scratched. I called Apple en contacted a "official service point" (we don't have apple stores in the Netherlands) asking if they knew this problem. They told me those parts never break and that repair would cost me at least 90 euros. I simply refuse to pay that much money just to replace two 10 cent plastic parts to prevent some scratches to the bottom case.
Does anyone have a suggestion, spare parts or any other solution? Attached is a picture I found in this thread, I added a circle around the effected part.

"... I have a feeling its part of the top case assembly..."
The part is attached with two screws, and appears that it would be easy to replace. As other posters noted, it's a strange failure, and I'm wondering if Apple will cover the repair. I'm sure they'll be interested in the type of "stand" you are using. If it is small, you should probably take it with you to the store. If it's a large contraption, you probably should take a picture of it both with and withuot the computer attached.

The left hinge has an odd gap and the bottom case has clicking noise.

I just noticed that my 19-day-old macbook pro has an uneven hinge gap.
And the bottom case has squeaky noise when I lifting the macbook pro with one hand;
as well as when I pressing lightly where the spots near the batteries that under the trackpad.
Should I go to retail store to get repair or do something?

Please make a Genius Appointment and take it in for service.

Why doesn't applecare cover the bottom case pads?

Hi, this is a question I should have just asked at my appointment, but I was in a real rush to get to work, so I just accepted it and went on, but anyway:
One of the little black pads the macbook pro rests on to avoid heat collection fell off my computer (no physical damage, or anything else), and it turns out the entire bottom case has to be replaced to fix that. It's a little crazy, but the Genius just said newer models have to have the bottom replaced to avoid internal damage from re-gluing. Not only that, but the warranty doesn't cover it (under any circumstances, was the implication).
It's an annoying $40 dollars to spend, but really I'm just a little curious as to why this would be, when they're pretty generous if you have Applecare in most other cases.

Hi, and welcome to Apple Support Communities.
Did you read the Terms of Use when you signed up here?
(Yeah. Who reads those, right?)
You need to take a look:
https://discussions.apple.com/static/apple/tutorial/tou.html
Section 2.2.2:
SubmissionsStay on topic. Apple Support Communities is here to help people use Apple products and technologies more effectively. Unless otherwise noted, do not add Submissions about nontechnical topics, including:
Speculations or rumors about unannounced products.
Discussions of Apple policies or procedures or speculation on Apple decisions.
We are users here, like yourself, so speculating on why Apple decided a certain thing a certain way is above our pay grade.
If it were mine, I might ask for a supervisor's opinion on the matter.
I also might consider myself lucky that it was $40 and not $240.

MBP 15" - Bottom Case Slight Flexing when pressure is applied!

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