PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.5-1.67 GHz Inverter/Antenna Cables Replacement

Schritt 1

Use a coin or a spudger to turn the battery locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.
Lift the battery out of the computer.

Schritt 2

Remove the four Phillips screws from the memory door.
Slide the memory door away from the memory compartment.

I recommend that you have several (ie 10-12) little cups nearby with a pen and some small scraps of paper to write on. As you remove screws, step by step, place that step's screws into one cup and label it "Step #X". That way, when you're putting everything back together, you won't have to guess as to which screws were for which step. I did this, on a recommendation of a friend who did this very same repair, and it made the reassembly even easier.

beil -

Better still is to print out these instructions. Then as you remove screws, scotch tape them to the instruction sheet right on the place where it says to remove them. The tape keeps them from getting lost and the order can't be screwed up.

Lavatop -

These were such great directions!! It was no harder than baking a cake. I didn't have a spudger, but a thin plastic chopstick worked fine. I took lavatop's tip to print out directions and tape the screws in order. It was great advice. Thanks IFixit!

Karen Ann -

I found that a plastic ice cube tray works best in these situations.

kostas16673 - 16/03/15

Schritt 3

Remove the following 8 screws:
Two 3 mm Phillips in the battery compartment, on either side of the battery contacts.
Two 12 mm Phillips on either side of the memory compartment.
Four 16 mm Phillips along the hinge.

Schritt 4

Rotate the computer 90 degrees clockwise, so that the power receptacle faces you.
Remove the three 3 mm Phillips screws.
When replacing these screws, you must place each screw in the correct order. Begin by installing the screw closest to the display hinge, and go out from there.

Schritt 5

Turn the computer 90 degrees clockwise so that the hinge faces you.
Remove the bottom 5 mm Phillips screw on either side of the hinge (two total).

By "bottom", it means the top ones (if the computer were right-side-up), i.e. the ones closer to the lid.

colleenthompson -

Schritt 6

Rotate the computer 90 degrees clockwise, so that the ports face you.
Remove the three 3 mm Phillips screws.
When replacing these screws, you must place each screw in the correct order. Begin by installing the screw closest to the display hinge, and go out from there.

Don't be hasty! I've seen 2 laptops with a forlorn screw trapped in a video port screwhole, from where it's very difficult, if not impracticable, to remove it.

colleenthompson -

Zitat von colleenthompson:

Don't be hasty! I've seen 2 laptops with a forlorn screw trapped in a video port screwhole, from where it's very difficult, if not impracticable, to remove it.

I've done that. Was not fun extracting the screw. I had to use a a large speaker magnet to get it out.

Dan -

Schritt 7

Turn the computer over and open the display.
Remove the two 1.5 mm hex screws in either corner, next to the display (a T6 Torx driver will work, but repeated use will strip the screws).

Schritt 8

Grasp the back corners of the upper case and pull up. Do not pull the upper case off yet; you still need to disconnect the keyboard and trackpad cable.
Lift the back of the case up and work your fingers along the sides, freeing the case as you go. Once you have freed the sides, you may need to rock the case up and down to free the front of the upper case.

Schritt 9

Rotate the upper case up and toward the screen, so that the upper case rests against it.

By "rotate" they mean tilt... You tilt the upper case (which contains the keyboard" up so that it rests against the screen. If you happen to have a helper nearby, get them to gently hold the upper case, when it's tilted up, in place so that you can do step 10.

beil -

For this stage I found Step 9 and Step 10 in the guide for Hard Drive replacement were helpful in expanding on removal of top cover. See link here : PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1-1.5 GHz Hard Drive Replacement

Alastair Gill - 05/08/16

Schritt 10

Remove the orange tape securing the trackpad ribbon to the logic board.
Disconnect the trackpad ribbon from the logic board.
Remove the upper case from the computer.

Schritt 11

Remove the 9.5 mm silver Phillips screw from the top of the right ambient light sensor board.
Remove the small 3 mm black Phillips screw from the bottom of the board.

Schritt 12

Lift the right ambient light sensor board Straight up from the Logic Board.

Schritt 13

Remove the two black Phillips screws from the right speaker.
Lift the speaker away from the logic board and place it aside

Schritt 14

Use your fingernail to flip up the black plastic flap locking the modem cable in place.
Slide the modem cable from its connector.

Schritt 15

Disconnect the 13 indicated cables, removing tape as necessary.
When re-installing the board, make sure the two small connectors at the right hand side are above the board before inserting the screws.

Is it possible for the various connectors to be labeled/identified? I'm trying to test a lower half but I don't know what exactly is missing, trying to figure it out by what's not plugged in.

djfriar -

Schritt 16

Remove the following 8 Phillips screws from the logic board:
Three 6.5 mm in the upper left corner.
Five 4.5 mm around the edges.

Schritt 17

Two cables still connect to the logic board and must be removed before pulling the board entirely out of the computer.
Use a spudger to gently (very gently) pry up the left side of the logic board.
If the logic board does not immediately come free, it may be necessary to soften the thermal paste between the logic board and heat sink. You can soften the thermal compound using a hairdryer. Move the hairdryer back and forth between the two fans about one inch above the logic board for one minute. At this point, the logic board should now come free easily.

Schritt 18

Disconnect the DC-In connector from the left side of the logic board.

It may be easier to disconnect the DC-in connector from the DC-Sound board end of the connector rather than from the logic board side of the connector

Charles Fuller -

Schritt 19

Disconnect the battery cable from the front, left corner of the logic board.

Schritt 20

Grasp the logic board at the left edge with one hand and at the thinnest section with the other hand. Lift the left edge of the board up to approximately a 30 degree angle (if you don't have your protractor handy, just lift until the DVI port clears the right hinge).
Once the logic board clears the ports, slide it out to the left.

Great guide! Fantastic idea in the comments to print the instructions and then tape the screws by the step as you go. I found that it was easier to remove the screen and hinges before taking out the logic board. It made it much easier to remove and replace the right side of the logic board.

wemerson -

Schritt 21

Important: when you reinstall a logic board, you'll need to replace the thermal paste that goes between the processor on the logic board and the heat sink. Failure to remove the old paste and apply a new layer can cause the computer to overheat and sustain damage.
To properly reassemble your PowerBook, you'll have to clean off and replace the old thermal compound. Use our Applying Thermal Paste Guide to prepare the processor and heat sink surfaces.

Schritt 22

Use a firm plastic edge to scrape the thermal material off the processor.
When replacing the logic board, make sure all cables are routed around and above - not under - it, and to connect the two cables that do go beneath before pushing the board into place.
Place the logic board back in the computer, trying not to move it around once the processor has come into contact with the newly-applied thermal paste.

Schritt 23

Remove the two 3 mm black Phillips screws from the left ambient light sensor board.
Lift the left ambient light sensor board out of the computer, removing tape as necessary.

Schritt 24

Deroute the Bluetooth and RJ-11 cables from around the left side of the speaker.

Schritt 25

Disconnect the speaker cable from the DC/Sound card.

Schritt 26

Remove the 4 mm hex nut from below the left speaker.
Remove the 3 mm black Phillips screw from bottom left corner of the speaker assembly, to the left of the battery compartment.

Schritt 27

Lift the speaker assembly (including the right speaker) out of the computer.

Schritt 28

Remove the two 4.2 mm silver Phillips screws from the left corners of the PC card cage.
Next the two 6.8 mm shouldered screws go on the right side of the card cage.

Schritt 29

Lift the PC card cage up and remove it from the computer.
When replacing the PC card cage, make sure you attach it to the post on the metal eject button.

Schritt 30

Remove the two 4.2 mm silver Phillips screws from either side of the large orange Airport ribbon.

Schritt 31

Lift the Airport card out of the computer and slide a spudger between the card and the antenna connector to disconnect the cable from the card.
Deroute the antenna cable from the side of the card, removing tape as necessary.
You don't need to remove the Airport card entirely. We're just trying to free up the Airport antenna cable.

Under the Airport card there's some glue

Ferex -

Schritt 32

Using a spudger, pry up the Bluetooth board from the cavity in front of the battery compartment.

Schritt 33

Disconnect the Bluetooth antenna cable from the Bluetooth board.

Schritt 34

Close the display and turn the hinge side of the computer to face you.
Remove the remaining Phillips screw on either side of the hinge (two screws total).

These are the bottom two screws when the computer is positioned as shown

Charles Fuller -

Schritt 35

Open the display and turn the computer so the screen faces you.
Remove the 10 mm T8 Torx screw closer to the display on either side of the hinge (two screws total).
When replacing the display, make sure that the right screw pins down the ground loop from the display data cable.

Ground loop goes on T8 Torx screw nearest the display

Charles Fuller -

The ground loop attaches with the T8 Torx screw nearest the display

Charles Fuller -

Schritt 36

Be sure to support the display with one hand while removing the final two screws.
Remove the longer 13 mm shouldered T8 Torx screw remaining on either hinge (two screws total).

Schritt 37

Lift the display off.

Schritt 38

Remove the two 11 mm X 1.5 mm hex screws near the lower left and right corners of the display.
A T6 Torx screwdriver works just fine.

Schritt 39

Insert the flat end of a spudger between the front display bezel and the plastic rim attached to the rear bezel near the lower left corner of the display.
Do not insert the spudger between the plastic rim of the rear display bezel and the aluminum rear display bezel plate.

Schritt 40

With your spudger still inserted under the front display bezel, run it around the lower left corner of the display.
Rotate the spudger away from yourself to pry the rear display bezel off the aluminum tabs on the front display bezel.
Work your way down the side of the display until the rear display bezel has been separated from the front display bezel.

Schritt 41

Insert the flat end of a spudger between the rear display bezel and the clutch cover.
Twist the spudger to unclip the rear bezel from the clutch cover.

Schritt 42

Repeat the previous steps to separate the right side of the rear display bezel from the display.
Use your spudger to pry the plastic retaining clips on the rear display bezel over the raised aluminum tabs on the front display bezel.
At this point, the clips on the left and right edges of the rear display bezel should be free from the raised aluminum tabs on the front display bezel. If they are not, use a spudger to pry them past the front display bezel.

Schritt 43

Slightly lift the lower edge of the rear display bezel and push it toward the top edge of the display, releasing the clips along the top edge of the rear display bezel.
Rotate the rear display bezel toward yourself and lay it flat on the table.

Schritt 44

Lift the antenna board out of the clutch cover.

Schritt 45

Peel back the three edges of the antenna board cover and remove it from over the antenna board.

Schritt 46

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both antenna connectors up off the antenna board.
The black antenna connects near the center of the antenna board.

Schritt 47

If necessary, remove the two pieces of tape covering the inverter leads.

Schritt 48

The inverter is an extremely thin circuit board that is very delicate and easily cracked. Take care when handling.
Use a spudger to raise the end of the inverter out from the clutch cover.
Lift the inverter enough to access both cable connectors.

I neglected to note where the black cable with the round connected which comes off the cable going from the diversity board to the inverter board connects. Does it get held in place under the rightmost screw holding in the LCD retaining bracket?

hugohs -

I have the same question as asked above. Where does that small black wire connect?

laura moon -

Schritt 49

Disconnect both inverter cables by pulling their connectors away from the sockets on the inverter.
Remove the inverter from your display and set it aside.

Schritt 50

Remove the five Phillips screws securing the LCD retaining bracket to the front display bezel.
Lift the LCD retaining bracket off the front display bezel.
Some machines do not have this bracket. If your machine is missing the bracket, remove the five screws and proceed to the next step.

Schritt 51

The clutch cover is constructed from aluminum and is held on to the clutch hinges with metal clips that require a good deal of force to remove. Proceed with caution.
Use your thumbs to push the clutch cover away from the clutch hinges.
While pressing with your thumbs, rotate the clutch cover toward yourself about its long edge to pop it off the clutch hinge.
It may be necessary to wiggle the clutch cover while pressing it away from the clutch hinges to release the retaining clips.

Schritt 52

Repeat this process for the other side of the clutch cover. Once the clutch cover is completely free from the clutch hinges, lift it off the front display bezel.
When replacing the clutch cover, be sure to route the display data cable so that it is inside the clutch cover and extending out the end between the hinge and the display frame.

Schritt 53

De-route the inverter/antenna cables from the left clutch hinge and lift them out of your display.

PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1.5-1.67 GHz Inverter/Antenna Cables Replacement

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