Second opinions needed on Macbook screen problem.

My friend has a 13" Macbook, model A1181, the backlight on his screen works intermittently, so sometimes he has to tilt the screen to an uncomfortable angle in order to get the backlight to work properly. I don't think it's a problem with his screen, even when the backlight's not on you can still use a flashlight to see that there's obviously activity going on.

I Google'd the issue, and found this.

Installing MacBook Core Duo Inverter - iFixit

Most people on the internet seem to agree that it's an issue with either the inverter board or the inverter board cable. However, I went with my friends to a local computer repair store that's won the local Reader's Choice award for two years in a row. They offer free diagnostics, and they seemed almost certain that it was an issue with the backlight itself on the screen, not the inverter board or the inverter board cable, and so just the screen would need to be replaced. They did eventually say that if it weren't the screen itself, it would most likely be an issue with the inverter board/inverter board cable, but it wasn't their first guess. This contradicted everything I had read on the internet related to my friend's issue. Then again, they're supposedly the experts, and my friend doesn't have the money to throw down on a new screen so I'm just trying to fix what's broken for his laptop.

I have 5 months of experience working as a computer technician last year, and I'm usually right, but I greatly appreciate any input on this subject. I've been out of the loop, and I just wanted to dust the cobwebs out of my noggin.

What is your take on this situation? I've got a local vendor who will sell me a working A1181 inverter board and inverter board cable for $10. I don't want to waste any of my friend's money if it turns out that that's not the issue, because then he would have even less money that could go towards the purchase of a new screen. Could it also potentially be an issue related to the logic board? I was reading that that could potentially be the issue as well, but significantly less likely.

 

I have some experience in this area, the backlight issue is usually not the inverter. The intermittent working back light by tilting the screen can be a sign that the back light cables is not having good contact, the back light cables is the pink cable and white cable that is attached to the LCD. But since those cables are attached to the inverter, and since the inverter is only $10, I suggest you replace the inverter first, and if it doesn't fix the problem, I suggest a LCD replacement and keep your fingers crossed.

 

I appreciate your input. If anyone else has experience dealing with this issue, I would love to hear more opinions.

 

Lefix's advice is right on. Apart from inverter failure, the constant opening and closing of the laptop lid can cause the LCD wires in the hinge to fray or break, causing intermittent display problems.

 

Yep... seen this problem quite often on many brands actually. Its usually always a bad/broken cable. Lefix has the best advice you are going to get to fix this.