Fixing my iBook

basically, the video processor in my ibook came unsoldered from the motherboard, and it would normally cost $150 to repair or $300 to replace, but and $.50 tea light candle + rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover will do just fine.

(yes, it worked)

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• ibook
• repair
• reflow
• solder

[rockbutt123]

what was the nail polish remover for? do you mix it with the alcohol and then light it up? does the nail remover make it stay light longer? ive been trying to do this but i couldnt find that little tea cup thingy, so ive been using the hot air gun but no go. so i wann try this.

[homerunhita12]

the nail polish remover has alcohol in it. i used that when i ran out of the other stuff

[magicman6505]

so what does it fix. is this what fixes my problem where the screen just stays white

[homerunhita12]

yes. google it, im sure you'll find instructions, this is just a video of the process as i was doing it

[blaa269]

How the heck does that work or make sense?

[homerunhita12]

read the other comments? it's pretty self explanatory.

[lilmul123]

How many times did you have to refill the tea light with alcohol before the screen worked fine? I've refilled it about four times, and it works for a bit, but then it screws up again.

[bbya2064]

true, but when i did my iBook i didn't want to risk the flame lighting the logic board on fire or something, lmaoo.

So, i borrowed a heat gun from a friend.

pretty cost efficient if i say so myself ;)

[homerunhita12]

well, as seen in the video, you fill the tea light candle housing with alcohol and light it, it gets up to temperature and re-melts the solder renewing the connection between gpu and logicboard.

[homerunhita12]

heat gun wasn't very cost efficient ;)

[homerunhita12]

you want to reflow the solder, not re-solder it. this evenly distributes the heat enough to remelt the solder and make the connection.