Comments on: Help, my MacBook Pro power cable is failing

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:36:27 +0000

My power cord failed today for the first time ever. When the first panic feelings subsided I found this thread on Google, brilliant! The five little connectors looked just fine and shiny on both the computer and the plug. I anyway removed the battery, unplugged the power adapter from the wall and scraped the connectors with the tip of a paper clip. It felt a bit stupid since they all looked clean, but when I tried it afterwards, it worked again! I am not sure what I removed or if I did something else to it, but this is again a good day.

By: bour3

bour3 — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:44:06 +0000

I’m simultaneously delighted and dismayed that so many others are having the same problem as I am. I too am a hard user of my MacBook Pro, brilliant thing, my best friend. Seems these cords where they connect to the laptop are the weakest link in an otherwise sturdy design. It’s the third time I’ve had a problem in that exact spot, but the first time with Mac. I thought the magnetic connector, which comes unsnapped a lot, would be the cure for that, but nooooo. This causes me to disrespect things made in Asia. My cord works when it’s held at a specific angle, so I held it at that angle and applied clear silicone gel, some stuff from the hardware store called Plumbing Plomeria Amazing Goop. It’s not at all unsightly. But I’m afraid it’s a temporary measure at best. Incidentally, I repaired the cord to Oreck vacuum cleaner in the exact same way.
I found reconditioned A1172 - Original Apple MacBook Pro MagSafe 85W AC Adapter with 2-Prong Cord at getpartsonline.com for $50.00. Sounds like a pretty good deal, if you ask me, and you did start out by saying, “Help”.

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:36:45 +0000

I’m also in the failing cable group. Mine has split where the cable enters the plug too.

I’m wondering if I can save it with a bit of heat-shrink tube or get a replacement plug from some where.

By: David

David — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:28:01 +0000

I had the same problem. The cable started to seperate from the magnetic connector. I took it to the Apple store claiming it was poor manufacturing, as this happened within a year of buying the Macbook. They told me it’s not covered under warranty and I’ll have to buy a new one. $80.

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:38:52 +0000

Fiona… I completely agree. I’ve been babying my cable for a long time now and it appears to be ready to fail any day now. I have had it less than two years and it just seems wrong that it would fail anytime in the first 5 or so…

I’m going to head to the Apple store and see what they’ll do for me.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:24:19 +0000

Mine is failing, too, and it’s not the pins, it’s the actual cable. Now, I use my Macbook every day on my lap, and it appears the cable’s not designed to cope with the constant bend to the floor, and has started to split at the point it comes out of the magnetic connector (just past the harder plastic sheath). The plastic has cracked and the wire itself is visible.
Now some might argue that it’s not designed for constant use on one’s lap, and I should use it at a desk instead. I would counter that it’s a laptop….

By: Macbook Air

Macbook Air — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:14:07 +0000

David, you will have a warranty directly with apple. Contact them via their website.

By: David

David — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:35:15 +0000

Mine just died- and no clue where to get it replaced

By: Ugo Cei: Mac fan gone | Server software

Ugo Cei: Mac fan gone | Server software — Tue, 29 May 2007 22:53:34 +0000

[…] Couple this with a failing magsafe connector, a battery that needed replacement and a hard disk with some kind of defect, and I’m really starting to think this machine needs to be seriously serviced, if not entirely replaced. 30 May 07 | Source link | Apache | | On Server Also: […]

By: Agylen » Mac fan gone

Agylen » Mac fan gone — Tue, 29 May 2007 21:32:45 +0000

By: Elzeviro » OK Apple, what’s going on?

Elzeviro » OK Apple, what’s going on? — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 12:27:20 +0000

[…] It’s definitely hard to be an Apple fan these days. I’m writing this while waiting for some important data to be backed up before I hit the road to the nearest Apple reseller, hoping I can get a new power supply as mine is failing. Again. This time, I’m experiencing exactly what happened to Ugo one month ago, and I’m furiously tapping my Magsafe every five minutes or so to restore functionality. […]

By: ugo

ugo — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 19:43:30 +0000

Looks like Ian’s diagnosis was correct. The pins were sticking to the inside and not pushing up. Luckily my warranty was still valid, so I got a new adapter for free.

By: Arno Schuurink

Arno Schuurink — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 18:21:39 +0000

Hi Ugo,

I encountered the same problem but it isn’t the cable. You will notice the plug in yout mac has two pins wich got black (due to electricity over bad contact). If you take the sharp point of a knife and remove the black dirt (You’d better unplug the battery first!) you’re back in business again. Good luck.

By: Sylvain Wallez

Sylvain Wallez — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:30:21 +0000

I was horrified when I saw once Gianugo pulling firmly the cable to unplug his Mac.

I consider disconnecting by pulling the wire a security measure and *always* pull the plug by grabbing the connector. The cable is as nice as it was the first day!

By: Ian Holsman

Ian Holsman — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 02:14:25 +0000

Hi Ugo.

This happened to me a while ago. the little pins in the power adapter are probably not pushing up again, if you look you’ll notice 2-3 of the pins are depressed. This is causing the problem.

i had some success getting the pins up by tapping it, and putting the power cord into the socket in a special manner, but it’s only a short term measure you’ll need a new cord.

If your sneaky, put your old cord in the new box, and return it as faulty