What Was Happening
A customer brought in a MacBook Pro A1708 (EMC 3164 – the 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2016 and 2017 without Touch Bar) that had stopped working entirely. The machine produced no startup response – no chime, no Apple logo, no fan activity. The trackpad was also unresponsive. The customer had attempted a forced restart multiple times without any improvement.
The A1708 is a compact machine with a tight internal layout, and faults on these models can be interconnected. We began with a staged diagnostic approach to identify each fault individually before planning the repair.
Our Diagnosis
We started by isolating the power delivery path. Board-level checks confirmed the logic board had failed – the machine was not initialising the startup sequence even with a confirmed working charger and battery. This ruled out charger and battery as causes.
With the board confirmed as failed, we removed it and checked the SSD separately. The A1708 uses a proprietary Apple blade SSD that connects directly to the board. When tested using appropriate recovery equipment outside the machine, the original SSD was found to be unresponsive – a second, independent fault alongside the board failure.
The trackpad fault was investigated next. On the A1708, the trackpad connects to the logic board via a Zero Insertion Force connector and a flat flex cable that runs beneath the battery. Inspection revealed the flex cable had sustained damage – the most likely cause of the trackpad not functioning. The trackpad assembly itself was intact.
How We Fixed It
The work was completed in stages to ensure each element was addressed correctly.
First, we sourced a compatible replacement logic board for the A1708 and fitted it. The board was tested before the machine was fully reassembled to confirm it initialised correctly.
Second, the original SSD was connected to specialist recovery equipment. Despite the SSD being unresponsive through normal channels, targeted recovery work extracted the customer files – documents, photos, and application data – from the accessible areas of the storage. Recovered data was transferred to the new SSD fitted alongside the replacement board.
Third, the trackpad flex cable was replaced and the Zero Insertion Force connector on the new board was reseated carefully. Trackpad function was confirmed before final assembly.
The machine was fully reassembled and tested through startup, application use, trackpad gesture testing, and port functionality before being returned.
The Result
The MacBook Pro A1708 was returned in full working condition. The customer data was intact on the new SSD, the trackpad was fully responsive, and all ports and functions were confirmed working. The machine that arrived completely non-functional was returned as a reliable, working daily machine.
Why This Happens on the A1708
The MacBook Pro A1708 generation is one of the thinner MacBook Pro designs, with a logic board that is compact and runs warmer than earlier models under load. Board-level failures on this generation are not uncommon after several years of heavy use, particularly if the machine has been operated in ways that restrict cooling, or if the board has been subjected to power fluctuations.
The proprietary blade SSD used on this generation is more robust than mechanical drives but is not immune to failure. When a board fails, the SSD can sometimes be damaged by the same event, or it may fail independently around the same time.
The trackpad flex cable on the A1708 runs beneath the battery in a tight channel. It is vulnerable to stress if the battery has ever been swollen, as a swollen battery exerts pressure on the cable routing.
Prevention Tips
- Back up regularly with Time Machine; the A1708 proprietary SSD format means data recovery requires specialist equipment if the machine fails, and a current backup eliminates this risk
- Monitor battery health; a swollen battery on an A1708 can damage internal cables and should be replaced promptly when swelling is detected
- Avoid using the MacBook Pro on soft surfaces that restrict the underside vents – the A1708 runs warm and needs adequate airflow
- If the machine becomes unusually slow to start or shows intermittent behaviour, have it assessed early – catching a developing board fault before complete failure reduces the repair scope
- Use Apple-specification USB-C chargers; the A1708 uses USB-C charging and the power delivery profile matters for board health
Help Across London
We carry out MacBook Pro repairs including board replacement and data recovery at our Putney workshop, serving customers across London. Multi-stage repairs like this one typically require several days, and we keep customers informed throughout.
Related Services
- Data Recovery – recovery from failed Apple SSDs and other storage formats
- MacBook Repair – board-level and hardware repairs for all MacBook Pro models
More Case Studies
- How We Fixed a Lenovo Laptop That Would Not Power On in North London – board-level fault repair on a laptop that would not start
- HP Compaq Presario GQ-60 motherboard replacement in Roehampton – full motherboard replacement with component transfer
- How We Recovered Data from an Acer Aspire with Motherboard Failure – data recovery when the board could not be repaired in time