Chosen Solution

This MBP 17" Mid-2007 doesn’t power on at all - no signs of life. Battery is good/fully charged. I’ve tried:

  • swapping memory for known good memory
  • removing internal HD (and internal HD cable) and booting from external drive
  • resetting SMC
  • using different power adapter, and booting from only battery or only power adapter. Power cable light is green, and power flows through to an external drive connected via Firewire. Internal drive is known good (tested in another Macbook). The only advance problem I had prior to it not powering on at all: the previous night I’d put it to sleep by closing it, connected to power. The next morning it had shut itself down. I’m down to likely either a bad logic board, or bad keyboard or keyboard cable. In order to rule out problems with the keyboard or other devices, I’d like to power on using the power pads on the logic board. But, I can’t find them on this model. Where are the power pads on this model Macbook Pro? Also, any other suggestions for troubleshooting?

Check that these parts are OK Power Cable Battery Connector Do you have a multi meter. Can you test the voltages on the I/O power board input? Check this board for damage esp to the solder joints on the power input connector. UPDATE - Also check the I/O board for fuses, There is likely one on protecting the mag-safe input to the board. Check the battery voltages too to see if it is being charged or not.

Remove your battery and unhook your magsafe. Hold down on your power button for 30 seconds. Continue holding down the power button, plug the magsafe into the computer, hold power button for another 10 seconds. Release the power button wait 2 seconds, press the power button as you normally would. I see you have already found the power on pads. The voltage you mention finding on them should be good. They are on the 3gHot rail which should be 3.3v. If the little scenario with the power button does not power it on, check the connections of the power cable that run between the left I/O board and the logic board. That cable connection on the logic board tends to come loose and is also known to be a little fickle. If it is loose you can find all the proper voltages on the logic board. But, not have a good enough connection to handle the heavy current draw needed for powering on.

2007 17", it may be the dreaded Nvidia high lead solder ball issue. That was around the time Nvidia used 90% lead in the solder balls on the video chips. Those are the solder balls between the chip and the substrate, not between the substrate and the PCB. On several occasions I have heated the die to about 300 ºC for 60 seconds or so. It would then work again, but only for a few months at best. Just one idea