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Updated version of the 2016 Retina MacBook. Model A1534, EMC 3099. Now features faster Kaby Lake processors up to 1.4 GHz Core i7 with Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz and up to 50 percent faster SSD, and supports up to twice the memory.

Trackpad working, but not clicking, after battery replacement

Replaced the battery with an iFixit battery. After some trial and error, everything seems to be working okay... except:

  1. trackpad not clicking/haptics
  2. battery is charging, slowly

Battery:

Day 1, Finished replacement, it was not charging. I cleared the SMC and NVRAM, couple of times, then it seemed okay, turned on, charged battery to 100%, +2 hours, used it a little bit, then unplugged and left MacBook on overnight to discharge battery completely, per instructions to calibrate new battery.

Day 2, MacBook was just dead, dead. No power, nothing on the screen showing needed to plug in. Tried plugging it in again, then reset SMC/NVRAM, still nothing. Opened up the MacBook again, disconnected battery removed the screw, used the U-pic from iFixit, tried reseating all cables, double-checked screws. All okay. Closed it up.

The last thing I tried was a newer MacBook M1 70W charger with a short Thunderbolt 4 cable. Hoping it would really juice it up. Left it for an hour maybe, was still dead, dead, so I left it overnight...

Day 3, Woke up to it 100% charged up! Woo hoo! Clock wasn't set (I couldn't even get to Date/Time in settings), I cleared the SMC and NVRAM, and then I could set the clock, woot!

Now it's working okay... except the trackpad and battery not charging/charging slow.

Battery: Icon shows plugged in, battery not charging. Trying an EHO 100W charger, and ADG 100 W hub/charger, with a USB-C cable with an LCD screen showing charging wattage: it shows 7-11 watts. (it shows 20+W PD, connected to my iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad Pro M1, and with either of these chargers).

Will try the 70W MacBook charger and Thunderbolt cable again. But wondering if anything sticks out here to anyone?

What is working, sound, screen, USB-C port, keyboard, all good! Anything else I need to make sure is working?

Trackpad is working, but not clicking/haptics not working. In settings, I turned on "tap to click", so I can use it, seems okay. Would like to fix the clicking/haptics.

I shut down, disconnected power, opened the case, double-checked the funky "s" cable from the logic board to the trackpad, it seems fine. Reseated cable in the ZIF connectors, again.

How would I know if it's damaged?

Should I clean the ZIF connectors? Safely... IPA? WD-40 Specialist electrical contact cleaner spray?

Any other macOS settings? Reset SMC/NVRAM, or the like, cables, or things I need to check inside the MacBook?

Any help getting the trackpad clicking, is greatly appreciated.

Also, thoughts on battery charging slowly (7-11 watts)?

Thank you!

Update (03/24/25)

Hi @danj Thank you for getting back!

Trackpad is tracking just fine... amazingly, just not clicking. I just checked every bit of the pad, it's tracking all over.

Will try an external trackpad to see if it works.

I do have another MacBook 2017, and the trackpad is very clicky. I noticed that even if I turn on "Silent clicking" on the other MacBook, I can still feel the trackpad clicking, physically. So maybe something got lodged in when I was inside the MacBook. I'll see what I can find.

Here are the settings, in case that's helpful...

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Here's the Coconut battery info. Please let me know if you need anything else.

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Update (03/24/25)

I installed the last version of Coconut Battery, and the current version. And included the battery stats from macOS, if that’s helpful. Thanks again!

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Let’s give the older version of CB a go as this version doesn’t tell us the chargers state.

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OK, I see two issues here, the first is the charger is not the correct one you need a 30Watt not a 9Watt cellphone charger. This is the correct charger for this system 30W USB-C Power Adapter

CB is also telling us the battery is on the warm side! I’m not sure if that’s related to the wrong charger or if the battery is defective. For now let’s get the proper charger and see where things are then.

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@danj That is fascinating. I am using the 67W charger that came with my M1 MacBook Air (I just took it out of the box for the first time ever for this.). I tried multiple cables, I’m using an Anker Thunderbolt 4 right now.

Do you know what would cause slow charging?

I also tried a 100W EHO charger, and 100W ADG charger, that I use for all my other devices, still shows the same.

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

@twiddledup - What charger where you using before?

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

I usually use a 100W EHO charger https://a.co/d/7CAEMTo, or 100W ADG charger, for this MacBook, and all my other devices.

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Let’s first deal with the battery issue, install this gem of an App CoconutBattery, with the charger plugged in take a snapshot of the Apps main window so we can see what’s happening, post it here so we can see it as well.

As far as the Trackpad, is it working besides the haptic feedback? That is if the click action is working you just don’t feel it. So sliding your finger left - right & up - down across top middle and bottom as well as along the sides and middle. No defects in tracking correct? If the click action is not working does an external mouse/trackpad work?

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