Apple Officially Acknowledges MacBook Random Shutdown Issue, Heatsink Isolated as Problem
Apple has officially acknowledged the problem with MacBook’s randomly shutting down, posting an incredibly brief knowledge base article on the topic, stating:
If your MacBook is shutting down intermittently, please contact AppleCare for service.
Well that’s a mouthful. More information is gathering around the web suggesting Apple has finally isolated the problem, which apparently involves the MacBook’s heatsink. PowerPage.org has the following information:
Essentially the heatsink can expand during use, and comes into contact with the lead from the termometer’s sensor cable. A short circuit results, and the SMC pulls the plug. Once the system cools down, the heatsink resides and the contact is broken. This also explains why sometimes you cannot immediately power the MacBook back on. The heatsink is still in contact with the metal lead.
Apple’s solution to this is to realign the location of the thermometer and cabling on the heatsink so that it does not short circuit. That is why the new heatsink is necessary. In the view of this writer, it warrants a public recall.
This also explains Apple’s recent SMC Update for the MacBook. In short, the ramped up fan is a response to Apple knowing the heatsink is going to expand, and attempts to proactively cool it down to prevent the short circuit.
Unfortunately, as countless users have shown, it is still possible with something as simple as a terminal command, to overheat the CPU. The only solution is to reproduce the crash, call Apple, and have them replace the heatsink.
Did Apple release the SMC update to try and prevent the random shutdown from occuring on a larger scale? My first MacBook ran absurdly hot and never had a random shutdown. After it was sent in for repairs, the logic board was replaced and it run’s much cooler. I still haven’t faced the random shutdown problem, and I’m hoping I don’t. Thankfully Apple is no longer debating with customers about the need for repair. Call Apple if your MacBook is turning itself off.