iMac G5 17" Model A1144 AirPort/Bluetooth Board Replacement

Written By: Walter Galan

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

No estimate

Introduction

Regain wireless connectivity by replacing your broken AirPort/Bluetooth board.

Before you work on the computer, unplug the computer and press the power button for 20-30 seconds to drain the stored energy in the power supply.
Loosen the two Phillips screws securing the access door to your iMac.
These screws are captive in the access door.

Orient the iMac face-up, on its backside.
Use your thumbs to press both RAM arms in past the front bezel for enough clearance to lift it off the rear case.

While holding the RAM arms in with your thumbs, lift the lower edge of the front bezel enough to clear the rear case.

Re-orient your iMac so it sits upright on the stand.
Insert a plastic card up into the corner of the air vent slot at the top of the rear case.
Push the card toward the top of the iMac to release the front bezel latch.
Pull the front bezel away from the rear case.
Repeat this process for the other side of the front bezel.
It may be necessary to apply several layers of duct tape to the top of the access card to aid in releasing the latches.
If the bezel refuses to release, try pressing the lower edge back onto the rear case and repeat this opening process.

Using a strongish magnet will grab and release the latches.

Quote from darkstar448:

Using a strongish magnet will grab and release the latches.

Are you sure it's safe to do this? How close is the hard drive, won't magnets interfere with it?

It's almost certainly fine. Modern hard drives are very resistant to magnetic fields.

Lay your iMac stand-side down on a table.
Lift the front bezel from its lower edge and rotate it away from the rest of your iMac, minding the RAM arms that may get caught.
Lay the front bezel above the rest of the iMac.

If necessary, remove the piece of kapton tape wrapped around the microphone and camera cables.

Peel back the aluminum EMI shield up off the lower three edges of the rear case.
It is not necessary to peel the EMI shield off the display.
We found it helpful to tape the EMI shield up against the display to keep it out of the way.

Remove the two T6 Torx screws securing the AirPort/Bluetooth board to the logic board.
Lift the AirPort/Bluetooth board up from its left edge to separate it from its socket on the logic board.
Lift the AirPort/Bluetooth board from its left edge only. Trying to lift from its right edge may break the socket off the logic board.