Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

15

Time Required

Suggest a time??

Sections

4

  • Glass Panel
  • 2 steps
  • Display
  • 7 steps
  • Optical Drive
  • 4 steps
  • Optical Drive Fan
  • 2 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Glass Panel
  • Stick a heavy-duty suction cup near each of the two top corners of the glass panel.
  • To attach the suction cups, first position the suction cup with the movable handle parallel to the face of the glass panel (as indicated in the second picture).
  • While lightly holding the suction cup against the glass, raise the movable handle until it is parallel with the other handle (as indicated by the third picture).
  • If your suction cups refuse to stick, try cleaning both the glass panel and the suction cup with a damp soft, lint-free cloth. (Dampen with distilled water, and if needed, an equal ratio of distilled water and white vinegar for best results.)
  • Do not use the suction cups to carry the display glass because if one of them fails to stick, you could drop the screen and break it.
  • The original iMac box makes a good place to store the glass panel. Otherwise, a padded horizontal surface, like a towel on a desk, will do nicely.

Stick a heavy-duty suction cup near each of the two top corners of the glass panel.

To attach the suction cups, first position the suction cup with the movable handle parallel to the face of the glass panel (as indicated in the second picture).

While lightly holding the suction cup against the glass, raise the movable handle until it is parallel with the other handle (as indicated by the third picture).

If your suction cups refuse to stick, try cleaning both the glass panel and the suction cup with a damp soft, lint-free cloth. (Dampen with distilled water, and if needed, an equal ratio of distilled water and white vinegar for best results.)

Do not use the suction cups to carry the display glass because if one of them fails to stick, you could drop the screen and break it.

The original iMac box makes a good place to store the glass panel. Otherwise, a padded horizontal surface, like a towel on a desk, will do nicely.

1024

Step 2

  • Gently lift the glass panel perpendicular to the face of the LCD, enough to clear the steel mounting pins attached along the underside of the top edge of the glass panel.
  • Pull the glass panel away from the lower edge of the iMac and carefully set it aside.
  • Don’t use the suction cups to carry the glass panel—if either one loses its grip, the panel could fall and break.
  • After setting the glass panel down safely, be sure to release the suction cups, as the suction force over time can crack the glass.
  • During reinstallation, be sure to meticulously clean the inside of the glass panel and the face of the LCD as any dust or fingerprints trapped inside will be annoyingly visible when the machine is turned on.

Gently lift the glass panel perpendicular to the face of the LCD, enough to clear the steel mounting pins attached along the underside of the top edge of the glass panel.

Pull the glass panel away from the lower edge of the iMac and carefully set it aside.

Don’t use the suction cups to carry the glass panel—if either one loses its grip, the panel could fall and break.

After setting the glass panel down safely, be sure to release the suction cups, as the suction force over time can crack the glass.

During reinstallation, be sure to meticulously clean the inside of the glass panel and the face of the LCD as any dust or fingerprints trapped inside will be annoyingly visible when the machine is turned on.

Step 3

              Display
  • Remove the eight T10 Torx screws securing the LCD to the outer case.

Remove the eight T10 Torx screws securing the LCD to the outer case.

Step 4

  • Carefully lay the iMac stand-side down on a flat surface.
  • Due to tight tolerances, you will have to use a thin hooked tool to lift the display out of the outer case. As seen in the third picture, we made one out of a bent paperclip.
  • Use a thin hooked tool to lift one side of the top edge of the display by its steel outer frame.
  • After lifting the top edge of the display on one side, hold it out of the outer case while you use a hooked tool to lift the other side.
  • Do not lift the top edge of the display out of the outer case too far, as several short ribbon cables still connect the two components.

Carefully lay the iMac stand-side down on a flat surface.

Due to tight tolerances, you will have to use a thin hooked tool to lift the display out of the outer case. As seen in the third picture, we made one out of a bent paperclip.

Use a thin hooked tool to lift one side of the top edge of the display by its steel outer frame.

After lifting the top edge of the display on one side, hold it out of the outer case while you use a hooked tool to lift the other side.

Do not lift the top edge of the display out of the outer case too far, as several short ribbon cables still connect the two components.

Step 5

  • Using your fingers, carefully pull the vertical sync cable out of its socket on the LED driver board near the top left corner of your iMac.
  • Be sure to pull the connector parallel to the LED driver board, straight out of its socket.

Using your fingers, carefully pull the vertical sync cable out of its socket on the LED driver board near the top left corner of your iMac.

Be sure to pull the connector parallel to the LED driver board, straight out of its socket.

Step 6

  • Squeeze the two display data cable connector arms together to unlock it from its socket on the logic board.
  • Pull the display data cable connector away from its socket on the logic board.

Squeeze the two display data cable connector arms together to unlock it from its socket on the logic board.

Pull the display data cable connector away from its socket on the logic board.

Step 7

  • Rotate the display out of the outer case enough to disconnect the LED backlight power cable from the LED driver board.

Rotate the display out of the outer case enough to disconnect the LED backlight power cable from the LED driver board.

Step 8

  • Lift the display for enough clearance to disconnect the LCD thermal sensor cable connector from its socket on the logic board.
  • If your fan is spinning full speed after completion, check this connection or the hard drive’s thermal sensor cable.

Lift the display for enough clearance to disconnect the LCD thermal sensor cable connector from its socket on the logic board.

If your fan is spinning full speed after completion, check this connection or the hard drive’s thermal sensor cable.

Step 9

  • Carefully pull the display toward the top edge of your iMac and lift it out of the outer case.

Carefully pull the display toward the top edge of your iMac and lift it out of the outer case.

Step 10

              Optical Drive
  • Remove the four T10 Torx screws securing the optical drive to the outer case.

Remove the four T10 Torx screws securing the optical drive to the outer case.

Step 11

  • Pull the optical drive thermal sensor connector straight away from its socket on the logic board.

Pull the optical drive thermal sensor connector straight away from its socket on the logic board.

Step 12

  • Insert a spudger between the optical drive connector and the optical drive.
  • Twist the spudger to slightly separate the optical drive connector from the optical drive, then use your fingers to pull the connector away from the drive.

Insert a spudger between the optical drive connector and the optical drive.

Twist the spudger to slightly separate the optical drive connector from the optical drive, then use your fingers to pull the connector away from the drive.

Step 13

  • Lift the left edge of the optical drive slightly and pull it away from the right side of the outer case.
  • During reassembly, note that there are two holes in the optical drive face plate into which two stubby plastic posts must engage for proper positioning.

Lift the left edge of the optical drive slightly and pull it away from the right side of the outer case.

During reassembly, note that there are two holes in the optical drive face plate into which two stubby plastic posts must engage for proper positioning.

Step 14

              Optical Drive Fan
  • Carefully move the rear I/O board ribbon cable to reveal the optical drive fan connector hidden underneath.
  • Disconnect the optical drive fan by pulling its connector away from the socket on the logic board.

Carefully move the rear I/O board ribbon cable to reveal the optical drive fan connector hidden underneath.

Disconnect the optical drive fan by pulling its connector away from the socket on the logic board.

Step 15

  • Remove the single T10 Torx screw securing the optical drive fan to the outer case.
  • Pull the optical drive fan away from the outer case to lift it off the three plastic posts around its perimeter.
  • Carefully maneuver the optical drive fan out of the iMac, minding any cables that may get caught.

Remove the single T10 Torx screw securing the optical drive fan to the outer case.

Pull the optical drive fan away from the outer case to lift it off the three plastic posts around its perimeter.

Carefully maneuver the optical drive fan out of the iMac, minding any cables that may get caught.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Walter Galan

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Kevin McCartney - Feb 21, 2016

Reply

Go slow, and take your time. Easy as long as you do not rush it.

Wizbang FL - Sep 23, 2017

Reply

Wish a view of the back of the fan was included to determine what fan specs are needed for replacement. ifixit doesn’t have the part.

matthew - Mar 10, 2020

Reply

The fan optical fan connector has four metal contacts. These face up when reinstalling the connector. IMPORTANT