MacBook Pro 2016-2019 Touch Bar Repair Johannesburg | iAssist
MacBook Pro 2016–2019 RepairJohannesburg & Gauteng
The butterfly keyboard era — where a single crumb from your rusks could kill the letter "e" and Apple's solution was to replace the entire top case. Good times. The 2016-2019 Touch Bar generation brought butterfly keyboards that failed from dust, Flexgate display cables that cracked from normal use, and screens that delaminated from cleaning cloths (Staingate). Six models: A1706, A1708, A1707, A1989, A1990, and A2159 — each with its own fault patterns we know well. What makes us different: we don't just swap the top case for a butterfly failure. We diagnose whether it's keyboard, trackpad, or battery first, because the top case contains all three. Flexgate gets a replacement flex cable, not a full display assembly at R12,000. Board-level T2 work, screen replacement for severe Staingate, and thermal repastes for the i9 models that could braai boerewors on the bottom case. Free diagnostic, R300 Gauteng collection, 6-month warranty.
Fixing MacBooks since 2011 · Free diagnostic · Butterfly + Flexgate + T1 work · Component-level repair · 6-month warranty
Common MacBook Pro 2016–2019 Repair faults we see
Butterfly keyboard failure — keys not registering
The 2016–2019 butterfly keyboard is the most failure-prone keyboard Apple ever shipped. A single dust particle stops key registration. Apple's free programme has ended. Topcase replacement is the fix.
CD3217B12 / B13 failure — completely dead machine
The USB-C power delivery controller IC is the most common logic board fault on these models. Machine completely dead with no response. Component-level replacement under microscope. Very high success rate.
Display cable strain — backlight failure and purple lines
The display backlight cable runs through a tight bend in the 2016 hinge design. Micro-fractures develop over years causing backlight failure, purple lines, or black screen at certain angles. Display assembly replacement.
Touch Bar failure — black or frozen strip
All models except A1708 have Touch Bar. Black or frozen Touch Bar — SMC reset first, Touch Bar assembly replacement if hardware.
Thermal throttling — no copper shim, poor thermal design
All 2016–2019 Intel MacBook Pros throttle under sustained load. Thermal paste replacement recommended after 5+ years. A1707 and A1990 15-inch models benefit most from thermal service.
USB-C port failure — 2-port or 4-port models
Controller IC failure kills one or more ports. CD3217 replacement or USB-C board replacement depending on fault.
Technical specifications
| Model | A number | Screen | Keyboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBP 13-inch 2016 | A1706 (Touch Bar) / A1708 (no Touch Bar) | 13-inch Retina | Butterfly gen 1/2 |
| MBP 15-inch 2016–2017 | A1707 | 15-inch Retina | Butterfly gen 1/2 |
| MBP 13-inch 2018–2019 | A1989 | 13-inch Retina | Butterfly gen 3 |
| MBP 15-inch 2018–2019 | A1990 | 15-inch Retina | Butterfly gen 3/4 |
| All | USB-C only · Touch Bar (except A1708) · Soldered SSD | ||
Repair price guide
Pricing tagged by screen size and model variant. Free diagnostic and written quote before any work begins — final price confirmed after assessment.
| Service | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Screen replacement (Retina) 13-inch (A1706/A1708/A1989/A2159) |
R6,500 – R10,500 |
| Screen replacement (Retina) 15-inch (A1707/A1990) |
R8,500 – R14,500 |
| Flexgate cable replacement 13-inch + 15-inch 2016-2017 (A1706/A1708/A1707) |
R2,800 – R4,500 |
| Battery replacement 13-inch |
R2,500 – R3,500 |
| Battery replacement 15-inch |
R3,500 – R4,500 |
| Top case + butterfly keyboard 13-inch |
R4,500 – R7,500 |
| Top case + butterfly keyboard 15-inch |
R5,500 – R8,500 |
| Logic board repair (microsoldering) All variants |
R2,500 – R8,500 |
| Touch Bar repair All variants |
R2,500 – R5,500 |
| USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 port repair All variants |
R1,800 – R4,500 |
| Liquid damage treatment All variants |
R1,500 – R6,500 |
Which MacBook Pro do you have?
Jump to your exact model for model-specific pricing, parts, and known faults.
MacBook Pro M5
M5 · M5 Pro · M5 Max
View M5 repairs → 2024MacBook Pro M4
M4 · M4 Pro · M4 Max
View M4 repairs → 2023MacBook Pro M3
M3 · M3 Pro · M3 Max
View M3 repairs → 2022 - 2023MacBook Pro M2
M2 · M2 Pro · M2 Max
View M2 repairs → 2020 - 2021MacBook Pro M1
M1 · M1 Pro · M1 Max
View M1 repairs → Intel · 2019-2020MacBook Pro 2019-2020
13" + 16" Intel Core
View 2019-2020 repairs → Intel · Touch BarMacBook Pro 2016-2019
13" + 15" Touch Bar
View 2016-2019 repairs → Intel · RetinaMacBook Pro 2012-2015
13" + 15" Retina
View 2012-2015 repairs → Intel · Pre-RetinaMacBook Pro pre-2012
Unibody · Aluminium
View pre-2012 repairs →Three ways to get your MacBook Pro to us
Walk in, arrange Gauteng collection, or ship from anywhere in South Africa. Whichever route you choose, your repair starts with a free diagnostic and a written quote.
Drop it off at the workshop
Walk in to our Silvamonte workshop any business day. Free parking, free diagnostic on the spot. MacBook Pros are slim and easy to carry — bring it in any sleeve or backpack.
11 Swemmer Rd, Silvamonte, Johannesburg
Mon-Fri 08:00-17:30 · Sat 08:00-14:00
Door-to-door via Eliz Courier
Our local Gauteng courier partner, Eliz Courier & Messenger Services, handles insured door-to-door collection and return across Joburg, Pretoria, the East Rand, Centurion, the lot. R300 round-trip. WhatsApp us to book — usually within 24 hours.
WhatsApp to book collection →Ship via The Courier Guy
Anywhere in South Africa — Cape Town, Durban, PE, Bloem, Polokwane. We arrange a Courier Guy collection from your door, the MacBook Pro ships to us insured, gets repaired, and returns via the same courier.
WhatsApp to arrange courier →Questions about this MacBook Pro
Why is the 2016–2019 MacBook Pro butterfly keyboard so unreliable?
Apple's butterfly mechanism uses an extremely thin travel design highly susceptible to dust. A single particle stops the key switch registering. The design was replaced with the scissor mechanism in 2019.
My 2016 MacBook Pro screen goes black when opened past a certain angle — what is this?
Classic display cable strain fault. The backlight cable cracks at the hinge bend point. Display assembly replacement resolves it permanently. iAssist repairs this regularly.
Is the CD3217 repair worth doing on a 2016–2017 MacBook Pro?
Yes — the rest of the machine is often in good condition. A dead machine from a single failed IC is not a reason to retire it. Component-level replacement is far cheaper than a new machine.
Can A1708 butterfly keyboard be fixed?
A1708 has the butterfly keyboard (no Touch Bar variant). Topcase replacement resolves all butterfly keyboard failures.
Does the A1707 15-inch have two fans?
Yes — the 15-inch A1707 and A1990 have two fans and a dedicated AMD Radeon GPU in addition to Intel integrated graphics.
How long do 2016–2019 MacBook Pro batteries last now?
These batteries are 5–8 years old. Effective capacity is typically 50–70% of original. Battery replacement restores full runtime — typically 8–10 hours on 13-inch, 8–9 hours on 15-inch.
Is OCLP needed for these MacBook Pros?
No — 2017, 2018, and 2019 MacBook Pros are natively supported by current macOS Sonoma. 2016 models are also natively supported.
Can the Touch Bar on A1706 be repaired?
Yes. iAssist replaces Touch Bar assemblies on all Touch Bar Intel MacBook Pros with a 6-month warranty.
Is the dGPU on the A1707 / A1990 reliable?
More reliable than the notorious 2011 GPU but these AMD GPUs can fail. Symptoms: screen corruption, random restarts, no display. Logic board assessment required.
How much does 2016–2019 MacBook Pro repair typically cost?
Butterfly keyboard topcase replacement, battery replacement, and CD3217 IC replacement are the three most common repairs. All confirmed before booking.
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