Airport Extreme A1521 Power Supply Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

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Sections

Internal Structure
5 steps
Fan
2 steps
Power Supply
2 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Internal Structure

Using a metal spudger, gently pry the cover off the bottom of the device.

Using a metal spudger, gently pry the cover off the bottom of the device.

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Step 2

Four black internal wires, three thin and one thick, are connected to the logic board: three by small end clips and one by a larger end clip. Handle the clips gently; they break easily.
To detach the small clips from the connectors, place the flat end of the plastic spudger underneath the clip and gently lever it away from the center of the device.
To detach the large clip from its connector, place the flat end of the spudger on the clip and lever it upward out of the connector.

Four black internal wires, three thin and one thick, are connected to the logic board: three by small end clips and one by a larger end clip. Handle the clips gently; they break easily.

To detach the small clips from the connectors, place the flat end of the plastic spudger underneath the clip and gently lever it away from the center of the device.

To detach the large clip from its connector, place the flat end of the spudger on the clip and lever it upward out of the connector.

Step 3

Using two fingers, pinch the power supply wire and gently lift it upward. Move it away from the metal plate.
Next, unscrew the four 3.3mm T8 Torx screws and remove the metal plate.
The metal plate fits snugly into the gap. To reassemble the device, push the rounded edge of the plate into the gap first. This will wedge the gap open so that you can fit the rest of the plate into its proper place.

Using two fingers, pinch the power supply wire and gently lift it upward. Move it away from the metal plate.

Next, unscrew the four 3.3mm T8 Torx screws and remove the metal plate.

The metal plate fits snugly into the gap. To reassemble the device, push the rounded edge of the plate into the gap first. This will wedge the gap open so that you can fit the rest of the plate into its proper place.

Step 4

Remove the T8 Torx screwdriver head and replace it with the 60 mm extension; then, add the T9 Torx head.
Loosen, but do not remove the two screws at the bottom of the 1.2-inch wide gap in the middle of the internal structure.
These screws are spring-loaded and will stay in the device, even when loosened; however, it is still possible for them to be fully removed. Be careful to only partially loosen them.

Remove the T8 Torx screwdriver head and replace it with the 60 mm extension; then, add the T9 Torx head.

Loosen, but do not remove the two screws at the bottom of the 1.2-inch wide gap in the middle of the internal structure.

These screws are spring-loaded and will stay in the device, even when loosened; however, it is still possible for them to be fully removed. Be careful to only partially loosen them.

Step 5

Using only your fingers, gently compress the internal structure and pull evenly upward to remove it from the white case.
When you put the internal structure back into the case, gently compress it, and lower it most of the way into the case. Stop lowering it when the top port has just entered the case. Now push the two sides of the internal structure outward against the sides of the case.
Finish lowering the internal structure the rest of the way into the case. The ports should be lined up with the openings in the case and should be flush against the sides of the case.

Using only your fingers, gently compress the internal structure and pull evenly upward to remove it from the white case.

When you put the internal structure back into the case, gently compress it, and lower it most of the way into the case. Stop lowering it when the top port has just entered the case. Now push the two sides of the internal structure outward against the sides of the case.

Finish lowering the internal structure the rest of the way into the case. The ports should be lined up with the openings in the case and should be flush against the sides of the case.

Step 6

Fan

Rotate the internal structure so that the white ports are facing away from you.
Three 8.2mm T8 Torx screws connect the fan to the internal structure. Unscrew all three.
Don’t lose the rubber grommets underneath the screws. These prevent you from damaging the device while dismantling it.

Rotate the internal structure so that the white ports are facing away from you.

Three 8.2mm T8 Torx screws connect the fan to the internal structure. Unscrew all three.

Don’t lose the rubber grommets underneath the screws. These prevent you from damaging the device while dismantling it.

Step 7

Remove the fan from the device.
Remove the fan gently; it fits snugly and could damage the device if pulled roughly.

Remove the fan from the device.

Remove the fan gently; it fits snugly and could damage the device if pulled roughly.

Step 8

              Power Supply

Remove the four 10.35 mm Torx T8 screws on the black plastic shell.

Remove the four 10.35 mm Torx T8 screws on the black plastic shell.

Step 9

The power supply should come right off.
Make sure you don’t touch the black cylinder on the power supply. It can shock you and cause injury.

The power supply should come right off.

Make sure you don’t touch the black cylinder on the power supply. It can shock you and cause injury.

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

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                                                                                      12 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 6 other contributors

                    Omar Arriaga

Member since: 10/17/2013

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Team

                       Cal Poly, Team 4-26, Amido Fall 2013                        

                                                  Member of Cal Poly, Team 4-26, Amido Fall 2013 



                    CPSU-AMIDO-F13S4G26                     


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                                            18 Guides authored

paulkrupa - Mar 11, 2016

When removing the fan pay attention to the cable. It is glued down with sticky tape and is routed beneath the rubber seal that mates against the case. You may want to remove the power supply cover first since the cable for the fan is routed beneath its cover. But once the power supply fasteners are removed the power supply is dangling from its cables so be careful to relieve the strain.

cuthbert awesome - May 15, 2017

Splendid! It worked! I’m so happy. The old fan did really have some slackness and the new one makes no sound. Thanks for describing how to change the fan.

rpoland - Mar 19, 2020

How do you remove the Power indicating LED or just do you cut the wires?

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team