Chosen Solution
Some dust got inside the track pad of my new MacBook Pro 13" Model A1278 (bought brand new in May,2014). I followed a tutorial video of how to clean the track pad, which involved unscrewing/disconnecting the battery to get access to the track pad, disconnected the track pad carefully, cleaned it and replaced it, then replaced the battery. The MacBook was not connected to the MagSafe adaptor while doing this, the power was also turned off. There was about half the battery charge left when I began this procedure, which didn’t take long to do. After connecting everything, and making sure it was as I found it, I screwed the back panel on again and pressed the power button to start up the MacBook, but it did not come on. I connected the MagSafe power adaptor, tried to power on again, and still nothing. It is dead. Although I noticed that the MagSafe adaptor has a very feint green light (nowhere near as bright green as it is when in good health). I am thinking that while removing the battery, using a small metal screw driver, I may have lightly touched the silver contacts that are beside the battery connector/plug for a split second. By doing this might I have short circuited the logic board? I joined another technical forum earlier today and someone said I may have done this. But could there be another reason I can’t power up my MacBook? I hope someone can help. Thanks.
Ok, so I have had this issue before. First, dust may very well have made its way into the DC-In board. I am not sure which model of the MacBook Pro you have, but you will have to find the guide to remove the Magsafe DC-In Board for your model here. Remove the board and clean both the magsafe contact part of the connector and the logic board contact part of the connector, as well as the socket on the logic board with +90% Isopropyl alcohol. Also, clean the keyboard ribbon cable. Try to power on after this, if you still get no power, your keyboard may be damaged (power button runs off of the keyboard). To see if it is indeed the keyboard that is broken and not the logic board, find the “power pads” on your model’s logic board here. Take a pair of tweezers and touch both contacts at the same time (with the battery connected as well as all other components) for several seconds. If you hear a startup sound, then you know that the logic board is, for the most part, in good condition. Try these methods in order and let us know if you get any results.
Go over all the connections again. 99.0044% of the time a connection(or) that was thought to be good (straight, solid, complete) is not. Often ribbon cable connectors (which use cam locks) are not inserted completely, or were “connected” without opening/closing the cam lock. The “on” button runs through connections in the top case to the logic board… the trackpad is part of that circuit. If you damaged or miss-connected the track pad that could be your problem. If this answer is acceptable please remember to return and mark it.
Have you also detached the keyboard? Power Button is part of the keyboard. If yes try to stick a tape on it and pull it all the way in to the connector. Then lock the connector. Also try an SMC reset. The last option would be to short two power on pads on the logic board to see if the machine powers on.
it looks like someone has been found to mend the laptop free of charge, will keep the thread open just in case. thanks everyone for your help so far.
