Macbook freezing up

[Big Jim]

2013 13" Macbook Pro

freezes up completely, does it after the login screen but before fully loading the OS, have to hard reset and power back on
Tried running memtest on it and it freezes between 15 - 20mins (v7.5)
Tried booting from a copy of MacOS we have installed on a USB Stick and it freezes up when the loading bar is between 1/3 to 1/2 way across
booted to Hirens x64 and ran a HDD test on the SSD, seemed pretty stable no issue.
tried resetting SMC/PRAM and no difference to any of above.
Ran Apple diagnostics which found an issue with the camera and nothing else.
ran first aid on the drive, passes ok
Just stuck the latest memtest on a USB (V9 something) and that has got to 25 odd minutes without freezing and completed a pass without errors.

any ideas ?

 

[overburnz]

Probably a RAM issue (logic board), is it a early 2013 ou late 2013? Have you tried to boot with the trackpad disconnected? and the keyboard disconnected?

 

[Big Jim]

havent tried disconnecting anything yet.
however I have more weirdness

if I plug 2 USB sticks into it (1 port on each side) it appears to disable the keyboard and trackpad, it boots to the login screen but I can't login and I cant use option to try and boot from USB.

So i held down option to choose boot option and then inserted both USB sticks, I have installed a copy of high sierra to one of them and am currently booted off it and no freezes so far.

so potentially a reinstall might fix it.

 

[overburnz]

I would open in to check for potencial liquid damage, the usb thing it’s weird…

 

[Big Jim]

more weirdness

installed a fresh copy of high sierra as above, had it booted and running a you tube video for well over 2 hours.
shutdown, unplugged the usb and booted from internal SSD, had it running you tube for well over an hour, and had multiple reboots without any freezing/crashing.

reset SMC, now it is freezing again either before login or just after.

no obvious signs of liquid inside by the way.

 

[overburnz]

Did the customer gave you any information regarding to when this issue started ?

 

[Markverhyden]

Just for grins I'd also fire it up with a Linux distro for testing.

 

[Big Jim]

Did the customer gave you any information regarding to when this issue started ?

no i didnt get that, but it has been getting worse (over what time period I don't know though)

 

[Big Jim]

Just for grins I'd also fire it up with a Linux distro for testing.

Hirens works fine so I assume linux would too.

This has to be hardware though right ?
if an SMC reset caused it to start happening again.

 

[Markverhyden]

Hirens works fine so I assume linux would too.

This has to be hardware though right ?
if an SMC reset caused it to start happening again.

Symptoms sound similar to what happened to my 2015 Retina. Sent it to Rossman in NYC and they replaced a chip on the logic board so it booted. Wasn't cheap though. $375 if I remember correctly.

 

[Big Jim]

Symptoms sound similar to what happened to my 2015 Retina. Sent it to Rossman in NYC and they replaced a chip on the logic board so it booted. Wasn't cheap though. $375 if I remember correctly.

yeh I've just quoted to replace the board and customer has approved it.
It really can't be anything but a hardware fault at this stage and repair/replacement would be similar cost so replacement it is.