C2D black MacBook - power button stopped working :(

Any ideas on how to fix this? This is an otherwise pristine top case - no cracks or anything, so I really hope there's something I can do. The button is plastic-riveted to the top case, and I can't say I've ever done a power button replacement on one of these - when I was a genius, we just did whole top case replacements.

I ran into that issue on a C2D iMac 2006. Press the button, no workie. Button mechanism was plastic-riveted to the back case.

Turns out two of the three plastic rivets (or welds) had broken. The button was actually OK, but it gave inwards when you pressed it. I solved it by placing a bit of foam rubber behind it, to hold the button in place when pressed.

This applied some pressure against one of the speakers, but the speaker won't actually go anywhere if its mounting screw were to fail. Since I didn't trust glue or trying to weld the plastic, and there was little chance of getting a new case, the simple solution was good enough.

Annoyingly, this one seems physically fine. It clicks, it presses and releases. It's just...unresponsive.

Unplug the connector, put an ohmmeter on it, press button again. If the button works, then it's an unresponsive logic board. Probably not worth figuring out.

If the button doesn't work, replace it. Might have to substitute a similar part if you can't source the original.

You could try shooting the heck out of the existing button with electronics contact cleaner spray. From front and back sides ideally, pressed and unpressed. On the theory that it's built-up lint & dust rather than something broken. Compressed air would also be an option.

Oh this is excellent troubleshooting advice, thanks. I'll have to find a pinout for the top case connector, since the button is wired up through that. Since this is a blackbook and the top case is pristine, I really want to avoid taking a hatchet to the rivets if I can help it.

I hope it's the motherboard...that's an easy and cheap repair. If it's the top case, I'm really boned.