Author Topic: Water spill on laptop, repair?  (Read 2568 times)

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Offline Naweo

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Water spill on laptop, repair?
« on: Wed, 22 August 2018, 16:18:39 »
Hey guys, I spilled on my macbook air, some juice. I opened it up and I see stains everywhere. I tried to boot it once, it gets to the login screen, but the touchpad seems to not work.

Any steps I can do to try and make it work again?

Thanks!

Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 22 August 2018, 16:23:12 »
If it's the version with the keyboard glued/ molded into the chassis,

You need a new chassis..

Offline Naweo

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 22 August 2018, 16:29:08 »
If it's the version with the keyboard glued/ molded into the chassis,

You need a new chassis..


Hey!

It is a 2013 or 2015 model. How do I check if it is glued?

Thanks

Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 22 August 2018, 16:41:33 »
Well.. at least the replacement part is only $150

Or you can follow this guide and do a 90% fix..



Offline romevi

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 22 August 2018, 16:41:34 »
Install Gentoo.

Offline xtrafrood

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 22 August 2018, 17:07:58 »

Offline Leslieann

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 22 August 2018, 17:54:01 »
If nothing got on the logic/mainboard, you're okay, however a spider peeing on it can kill a Mac mainboard (seriously) so you need to REALLY look it over carefully. Macs are TERRIBLE about fluid damage, just as they are terrible for repair, they're built like a cell phone, not a computer.

If you find water damage on the mainboard but it still runs you might be okay, but odds are it's damaged. Check in the areas you see damage and make sure no contacts are completely eaten away and clean that spot off with some alcohol then let it dry for a couple days or stick it in a VERY low temp over like a toaster oven after cleaning with alcohol. Since it comes on, chances are it's usable, but you may have taken out individual systems such as Thunderbolt. If it is serious though... More on that in a moment.

The keyboard is probably toast and they are glued in with industrial double sided tape and plastic rivets. Yes, you can replace it, but after watching a specialist do this, I would either buy a new chassis with keyboard in it or send it out to an expert, it's a nightmare to do properly from what I saw. The keyboads themselves are cheap, but a top with keyboard isn't too bad.Touchpads are similar to the keyboard, but easier to replace. Keyboards and touchpads will keep it from booting, so if the mainboard/logicboard is okay, you're ahead of the game. You can use anything from 2012- 2016 I think, so parts are easy to get.

My guess is you need at least a new keyboard and touchpad, you can do it yourself for probably $100 (my advice, buy a top/keyboard/touchpad combo so it all remains factory sealed). If it's more than that, just replace the whole computer in it's entirely. Seriously, the prices on logicboards are just silly and you can often replace the whole thing for the same price then sell off your old parts that still work (especially if it's an 11.6in model). If you do replace the logicboard, you need to find out the exact year as Apple used proprietary drive connectors and replaced them every couple years (thanks Apple!). If you do replace the whole thing you might be able to unplug the keyboard and touchpad then use a usb mouse and keyboard to get your data off, though my concern is that they tend to not boot at all if that is the problem. It getting part way in then failing is not the norm, but that could indicate only the touchpad is shorted.
« Last Edit: Wed, 22 August 2018, 23:56:16 by Leslieann »
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Offline xtrafrood

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 22 August 2018, 18:28:38 »
Phew. And I though the 2012 15" solder botch issue was (is) awful. s/OSX/FreeBSD/g


Offline Leslieann

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 23 August 2018, 00:03:42 »
Phew. And I though the 2012 15" solder botch issue was (is) awful. s/OSX/FreeBSD/g

If you like Apple, that is a bad channel to watch, or a good one, depending on how you look at it.
That said, Apple is far from the only terrible company to buy computers from.

From what I've gathered (not just from Louis), is that while people like to rag on the Air, it's historically one of the most reliable laptops you can get from Apple (by a HUGE margin in some cases) and you could even make a good argument that the Air is currently their best and only "Pro" offering.
Novelkeys NK65AE w/62g Zilents/39g springs
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62g Zilents/lubed/Novelkeys 39g springs, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps, Netdot Gen10 magnetic cable, pic
| Filco MJ2 L.E. Vortex Case, Jailhouse Blues, heavily customized
More
Vortex case squared up/blasted finish removed/custom feet/paint/winkey blockoff plate, HID Liberator, stainless steel universal plate, 3d printed adapters, Type C, Netdot Gen10 magnetic cable, foam sound dampened, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps (o-ringed), Cherry Jailhouse Blues w/lubed/clipped Cherry light springs, 40g actuation
| GMMK TKL
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w/ Kailh Purple Pros/lubed/Novelkeys 39g springs, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps, Netdot Gen10 Magnetic cable
| PF65 3d printed 65% w/LCD and hot swap
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Box Jades, Interchangeable trim, mini lcd, QMK, underglow, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps, O-rings, Netdot Gen10 magnetic cable, in progress link
| Magicforce 68
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MF68 pcb, Outemu Blues, in progress
| YMDK75 Jail Housed Gateron Blues
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J-spacers, YMDK Thick PBT, O-rings, SIP sockets
| KBT Race S L.E.
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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 23 August 2018, 00:23:58 »
Phew. And I though the 2012 15" solder botch issue was (is) awful. s/OSX/FreeBSD/g

If you like Apple, that is a bad channel to watch, or a good one, depending on how you look at it.
That said, Apple is far from the only terrible company to buy computers from.

From what I've gathered (not just from Louis), is that while people like to rag on the Air, it's historically one of the most reliable laptops you can get from Apple (by a HUGE margin in some cases) and you could even make a good argument that the Air is currently their best and only "Pro" offering.

It may have to do with the Air being the lowest wattage, therefore lowest ware/tear due to thermal cycling..


Offline Leslieann

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 23 August 2018, 01:05:02 »
Phew. And I though the 2012 15" solder botch issue was (is) awful. s/OSX/FreeBSD/g

If you like Apple, that is a bad channel to watch, or a good one, depending on how you look at it.
That said, Apple is far from the only terrible company to buy computers from.

From what I've gathered (not just from Louis), is that while people like to rag on the Air, it's historically one of the most reliable laptops you can get from Apple (by a HUGE margin in some cases) and you could even make a good argument that the Air is currently their best and only "Pro" offering.

It may have to do with the Air being the lowest wattage, therefore lowest ware/tear due to thermal cycling..
It was a modern ultrabook, back in 2008. No gpu, soldered ram, soldered cpu, the drive was an ssd and the lcd was built into a stout aluminum housing, this meant Apple couldn't shop around for the lowest bidder on those parts but instead had to use good components supplied by their oem.
Novelkeys NK65AE w/62g Zilents/39g springs
More
62g Zilents/lubed/Novelkeys 39g springs, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps, Netdot Gen10 magnetic cable, pic
| Filco MJ2 L.E. Vortex Case, Jailhouse Blues, heavily customized
More
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| GMMK TKL
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w/ Kailh Purple Pros/lubed/Novelkeys 39g springs, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps, Netdot Gen10 Magnetic cable
| PF65 3d printed 65% w/LCD and hot swap
More
Box Jades, Interchangeable trim, mini lcd, QMK, underglow, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps, O-rings, Netdot Gen10 magnetic cable, in progress link
| Magicforce 68
More
MF68 pcb, Outemu Blues, in progress
| YMDK75 Jail Housed Gateron Blues
More
J-spacers, YMDK Thick PBT, O-rings, SIP sockets
| KBT Race S L.E.
More
Ergo Clears, custom WASD caps
| Das Pro
More
Costar model with browns
| GH60
More
Cherry Blacks, custom 3d printed case
| Logitech Illumininated | IBM Model M (x2)
Definitive Omron Guide. | 3d printed Keyboard FAQ/Discussion

Offline fanpeople

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 23 August 2018, 01:40:55 »
Have you tried turning it off and on again.... and then building a time machine to go back and warn past you not to spill juice on your macbook?

Worked for me.

Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 23 August 2018, 07:34:11 »
Have you tried turning it off and on again.... and then building a time machine to go back and warn past you not to spill juice on your macbook?

Worked for me.

Or use Lenovo T420,  it's probably the cheapest wurk-competant laptop on the market..

Only downside is it doesn't have a drop in IPS panel.

Offline fanpeople

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #13 on: Thu, 23 August 2018, 07:35:22 »
Have you tried turning it off and on again.... and then building a time machine to go back and warn past you not to spill juice on your macbook?

Worked for me.

Or use Lenovo T420,  it's probably the cheapest wurk-competant laptop on the market..

Only downside is it doesn't have a drop in IPS panel.


Or not even use a laptop.... juice cant hurt a printing press.

Offline Blaise170

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #14 on: Thu, 23 August 2018, 10:39:38 »
I don't know, I've dropped my 2017 MBP a few times and other than some dents it still works fine. That said, I'm starting to get the keyboard problem that plagues these so I'll have to get that fixed at some point. Fortunately, I didn't pay for it and I'm pretty sure my employer has Apple Care so it should be free for me.  ;D
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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Water spill on laptop, repair?
« Reply #15 on: Thu, 23 August 2018, 11:43:50 »
I don't know, I've dropped my 2017 MBP a few times and other than some dents it still works fine. That said, I'm starting to get the keyboard problem that plagues these so I'll have to get that fixed at some point. Fortunately, I didn't pay for it and I'm pretty sure my employer has Apple Care so it should be free for me.  ;D

That's not a Macbook pro,  that's the latest in digital enslavement-mindcontrol Devicer. !!