Spilled Coke on my laptop

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
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I spilled about 8 oz of Coke on my Gateway MX7527, so I immediately unplugged it and turned it off. I let some drip out and then opened it up to sop up what I could. I removed the keyboard and couldn't see any in the CPU area, and checked the hard drive, battery, and DVD drive. Other than a few drops here and there the only wet spot I can find is right under the DVD drive, but like an idiot I tried to turn it on and it wouldn't do anything. The AC power light comes on but it doesn't power on at all. Right now I have it tipped on its side pretty much taken apart to try to get it to dry.

Is there anything else I can do to get it to dry out and hopefully work?
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Go to the parts or electronics store for some CRC contact cleaner and douche it.
 

w00t

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 2004
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dam, sorry to hear that you shouldn't have tried to turn it on right after

see what other people say worst case scenario from what you said probably just have to replace the motherboard which can be expensive.

if you have a blow dryer on the lowest temperature setting that might help letting it dry out would of been good for like 24hours.
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
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Originally posted by: John
Go to the parts or electronics store for some CRC contact cleaner and douche it.
Everything's pretty much closed for now, but should Radio Shack have it? Could I substitute 90% isopropyl alcohol in a pinch?
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
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Originally posted by: MDE
[Go to the parts or electronics store for some CRC contact cleaner and douche it.
Everything's pretty much closed for now, but should Radio Shack have it? Could I substitute 90% isopropyl alcohol in a pinch?[/quote]

90% isopropyl alcohol should be fine too, as long as you make sure itis completely dry before powering it back up. Hell you can use water as long as the water is clean and you dry it completely first before you turn it on.

At some industrial electronic repair houses they run circuit boards through a giant industrial washer with soap, DI water and hot air driers before they repair the boards.

pcgeek11

 

Bill Kunert

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
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I'd be surprised if your keyboard works. Liquids play havoc with the film switches they use. Good luck, hope it all works when everything is dried out.
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
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Good news! Turned it on and it booted up, but the keyboard wasn't fully functional. I'm going to soak it in alcohol to get the sticky stuff out and hopefully it'll be OK. Otherwise, the keyboard is an easy and relatively cheap fix.
 

Snooper

Senior member
Oct 10, 1999
465
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Personally, I would recommend water over alcohol for the keyboard. Coke is very much water soluble. Plus, every single part in that computer has been in DI water so many times during manufacturing (ok. Maybe not the plastic parts!) that you will not hurt anything if you let it all dry out nicely before hitting it with power.
 

AVP

Senior member
Jan 19, 2005
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I almost just woke my roomate up laughing...cheers Daniel
 

NaOH

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2006
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always let electronics dry out before attempting to power it on.
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
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Heh, I was trying to work in a Pepsi reference in the OP but it just seemed too forced so I left it out. As for the people reminding me to not turn on wet electronics, I'm an idiot and I've admitted that. :p