Water Damaged Macbook

[defuse54]

I received a water damaged macbook from a friend. Im pretty sure she didn't immediately unplug the device from the wall and remove the battery. The device will not turn on.

Is it even worth repairing? I know apple will want to replace everything with cost as much as a new macbook. I'm guessing it could be just the logic board, but those go for around $400. I saw a few sellers on ebay claiming they fix water damaged macbooks for $200, which seems like a scam. Whats your thoughts?

 

[slugg]

I fixed one myself for free... It was a spilled coffee. It was one of the old, first-gen white MacBooks.

I cleaned up the logic board, reflowed a bunch of components, reseated every connector, and cleaned every key individually. After that, the MacBook would turn on when plugged in to a power source, but otherwise show an "x" for the battery meter and wouldn't charge the battery (known as "the MacBook battery problem").

I determined the problem on the logic board, which was a severe corrosion issue on the DC power connector and the through-hole socket on the logic board. I had to semi-rebuild the battery connector by replacing all the pins on it, which was a soldering challenge. I used club soda to clean off the corrosive gunk on the logic board (like a car battery terminal), then doused it in 90% alcohol to clean and evaporate all the club soda.

After all of that, the MacBook was perfectly fine. So yea, I'm sure there are guys that would do it for $200 or so. If you were local, I'd give a shot for much less

 

[zacharace]

I fixed one myself for free... It was a spilled coffee. It was one of the old, first-gen white MacBooks.

I cleaned up the logic board, reflowed a bunch of components, reseated every connector, and cleaned every key individually. After that, the MacBook would turn on when plugged in to a power source, but otherwise show an "x" for the battery meter and wouldn't charge the battery (known as "the MacBook battery problem").

I determined the problem on the logic board, which was a severe corrosion issue on the DC power connector and the through-hole socket on the logic board. I had to semi-rebuild the battery connector by replacing all the pins on it, which was a soldering challenge. I used club soda to clean off the corrosive gunk on the logic board (like a car battery terminal), then doused it in 90% alcohol to clean and evaporate all the club soda.

After all of that, the MacBook was perfectly fine. So yea, I'm sure there are guys that would do it for $200 or so. If you were local, I'd give a shot for much less

Wow, I'm very impressed, slugg--the ultimate handyman . defuse, do you know the extent of the water damage (i.e., the amount/type of liquid spilled)? This could be the starting point for any evaluation.

 

[slugg]

It sounds a lot harder than it really was. Not too bad at all, really.

How much liquid was involved? Was it just water?

 

[defuse54]

Thanks Ill try to clean it up, with club soda and alcohol.

Well it looks like soda was spilled on the laptop. This happened like a few weeks ago, and it looks like corrosion is visible in certain areas.

When you plug in an ac adapter, it charges the battery but it wont turn on. Purchasing a new logic board looks tempting, but I wouldn't want to dig myself in a hole if some else is defective.

 

[slugg]

If the battery is charging, that means that the board is receiving power from the MagSafe connector AND the battery connection is still good. All things point toward a good power supply - so we just need to figure out why it doesn't want to turn on.

First of all, try to reset the SMC (System Management Controller). You could Google around for a guide on how to do this. If this solves your problem, woohoo!

Inspect the "closed lid" sensor. It may be damaged and stuck in sleep mode. You'll have to remove the top-case from the Macbook to do so. Look for liquid damage that may be causing a short and try to clean it off. 90% rubbing alcohol is your friend because it will mix with moisture and evaporate it cleanly off!

Check the ribbon cable from the top-case (keyboard and trackpad) to the logic board. These are pretty fragile and thin. Even the slightest bit of corrosion or gunk/sugar could impede proper contact on the connector. Check the connector, too. On the MacBook that I fixed, I pushed q-tips that were soaked in alcohol in all the important connectors on the logic board. Make sure it's dry before reconnecting everything. Just lightly blow on whatever you put alcohol on and it'll dry in a second or two.

What model MacBook is it?

 

[TheStu]

On my first gen MacBook, the sleep sensor was located on the left side of the system, right near the Kensington Lock slot. I determined this by accidentally placing a magnet there and the system went to sleep.

 

[slugg]

On my first gen MacBook, the sleep sensor was located on the left side of the system, right near the Kensington Lock slot. I determined this by accidentally placing a magnet there and the system went to sleep.

Yea, that's where they used to be. I haven't taken apart a new unibody macbook, but I thought I read somewhere that the new ones have the sensor in the trackpad. I'm not entirely sure about that, now that you mention it.

EDIT: My MBP 13" (latest gen) definitely has it on the left side next to the audio jack. Confirmed by using a magnet.

Point is, find that sensor and make sure it's not messed up ;-)

 

[HomerSapien]

Wife spilled about 12-20 ozs of water on her macbook. I immediately grabbed it and I am not sure if my thumb was on the power or not, but it turned off immediately. I took it apart, dried everything off and waited about 2 days for all moisture to dry. Turned it on and it worked, with a few keys that do not work.

 

[TheStu]

Does anyone know what a steady but not too rapid blink means on the sleep light? My mom spilled some on her MacBook, and I did the usual 'tear it apart, let it dry out, flush with de-ionized water and 91% isopropyl (which I have used with success in the past)' and it did improve matters, from not doing nothing to the slow blink. It does seem to be charging the battery, and I cannot see any obvious corrosion.

Slugg, why can't you be in PA instead of FL?

 

[slugg]

^^ Take out the memory sticks and inspect them. Clean the slots and memory sticks as necessary with the alcohol. Make sure it's super dry, reinstall them, and see what happens. Make sure to press pretty hard when re-seating the memory.

That *SHOULD* do the trick. Let me know

edit: And trust me, I do wish I was in PA. Florida is boring and full of old, boring people. Universal Studios is cool, though.

 

[TheStu]

^^ Take out the memory sticks and inspect them. Clean the slots and memory sticks as necessary with the alcohol. Make sure it's super dry, reinstall them, and see what happens. Make sure to press pretty hard when re-seating the memory.

That *SHOULD* do the trick. Let me know

edit: And trust me, I do wish I was in PA. Florida is boring and full of old, boring people. Universal Studios is cool, though.

That did not do the trick. According to my roommate, the blink that the MacBook has is not the memory blink.

 

[slugg]

Hmm, well that's not good. Is there any kind of pattern to it? See here.

 

[defuse54]

If the battery is charging, that means that the board is receiving power from the MagSafe connector AND the battery connection is still good. All things point toward a good power supply - so we just need to figure out why it doesn't want to turn on.

First of all, try to reset the SMC (System Management Controller). You could Google around for a guide on how to do this. If this solves your problem, woohoo!

Inspect the "closed lid" sensor. It may be damaged and stuck in sleep mode. You'll have to remove the top-case from the Macbook to do so. Look for liquid damage that may be causing a short and try to clean it off. 90% rubbing alcohol is your friend because it will mix with moisture and evaporate it cleanly off!

Check the ribbon cable from the top-case (keyboard and trackpad) to the logic board. These are pretty fragile and thin. Even the slightest bit of corrosion or gunk/sugar could impede proper contact on the connector. Check the connector, too. On the MacBook that I fixed, I pushed q-tips that were soaked in alcohol in all the important connectors on the logic board. Make sure it's dry before reconnecting everything. Just lightly blow on whatever you put alcohol on and it'll dry in a second or two.

What model MacBook is it?

Its a A1181. Thanks again for your post, its really detailed and strait to the point.