MacBook with a cup of tea dumped on it...
January 16, 2019 7:02 AM Subscribe
My son spilled a mug of tea on our MacBook - what's my best plan of action?
My son spilled a mug of hot hibiscus tea all over the keyboard of our 2017 MacBook 12". I wasn't home at the time so he apparently wiped off the tea on the keys etc but kept on using it for a while. When I got home I set up the laptop on its side in an "open" position to try to drain/dry the tea.
After sitting overnight, the machine has the following problems:
(1) the keyboard action is all sticky (the keys do not press down or come back up as they should; you can type but it's annoying and probably not functional long term);
(2) it intermittently stops/starts charging when plugged in - i.e., the A/C power goes in and out.
It otherwise seems ok (monitor is fine, trackpad is fine, no other issues that I can see).
I think the basic options are: (1) I can try to disassemble it and clean it/dry it as best I can, although it seems like breaking this model down is pretty hard - the keyboard is very tightly integrated into the case; (2) bring it to Apple for a repair, which I am guessing will cost at least $500 (maybe more) if they will do it; (3) bring it to a third-party repair guy, which I am somewhat skeptical about because I am imagining this type of damage is hard to repair especially on a machine that is not built to be taken apart easily; (4) throw in the towel and replace the machine for about $1000 (it is 5 months old!!, arg.).
I am a little worried that the charging problem is dangerous (i.e., power system/battery malfunction leading to possible overheat).
I am pretty handy (can crack a case, disconnect small cables, and replace easy stuff like HD or RAM), but I am not an expert.
What would you do?
My son spilled a mug of hot hibiscus tea all over the keyboard of our 2017 MacBook 12". I wasn't home at the time so he apparently wiped off the tea on the keys etc but kept on using it for a while. When I got home I set up the laptop on its side in an "open" position to try to drain/dry the tea.
After sitting overnight, the machine has the following problems:
(1) the keyboard action is all sticky (the keys do not press down or come back up as they should; you can type but it's annoying and probably not functional long term);
(2) it intermittently stops/starts charging when plugged in - i.e., the A/C power goes in and out.
It otherwise seems ok (monitor is fine, trackpad is fine, no other issues that I can see).
I think the basic options are: (1) I can try to disassemble it and clean it/dry it as best I can, although it seems like breaking this model down is pretty hard - the keyboard is very tightly integrated into the case; (2) bring it to Apple for a repair, which I am guessing will cost at least $500 (maybe more) if they will do it; (3) bring it to a third-party repair guy, which I am somewhat skeptical about because I am imagining this type of damage is hard to repair especially on a machine that is not built to be taken apart easily; (4) throw in the towel and replace the machine for about $1000 (it is 5 months old!!, arg.).
I am a little worried that the charging problem is dangerous (i.e., power system/battery malfunction leading to possible overheat).
I am pretty handy (can crack a case, disconnect small cables, and replace easy stuff like HD or RAM), but I am not an expert.
What would you do?
Almost for sure the keyboard is toast and cleaning will not help. That’s an entire topcase if Apple repairs it. The power supply situation suggests further irreversible damage inside.
Apple will diagnose it for free and then charge you a flat rate shit-ton of money to basically rebuild it, almost certainly including replacing the logic board. At that point it will make more sense to buy a warrantied refurbished unit. Or a new one.
You might find (or mefites will possibly suggest) one of many non-Apple shops that might pursue a cheaper replacement only of parts that have currently failed. But it won’t be a LOT cheaper and it may not prevent future failures. Basically a cup of sugary water is a death sentence for a MacBook, in economic terms.
Sorry. Been there. More than once.
posted by spitbull at 7:17 AM on January 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
Apple will diagnose it for free and then charge you a flat rate shit-ton of money to basically rebuild it, almost certainly including replacing the logic board. At that point it will make more sense to buy a warrantied refurbished unit. Or a new one.
You might find (or mefites will possibly suggest) one of many non-Apple shops that might pursue a cheaper replacement only of parts that have currently failed. But it won’t be a LOT cheaper and it may not prevent future failures. Basically a cup of sugary water is a death sentence for a MacBook, in economic terms.
Sorry. Been there. More than once.
posted by spitbull at 7:17 AM on January 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
When I did this, it damaged my logic board. It was usable for a while but eventually failed completely. Apple quoted me $800 to repair, so unsurprisingly, I did not pursue that option. My computer was about 4 years old then, so definitely not worth it.
posted by Aranquis at 7:45 AM on January 16, 2019
posted by Aranquis at 7:45 AM on January 16, 2019
Yes, $800 is the magic number. Just enough to make you buy a new one.
posted by spitbull at 7:51 AM on January 16, 2019
posted by spitbull at 7:51 AM on January 16, 2019
Also BACK THAT SUCKER UP RIGHT NOW WHILE IT STILL WORKS!
We now return you to your regular AskMe programming.
posted by spitbull at 7:53 AM on January 16, 2019 [21 favorites]
We now return you to your regular AskMe programming.
posted by spitbull at 7:53 AM on January 16, 2019 [21 favorites]
The power supply situation suggests further irreversible damage inside.
Yup, they keyboard problems may or may not be remediable by an end-user, but the PSU issue definitely isn't. With the way modern laptops are built, there's basically no way to replace just the PSU. (There may not even be a way to replace just the keyboard anymore on MacBooks, I haven't checked in a while.) The whole guts of the thing are basically a single unit that needs to be replaced if any component malfunctions.
posted by tobascodagama at 7:54 AM on January 16, 2019
Yup, they keyboard problems may or may not be remediable by an end-user, but the PSU issue definitely isn't. With the way modern laptops are built, there's basically no way to replace just the PSU. (There may not even be a way to replace just the keyboard anymore on MacBooks, I haven't checked in a while.) The whole guts of the thing are basically a single unit that needs to be replaced if any component malfunctions.
posted by tobascodagama at 7:54 AM on January 16, 2019
Since you are still in your warranty period you can purchase Applecare. Also turn it off. stop trying to check. If it is okay it needs to dry completely.
posted by bwonder2 at 8:23 AM on January 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by bwonder2 at 8:23 AM on January 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Good point...purchase AppleCare for $250, pay the $300 liquid damage repair fee, and you’re out for less than $600.
But OP may not be still under warranty for a 2017 MacBook. The warranty is one year from purchase.
posted by spitbull at 8:27 AM on January 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
But OP may not be still under warranty for a 2017 MacBook. The warranty is one year from purchase.
posted by spitbull at 8:27 AM on January 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Purchased April 2018. My wife just told me there was honey in the tea, also.
posted by Mid at 8:28 AM on January 16, 2019
posted by Mid at 8:28 AM on January 16, 2019
You don't have renter's/homeowner's insurance that covers liquid-damaged electronics, do you? I replaced a Macbook Air under very similar circumstances a number of years ago and only paid my $250 deductible.
posted by olinerd at 8:38 AM on January 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by olinerd at 8:38 AM on January 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
Long ago, I read of people recovering spilled-on Macbooks by thoroughly soaking and flushing them with distilled water, then letting them dry for at least a week. Take the battery out before attempting this.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 10:03 AM on January 16, 2019
posted by Kirth Gerson at 10:03 AM on January 16, 2019
Take the battery out before attempting this.
That's not really practical on a modern MacBook. The battery is glued in pretty thoroughly. It'd be easier to remove the logic board and douse that and the top cover (which the keyboard is built into) separately.
(iFixit's teardowns provide some important context. Here's the 2017 model, though it mostly focuses on the minor differences (phillips screwheads!) between it and the 2015 model it's derived from.)
Partially disassembling it and then dousing it with distilled (important) water is still probably your best bet at a fix, but I'd say it's pretty doubtful you could actually restore the device to working order that way.
posted by tobascodagama at 11:48 AM on January 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
That's not really practical on a modern MacBook. The battery is glued in pretty thoroughly. It'd be easier to remove the logic board and douse that and the top cover (which the keyboard is built into) separately.
(iFixit's teardowns provide some important context. Here's the 2017 model, though it mostly focuses on the minor differences (phillips screwheads!) between it and the 2015 model it's derived from.)
Partially disassembling it and then dousing it with distilled (important) water is still probably your best bet at a fix, but I'd say it's pretty doubtful you could actually restore the device to working order that way.
posted by tobascodagama at 11:48 AM on January 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
BACKUP RIGHT NOW!
I worked as an Apple Tech for a while, and sometimes it takes a week or more for the laptop to die after getting covered in liquid. You need to back it up right now.
posted by gregr at 12:03 PM on January 16, 2019 [4 favorites]
I worked as an Apple Tech for a while, and sometimes it takes a week or more for the laptop to die after getting covered in liquid. You need to back it up right now.
posted by gregr at 12:03 PM on January 16, 2019 [4 favorites]
> BACK THAT SUCKER UP RIGHT NOW WHILE IT STILL WORKS!
Bold, uppercase, huge, flashing fonts would not be prominent enough. That laptop is going to die, and soon. Plan on it.
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:08 PM on January 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
Bold, uppercase, huge, flashing fonts would not be prominent enough. That laptop is going to die, and soon. Plan on it.
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:08 PM on January 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: So, Apple store said $950 liquid damage flat fee - that's without even looking inside it. Buying one of the new MB Airs. Gazelle giving me $150 for broken machine, so there's that!
posted by Mid at 8:17 AM on January 21, 2019
posted by Mid at 8:17 AM on January 21, 2019
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AppleCare+ for Mac extends your coverage to three years from your AppleCare+ purchase date and adds up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other damage, plus applicable tax.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:14 AM on January 16, 2019 [1 favorite]