02-13-2010, 09:10 AM

Hi everyone,

Idiot move on my part, but I put my water cup on my Macbook and then knocked it over. I estimate about 1 cup of water went on the keyboard, with most of it going on the top right near the power. The computer went dead about 2 seconds later.

I took it apart and tried to dry it up. I know that sometimes you can wait it out and then try later, but I'm concerned about the immediate shut off. Is it safe to say it shorted out?

Can you estimate costs associated with that type of damage? How extensive is the damage? I know it is hard to estimate, but I'm curious how water damages a computer. It was everywhere and literally dripping out all sides.

Constructive advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

02-13-2010, 09:16 AM

Welcome to the Mac Forum and I am sorry that it was under such lousy circumstances .
Here is a thread that may answer all of your questions.
http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/app...ow-thread.html


Good Luck

Clay

02-13-2010, 09:17 AM

Thanks Clay. I had the opportunity to read that thread. I guess my main question deals with the immediate shut off. That means it shorted out, right?

02-13-2010, 09:20 AM

Ya I am sorry to say it but....Ya If i shut down before you could power it down you have some serious damage I would bet. wish I could be more optimistic but I just can not.

Sorry
Clay

02-13-2010, 09:30 AM

Thanks for the info. I think my Mac is history. Oh well, live and learn.

02-13-2010, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by ResearchGuy

Thanks for the info. I think my Mac is history. Oh well, live and learn.

Agree but thats a tough way to go about it. And maybe if it is toast there are probably some parts there that some one needs so....might recoup a little bit of cash.

Clay

02-13-2010, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by ResearchGuy

I know it is hard to estimate, but I'm curious how water damages a computer. It was everywhere and literally dripping out all sides.

It's not so much that water is damaging the laptop (in the short term)...it's basically that water + electricity don't mix!

In the long term...water will cause rusting/corrosion.

Sorry to hear about the accident,

- Nick

02-13-2010, 11:27 AM

Unreal!! My computer is working fine now!! I was using my other laptop to post, but here I am on my Macbook!! I thought it was toast, but for some reason the second try worked. Maybe it was because it dried up since last night?

Keyboard is a little different (sticky), but hardly noticeable. Glad I didn't just waste a great Macbook considering I just bought it OCT 08.

Morale of the story is this......Dump a huge amount of water all over the keyboard, thing shuts down within 2 seconds, and it comes back to life even after a failed attempt.

No more water near this laptop!! Hopefully the rust thing doesn't get me later, but I believe in this laptop now and think it will make it.

02-13-2010, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by ResearchGuy

Unreal!! My computer is working fine now!! I was using my other laptop to post, but here I am on my Macbook!! I thought it was toast, but for some reason the second try worked. Maybe it was because it dried up since last night?

Keyboard is a little different (sticky), but hardly noticeable. Glad I didn't just waste a great Macbook considering I just bought it OCT 08.

Morale of the story is this......Dump a huge amount of water all over the keyboard, thing shuts down within 2 seconds, and it comes back to life even after a failed attempt.

No more water near this laptop!! Hopefully the rust thing doesn't get me later, but I believe in this laptop now and think it will make it.

Wow...congrats that it's working again! We don't usually hear such positive outcomes when folks spill liquid on a laptop!

By the way:

Morale: emotional or mental condition with respect to cheerfulness, confidence, zeal, etc.

Moral: of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong.



Again...congrats on the successful resurrection of your laptop!

- Nick

02-13-2010, 03:52 PM

No more water near this laptop!! Hopefully the rust thing doesn't get me later, but I believe in this laptop now and think it will make it.

Don't be too overjoyed. Your troubles may just be beginning.... Water damage shows up in many ways, but usually it's a while after the spill. If I were you, I would take the MacBook apart best I could and let it dry out completely for a week. See if you can remove the keyboard as that will expose the logic board and other components to the air for drying.

I don't know if your MacBook was under warranty or Apple care, (you didn't say) but any warranty you may have had is probably voided. Apple can detect water spillage and will refuse to make repairs under the warranty.

Regards.

02-13-2010, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by chscag

Don't be too overjoyed. Your troubles may just be beginning.... Water damage shows up in many ways, but usually it's a while after the spill. If I were you, I would take the MacBook apart best I could and let it dry out completely for a week. See if you can remove the keyboard as that will expose the logic board and other components to the air for drying.

Yes...very good advice. I was going to mention that...but I didn't want to ruin the "magical moment"!

But the sooner the better this disassembly & inspection is done...so it's great you mentioned it!

- Nick

02-13-2010, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by pigoo3

Yes...very good advice. I was going to mention that...but I didn't want to ruin the "magical moment"!

But the sooner the better this disassembly & inspection is done...so it's great you mentioned it!

- Nick

yea, depending on how confident you are in your ability to follow directions (and if you're under warranty/applecare or not) i would open it up and get all the nasty residuals off your board (ie. conductive minerals, sugars, etc)

i'm having problems recovering my own macbook that i spilled wine onto......

02-15-2010, 11:03 AM

Computer is still going strong. I took your advice by opening it up again and making sure it completely dried out. Thanks.

02-20-2010, 06:26 PM

I've had a spill last night on my silver aluminium Macbook Pro! A real disaster, a whole full glass of white wine! It went everywhere, all over the keyboard and inside, I turned it upside down and it was absolutely dripping. I panicked, got some tissue to dry off the outside including the keyboard. I'm new with laptops as always used pc's before so I didn't think of removing the battery straightaway but did after maybe 10 mins. In the panick, i started to try to unscrew everything but got stuck with the last 3 screws behind the battery slot, just couldn't take them out, so frustrating! Anyway, I couldn't help but try to switch it back on (I know I shouldn't), did this maybe 10-12 times, and i could just hear a 5 seconds noise then it would go dead. Then later this afternoon i tried it again, I could not believe it booted up! I switched it back off straightaway as i thought i should let it dry longer...But then i switched it on again, it booted up, i logged on, I opened Firefox, and the machine turned itself off again within 1 minute :-( I have decided I will let it dry completely for another 2 or 3 days before I try my luck again. I have read so many positive posts about drink spillage on these forums, I am trying to stay optimistic. My sister just told me that her iphone was dropped into a swimming pool and after 3 days it started working again. Fingers crossed recovery happens for the Macbook Pro too...

02-20-2010, 06:44 PM

Follow the advice above. Open it up (if necessary drill out the three screws that couldn't be removed), remove the keyboard, wipe away all residue in and around the logic board.

Wine is especially damaging because it contains acid which eventually will cause corrosion to the electronic components and the main circuit board (logic board).

You should also realize that you just voided your warranty as Apple will not repair a machine that has spillage - at least not at their expense.

Regards.