Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Did I void the warranty?

W

wbyung

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 16, 2009
36
0
Several hours ago I opened the bottom case to see if there is any dust in the fan heatsink assembly. I tried to unscrew the fans but one of the screws was stripped:( .

I'm now very unhappy with what I did. What should I do now?

I'm almost certain that I voided the warranty since the fan assembly is not user-serviceable.

I'll phone up and ask tomorrow and see what they can do for me. I just hope they would repair it (for a charge) and won't void the warranty.

It is like I've done the most stupid thing ever to a computer. :(
 
Yep you void the warranty as soon as you unscrew anything from any Apple product!
If the Notebook is working fine and the fans are whirring nicely then again no problem...

Btw... wth were you thinking when you 'wondered' if your fan assembly has dust or not... were there some problems or was it just a time pass activity?
 
I live in a very dusty environment. The building I'm living in is undergoing refurbishment. The machine is running a bit hotter than it has been...that's why.

I'm thinking of fixing the screw myself because the warranty is voided anyway.

I'm getting a power screwdriver with extraction bit and get the replacement screw from ifixit. If everything's alright Apple wouldn't know I've done anything to it (hopefully).
 
You know you should've tried using compressed air from the vents before opening it up!

Nevertheless... dont fret and dont cause more damage! Dont take it to Apple telling them you opened it up... they're heartless in this respect and void your warranty immediately!
 
wbyung said:
Several hours ago I opened the bottom case to see if there is any dust in the fan heatsink assembly. I tried to unscrew the fans but one of the screws was stripped:( .

I'm now very unhappy with what I did. What should I do now?

I'm almost certain that I voided the warranty since the fan assembly is not user-serviceable.

I'll phone up and ask tomorrow and see what they can do for me. I just hope they would repair it (for a charge) and won't void the warranty.

It is like I've done the most stupid thing ever to a computer. :(
Click to expand...

Personally I wouldn't tell Apple about anything you've done. If someday you need service on your machine, just let them service it as usual. Apple knows occasionally their screws break and fall out any anyway... That's why in more recent machines, the keyboard fixtures have round circular tape on them. lol

If you can, just affix the screw back into the fan assembly, if the screw wont stay, visit a Radio-shark and grab yourself some Screwlock adhesive, preferably the blue stuff, cause that's what Apple uses.
 
OrangeSVTguy said:
Just use a $5.99 can of compressed air to blow out any dust that may be in your fans.
Click to expand...

Don't blow your fans directly with compressed air as you risk making the fans spin faster than factory spec and thus risk damaging or destroying the fan.
 
The screw is stripped on the surface.

Do you think I could just leave it there? It is very obvious someone has worked on the screw but I guess Apple would not be able to prove who did it: Shanghai assembly worker or me.

The screws from iFixit cost about $50. The power tools would cost about $70. I guess I won't get these until I really have to send the machine for repair.
 
wbyung said:
The screw is stripped on the surface.

Do you think I could just leave it there? It is very obvious someone has worked on the screw but I guess Apple would not be able to prove who did it: Shanghai assembly worker or me.

The screws from iFixit cost about $50. The power tools would cost about $70. I guess I won't get these until I really have to send the machine for repair.
Click to expand...

Yep!! Just say nowt!! You'll get away with it. It's been known in the past for Apple's wonderful Chinese assembly team to wreck screws while inserting them. How? I don't know! :rolleyes: I swear they're all drinken, either that or they're using the same tool for everything!!


I've had a MacPro where they've managed to stripe the entire head from one of the HD mounting screws because it's a userservicable part I called Apple to complain. They told me not to worry, they'll dispatch a new part.
 
you only void it when you break something. if you didn't. then your fine. i have taken apart a MBP before and i have been told by somebody at apple who builds these for a living that you must break something in order to void the warranty.
 
SFStateStudent said:
You might take it to an authorized Apple repair shop, and have the screw replaced. Once that's done you might be in good standing warranty-wise...
Click to expand...

Question.

If the OP goes to the Apple store informing them that there's a striped screw inside his machine, ain't Apple gonna ask questions as to how the user knows??

I don't think it's wise, to be honest.
 
UltraNEO* said:
I've had a MacPro where they've managed to stripe the entire head from one of the HD mounting screws because it's a userservicable part I called Apple to complain. They told me not to worry, they'll dispatch a new part.
Click to expand...

Those are notorious… What do they make them of? Softest metal ever.
I now have a little packet of spares.
Not fun taking a drill to a HD because the head of one the screws have been stripped.
 
UltraNEO* said:
Question.

If the OP goes to the Apple store informing them that there's a striped screw inside his machine, ain't Apple gonna ask questions as to how the user knows??

I don't think it's wise, to be honest.
Click to expand...

I would say I tried to upgrade the RAM and just saw the stripped screw.
 
UltraNEO* said:
Yep!! Just say nowt!! You'll get away with it. It's been known in the past for Apple's wonderful Chinese assembly team to wreck screws while inserting them. How? I don't know! :rolleyes: I swear they're all drinken, either that or they're using the same tool for everything!!


I've had a MacPro where they've managed to stripe the entire head from one of the HD mounting screws because it's a userservicable part I called Apple to complain. They told me not to worry, they'll dispatch a new part.
Click to expand...

How did you remove the screw if its head was stripped?
 
wbyung said:
How did you remove the screw if its head was stripped?
Click to expand...

Some needle nose pliers.
Needle_nose_pliers.jpg


For tiny Torx screws, you'll need to improvise and be creative...
Perhaps some crazy-glue?
 
If your computer never breaks down under warranty, then you might not need to ever worry about it. However, if it does break down, then take the computer to a reputable electronics repair place and have them remove the stripped screw. If you go anywhere near an Apple authorized service center, the repair will become part of the permanent record. If you have warranty issues with your computer later, the record of having replaced a stripped screw will show up and possibly affect warranty service.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back