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junoreactor

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 27, 2019
55
10
Hey everyone, need help with my late 2011 MacBook Pro 13" A1278

Background:
Two weeks ago, I accidentally spilled water on my Mac's keyboard. Quick actions were taken – flipped it, shut it down, removed the battery, and let it dry for a couple of days. Initially, all seemed well after a passing apple hardware test and smooth OS.

Current Issue:
Today, the Mac wakes up slow, kernel_task high CPU, fans full-speed.
Hardware test shows error code: 4SNS/1/C0000008: TP0P--124, likely due to post-spill corrosion.
This code points to the Platform Controller Hub temperature sensor (TP0P). However, I don't know its exact location (other than it may be on the top of the logic board facing the keyboard).

Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Disconnected components: airport card, trackpad, CD-drive, keyboard, microphone, webcam. No improvement.
2. Examined logic board. Photos here (https://imgchest.com/p/dl7pj6aop7o), but no obvious signs of corrosion found.
3. Logic board cleaning was suggested so attempted with alcohol-soaked Q-tips, but issue persists (though some areas are certainly shinier).



Seeking advice or guidance on next steps. Any help appreciated. Thanks!
 

Audit13

macrumors 604
Apr 19, 2017
6,874
1,834
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
When cleaning the board, you use pure isopropyl alcohol?

The fans running at full speed means there is probably a problem with the CPU temperature sensor and, when the sensor is not working, the fans default to running at full speed. Full speed is almost like a fail-safe setting to prevent potential CPU overheating.

Did the MacBook detect and charge the battery? Often, the CPU is throttled when the system does not detect a battery. A MacBook depleted battery will still run the CPU at normal speed when connected to a charger. Often, a battery is damaged when the MacBook is exposed to liquids.

After a spill, it is essential to disconnect the battery immediately and disassemble the MacBook as much as possible. In this case, it appears to me that the MacBook was not totally dry when you started using it and, over time, as the liquid evaporates, it left behind residue that slowly degraded the logic board.
 

junoreactor

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 27, 2019
55
10
When cleaning the board, you use pure isopropyl alcohol?

The fans running at full speed means there is probably a problem with the CPU temperature sensor and, when the sensor is not working, the fans default to running at full speed. Full speed is almost like a fail-safe setting to prevent potential CPU overheating.

Did the MacBook detect and charge the battery? Often, the CPU is throttled when the system does not detect a battery. A MacBook depleted battery will still run the CPU at normal speed when connected to a charger. Often, a battery is damaged when the MacBook is exposed to liquids.

After a spill, it is essential to disconnect the battery immediately and disassemble the MacBook as much as possible. In this case, it appears to me that the MacBook was not totally dry when you started using it and, over time, as the liquid evaporates, it left behind residue that slowly degraded the logic board.
- Yessir, using IPA.
- Not the CPU temp sensors. Th1H, Ts0S, TP0P
bad-temp-sensors.png

- Thankfully the battery is working fine.

(Louis, are you still around? Send help.)
 
Last edited:

Audit13

macrumors 604
Apr 19, 2017
6,874
1,834
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
If it's not the CPU sensors, there must be something else causing the fans to run at full speed. I have dealt with a few MacBook Pro and Air (not M1 series) and they often ran the fans at full speed with throttled CPUs.

It makes no sense to me for the fans to run at full speed and throttle the CPU unless the OS cannot properly detect the temperature.
 

junoreactor

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 27, 2019
55
10
Right there's three sensors there giving bad data.
I'll have to take the board out again and see if a better cleaning, maybe a more thorough cleaning with a toothbrush this time will work.
 
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