Macbook Air warranty advice needed please (possible water damage)!

[samwinst]

Hi,
I recently spilled a very small amount of water on my macbook tracker and the tracker was not responding initially. Following advice on the internet I removed the back of the macbook and the battery and placed the laptop sealed in a bag with rice for a few days.. Since then, the tracker is now responding, however the laptop only turns on if the battery is disconnected, reconnected and then a restart is done by holding the power button.

I purchased a student warranty of 3 years when I purchased the laptop and was wondering:
1) Will apple know that the battery has been unplugged (as I believe this would void the warranty as a result of removing the back).
2) Will apple be able to find my warranty on their system as I think I am no longer in possession of the receipt.

I am unsure if the laptop will appear water damaged to apple as the amount spilled was miniscule, however if it does appear so to them I think the warranty would also be void regardless..

Any help / advice for the above would be much appreciated..

Thanks, Sam!

 

[Phil A.]

I believe they have water sensors inside the machines and if one of those has tripped then your warranty is void. Also, if they detect any water ingress at all, your warranty is most likely void

Removing the back shouldn't void the warranty automatically, but if you do any damage while removing it, that wouldn't be covered

Apple can find your warranty status via the serial number

 

[tubeexperience]

I have replaced a keyboard on a customer's MacBook Air. She wanted a different language keyboard.

She later took it to the Apple Store for an unrelated issue and the warranty is still valid.

...so taking the laptop apart doesn't void the warranty

That said, the warranty is definitely void if the laptop is liquid damaged and the liquid submersion indicators are tripped.

 

[Cubytus]

I have replaced a keyboard on a customer's MacBook Air. She wanted a different language keyboard.

She later took it to the Apple Store for an unrelated issue and the warranty is still valid.

...so taking the laptop apart doesn't void the warranty

That said, the warranty is definitely void if the laptop is liquid damaged and the liquid submersion indicators are tripped.

The keyboard is not considered a user-replaceable part. Any keyboard replacement done by an offical Apple provider is in fact a full topcase replacement, the reason why it's so expensive. You may have done a good job and Apple may have been tolerant in this case, but replacing anything besides hard drive and RAM (on a MBP, never knew MBA had customer-replaceable parts inside, I thought their keyboards were rivetted to the case) would normally void warranty.

Unless you're speaking about replacing a few keycaps

 

[tubeexperience]

The keyboard is not considered a user-replaceable part. Any keyboard replacement done by an offical Apple provider is in fact a full topcase replacement, the reason why it's so expensive. You may have done a good job and Apple may have been tolerant in this case, but replacing anything besides hard drive and RAM (on a MBP, never knew MBA had customer-replaceable parts inside, I thought their keyboards were rivetted to the case) would normally void warranty.

Unless you're speaking about replacing a few keycaps

I don't think Apple cares as long as I don't botch the repair.

As for the keyboard, it's held into place (connected to the top case) by about 60 screws, so it's definitely replaceable.

 

[Cubytus]

I don't think Apple cares as long as I don't botch the repair.

I agree they would probably assume you replaced a few key caps. Employees have some freedom. But strictly speaking, replacing the keyboard include full tear-down of the computer, removing the motherboard held by Torx screws clearly made to hinder at-home repairs, and a picky manager may refuse service on those grounds alone.

As for the keyboard, it's held into place (connected to the top case) by about 60 screws, so it's definitely replaceable.

I read it depends on the MBA model. Older models use screws, newer ones are rivetted, I guess for easier manufacturing, but also as an attempt to make repair difficult or costly.

Source: own experience, I replaced two keyboards on Mac: one on a mid-2009 MacBook (I wanted ISO layout, not this annoying US-layout) and ended up with an refurbished Arabic one, and another time on a early 2012 MBP as the original died from hot coffee, ISO key shape with Spanish prints.

Never I was refused service, but I could clearly see the serial number tied the Mac to a specific keyboard layout.

 

[tubeexperience]

I agree they would probably assume you replaced a few key caps. Employees have some freedom. But strictly speaking, replacing the keyboard include full tear-down of the computer, removing the motherboard held by Torx screws clearly made to hinder at-home repairs, and a picky manager may refuse service on those grounds alone.

I don't know which country you are from, but here in the United States, Apple has to be able to demonstrate that one broke something to be able to deny warranty. (Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act)

I read it depends on the MBA model. Older models use screws, newer ones are rivetted, I guess for easier manufacturing, but also as an attempt to make repair difficult or costly.

Source: own experience, I replaced two keyboards on Mac: one on a mid-2009 MacBook (I wanted ISO layout, not this annoying US-layout) and ended up with an refurbished Arabic one, and another time on a early 2012 MBP as the original died from hot coffee, ISO key shape with Spanish prints.

Never I was refused service, but I could clearly see the serial number tied the Mac to a specific keyboard layout.

Even the new MacBook Air with riveted keyboard are serviceable. I tape the back of the keyboard and pull the keyboard off. The tape keep a lot of the rivets attached the keyboard. For some of the rivets that remains stuck, I use pliers and drills.

When installing the new keyboard, the rivets are replaced by screws.

 

[Cubytus]

I don't know which country you are from, but here in the United States, Apple has to be able to demonstrate that one broke something to be able to deny warranty. (Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act)

Canadian, but how specific is this act?

Most laws here (as are those in common law countries, generally) are open to much interpretation, and by being picky, an Apple employee may consider a slight malfunction as the customer "breaking something".

Even the new MacBook Air with riveted keyboard are serviceable. I tape the back of the keyboard and pull the keyboard off. The tape keep a lot of the rivets attached the keyboard. For some of the rivets that remains stuck, I use pliers and drills.

When installing the new keyboard, the rivets are replaced by screws.

That's interesting to know. Would you say how exactly you make a thread in what I assume is a very small stud of aluminum? Do self-tapping screws exist in such small sizes?