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appleguy123

macrumors 604
Original poster
Apr 1, 2009
6,870
2,574
15 minutes in the future
I'm going to the Apple Store on Wednesday to most likely have my logic board replaced. To those who have had this done, how long does it normally take?
Also, if they determine (for some reason) that this repair is not under warranty, will they call me first to tell me so I don't get a huge bill?

As a side note. Where are the water sensors in the 17" MacBook Pro. I haven't spilled anything on it, but I have used it in some humid situations, and I fear that some of them may have been tripped erroneously. I don't know why I fear these sensors so much, but I just do. Any help would be appreciated on either front.
 
I got my logic board replaced in my MacBook last year and it took about 5 days from when I gave it to the Genius and got it back.

The Genius won't send the computer out without telling you if it's under warranty or not.

The water sensors are located below the keyboard as far as I know.
 
I got my logic board replaced in my MacBook last year and it took about 5 days from when I gave it to the Genius and got it back.

The Genius won't send the computer out without telling you if it's under warranty or not.

The water sensors are located below the keyboard as far as I know.

What does that mean "send it out?" They can't do it at the store? Also wherever they send it out to will they tell me if the repair is not deemed warranty-covered before they repair it? I can't afford a $1500 bill right now.
 
Most of the time they do not replace logic boards in store. They usually ship them to Houston TX and another city I cant think of right now. I called apple care on Monday. got the box the next morning. Shipped it to the repair center in Houston. They received the computer the computer on Wednesday. repaired it Wednesday I got it back on Thursday. They will call if the repair is not covered.
 
What does that mean "send it out?" They can't do it at the store? Also wherever they send it out to will they tell me if the repair is not deemed warranty-covered before they repair it? I can't afford a $1500 bill right now.

You have the option of doing it in store, but depending on the number you are in line for repair, it could take weeks.

The Genius that you will go to will tell you whether the repair is covered under warranty or not. You'll have to pay (if it's not under warranty) before you send it out for repair.
 
You have the option of doing it in store, but depending on the number you are in line for repair, it could take weeks.

The Genius that you will go to will tell you whether the repair is covered under warranty or not. You'll have to pay (if it's not under warranty) before you send it out for repair.

Can I just take my computer back without the repair if it is't covered? The issue isn't too bad.
 
You have the option of doing it in store, but depending on the number you are in line for repair, it could take weeks.

The Genius that you will go to will tell you whether the repair is covered under warranty or not. You'll have to pay (if it's not under warranty) before you send it out for repair.

Wrong. You don't get a choice. Some stores have the parts on hand but many don't. You will be quoted a turn time which is usually 5-7 days but you may get it back in as few as 3 days. You just can't know for sure. You sign a document that says if the repair is not covered under warranty then you may have to pay for the analysis. However, you aren't required to have it repaired.
 
Can I just take my computer back without the repair if it is't covered? The issue isn't too bad.

Not after you send it out.


Wrong. You don't get a choice. Some stores have the parts on hand but many don't. You will be quoted a turn time which is usually 5-7 days but you may get it back in as few as 3 days. You just can't know for sure. You sign a document that says if the repair is not covered under warranty then you may have to pay for the analysis. However, you aren't required to have it repaired.

Well, from my personal experience, I had the choice (which is why I said you have the choice).
 
Wrong. You don't get a choice. Some stores have the parts on hand but many don't. You will be quoted a turn time which is usually 5-7 days but you may get it back in as few as 3 days. You just can't know for sure. You sign a document that says if the repair is not covered under warranty then you may have to pay for the analysis. However, you aren't required to have it repaired.

Thanks. Do they call me and tell me that it's not under warranty? How much is this analysis normally?
 
Probably the same - for mail in repairs they "may" charge $100 if the repair is not covered under warranty and you decline to have it repaired.
 
I got my logic board replaced in my MacBook last year and it took about 5 days from when I gave it to the Genius and got it back.

The Genius won't send the computer out without telling you if it's under warranty or not.

The water sensors are located below the keyboard as far as I know.
IS there any way that I can check these sensors before going to Apple?
 
Thanks. Do they call me and tell me that it's not under warranty? How much is this analysis normally?

If they decide that something is wrong or something changes/or is different from the repair order, they will always contact you before they go ahead with any repairs.

If your computer is not eligible or not under warranty, they will not go ahead with the repair. They will contact you first and have you agree before moving forward with anything.
 
If they decide that something is wrong or something changes/or is different from the repair order, they will always contact you before they go ahead with any repairs.

If your computer is not eligible or not under warranty, they will not go ahead with the repair. They will contact you first and have you agree before moving forward with anything.
You're a genius right? How do you check the water sensors in the MacBook Pro 17? Please help me, I'm super paranoid about this. I know it hasn't touched water, but I said the same thing about my iPhone 3g :(.
 
Please help me, I'm super paranoid about this. I know it hasn't touched water, but I said the same thing about my iPhone 3g .

Relax, just bring it in and see what they say. They won't repair if it's out of warranty and you haven't given your consent. From what I've heard the 'sensors' are passive strips of material with a kind of ink dot that spreads if they came into contact with condensing humidity or moisture. Just having a very high ambient humidity will do nothing, provided it doesn't condense inside the machine. With the heat given up during operation, condensation is a very unlikely scenario, you'd almost have to deep chill your laptop, then switch it on and immediately bring it out into a very high humidity environment. Perhaps if you put on the ac real cool, leave your laptop switched off inside for a couple of hours , then switch it on and walk out in a muggy Houston summer. Do this twenty times and there might be a problem. Anyway, the conditions of use specify humidity levels and explicitly state that it has to be noncondensing.
 
Both of my logic boards have taken 4-5 days, the one being replaced last week taking 4 including sending it out to who knows where and sending it back since they didn't have the part in stock.
 
Is the Magsafe female part connected to the logic board? Because I'm having some problems with it too.

Yes.

And you seem super paranoid, and rather guilty of liquid damage if you're this paranoid lol...

When I took mine in for repair, the receipt I got when I first dropped it off said "If water damage found: Contact Customer" something like that.
 
Yes.

And you seem super paranoid, and rather guilty of liquid damage if you're this paranoid lol...

When I took mine in for repair, the receipt I got when I first dropped it off said "If water damage found: Contact Customer" something like that.

It's just that I know for sure that my iPhone was never wet, and it was not only tripped, but it said that it was submerged in water.
 
I just brought mine in for a logic board replacement. They did not have one in stock so I was told 1-5 days to get the part, and 1-5 days to install it. I got it back in 7 days, only to find it did not fix the problem. Got a second one installed yesterday and since they did have it it the store it only took a day. Needless to day that one also did not fix my problem. I an now on a new unibody Macbook Pro they gave me to replace my 2008 15" model with the faulty nVidia 8600m video card.
 
Better have it sent in....

I had the logic board replaced two times on my MacBook Pro. The first time in the store, the second time in the repair facility in Memphis, TN. I'm not trying to say anything bad about the local (in store) repair facility, but my machine was worse after the first repair. Therefore the Genius decided to send it in. In his own words: "They have much better test and diagnostic facilities there than we have in our repair department".

I got my machine back pristine like new......

So if you have a choice, or can influence the decision, have it sent in.

And make a complete backup. Preferably a (bootable) clone of your disk to an external disk, using for example carbon copy cloner.
 
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