Milk Damage on My First Macbook Pro 13 Early 2015

[MilkDamageDev]

*Sorry Due to my poor english. I hope you understand.
This all started May 31st Sunday 5AM. I accidentally spilled milk on my macbook keyboard.
*Yes, who will ever dripped milk on New Macbook Pro that I purchased on March 2015?
I panic of course, I fliped over dried every milk with Kitchen towel and use hair dryer cold air right after. *Macbook Pro automatically shut down. It probably sense the liquid and turn it off by itself.
My macbook won't turn on or even with charger. It was just a black screen. My macbook is DEAD.
I went to Apple Store at 10 AM w/o appointment on Genius Bar; Luckily I was able to talk to a person who can help me. He requested me $821 dollars for Repair fees. Apple DOES NOT RECOVER LIQUID DAMAGE. He explained why everything are (connected?) Its like brain. So you need to pay for that amount of repair fees. I'm Asian American. However, I'm not good with computer Hardware. But I do know that was Overpriced. I can't pay amount of that money because I'm independent college student. I decided write contract and delay to turn my macbook. Because I know that my macbook is still Alive! *( I had a hope that I can fix it by myself)
*I spend literally spend 4 hours searching through website and Youtube video ; (There is one person in the Youtube actually managed to fix it by himself!) Yes, I can fix it!
Without any knowledge about Macbook Hardware, I decided to get a tools.
I literally spent 30 dollars on screwdrivers ifixit set (Fry's Electronics; I'm going to turn in back and get a refund. But I realize this is Quite useful that you don't want to return it.)
Here is stuff I decided to fix:
What I purchased or things I needed to fix:
- ifixit screw drivers set
- toothbrush
- ethnyl alcohol 91%
- plastic box like medicine pill box to indicate the screws
- microscope(optional) I didn't use it of course.
- Your DEAD MACBOOK

*First thing is first I went to search through Internet and take every **** out Except the battery.
Yes, Battery Keyboard Trackpad thats the least things You wanted to take it Out.
That is Hard to take it out.

Btw, Taking parts in This Macbook is Level 10/10 (Extremely Hard)
I learned so many lesson just doing myself.
Yes, first I mixed up some screws, Yes I'm stupid, impatient, hoping that it will works.
This can result as not holding right place and break the part of macbook.

*Very important: Take a photo Once you open the back part of lid.

YOU WILL SEE THE CORRUPTED BLUE POWDER Molder piece of **** or some **** where the motherboard got burned ! (YES That's the part you Scrub with toothbrush )

Luckily Because of Liquid detection on my macbook pro.
I only found on my circuit board where it links the battery power(I do not know what it does)
*YES so, my battery is DEAD and Of course it's not working.
It failed to boot up while it load 20% it just died. Yes I failed to fix it.
Of course, Its 60% possibility.
You really think so????
60%?

By reading and learning carefully. it will be 99% trust me.
The computer won't DIE cause of liquid damage. It won't ! You have to check the corruption.
You dont have to do DIAGNOSTIC TEST and pay money for that.
DO that by yourself if you have your own Eye.
I feel really a lot betrayed by Apple Company.
I wish Apple was Sony. I wished they can replace my macbook for free because I spend 2K for this computer.

Anyways, sorry about my long talk.

The problem with my computer was Heat Sink. The Heat Sink was not applied with Thermal Paste which made big noise on my fan that causes FAIL to bootup.
I was managed fix it by one of friendly technician.

However, the battery is DEAD. It does not work with charger.
*YES its not fully repaired.
BUT EVERYTHING WORKS FINE OTHER THAN PROBLEM WITH BATTERY.
I'm VERY SATISFIED NOW.
I literally Spend 7 hours to fix this computer. What an Adventure.
Macbook is so hard to fix ! Just because they made it built so people can't fix easily.
However, this things can be fixed on every people's hand if you really take time on it.
Please do not pay liquid damage fees $800.
You can buy better laptop with that amount of money. Trust me.

Thank you.
MilkDamageDev

P.S.
I have a new problem to solve now.
Should I exchange the battery by myself or Go check the apple?
Because they will not fix it if i tell them its liquid damage. However, there is already record.
They use microscope so they will know there is milk spill on the motherboard.
Even though the computer are fully dried. What should I do? Any recommendation ?

 

[snaky69]

It did not sense the liquid and shut down. No laptop does that.

It short circuited and died. Consider it a loss and a lesson learned.

 

[MilkDamageDev]

It did not sense the liquid and shut down. No laptop does that.

It short circuited and died. Consider it a loss and a lesson learned.

Check the link below:
http://www.hardmac.com/news/2012/07/03/10-water-sensors-in-the-new-retina-macbook-pro

Mac Book Pro Retina does have Liquid sensor. However, I'm not sure if only the circuit board is the problem or Battery. What do you think?

 

[Phil A.]

They're passive sensors (i.e. not connected to anything) and their only purpose is to turn red if they get wet

 

[MilkDamageDev]

They're passive sensors (i.e. not connected to anything) and their only purpose is to turn red if they get wet

Okay thanks. I have a problem

Should I exchange the battery or Go check the apple?
Because they will not fix it if i tell them its liquid damage. However, there is already record.
They use microscope so they will know there is milk spill on the motherboard.
Even though the computer are fully dried. What should I do? Any recommendation ?

 

[prism]

"I wish Apple was Sony. I wished they can replace my macbook for free because I spend 2K for this computer."

LOL, really? Sony having better CS than Apple?

 

[dogslobber]

I feel really a lot betrayed by Apple Company.
[...]
However, this things can be fixed on every people's hand if you really take time on it.
Please do not pay liquid damage fees $800.
You can buy better laptop with that amount of money. Trust me.

I'm not sure Apple can be held responsible for you spilling milk on your hardware. Do you have home insurance which might cover the damage? You probably can get a better laptop for 800 bucks but the real question is, does it run OS X? If the answer is No then 7/29 will be a special day for you!

 

[NT1440]

Check the link below:
http://www.hardmac.com/news/2012/07/03/10-water-sensors-in-the-new-retina-macbook-pro

Mac Book Pro Retina does have Liquid sensor. However, I'm not sure if only the circuit board is the problem or Battery. What do you think?

The liquid sensor is merely a litmus-strip like paper that turns red when in contact with liquid, it is not a chip that does anything in terms of powering down the machine.

 

[NT1440]

Okay thanks. I have a problem

Should I exchange the battery or Go check the apple?
Because they will not fix it if i tell them its liquid damage. However, there is already record.
They use microscope so they will know there is milk spill on the motherboard.
Even though the computer are fully dried. What should I do? Any recommendation ?

There is absolutely no way that you should be replacing the battery. They are soft cells glued to the top case. If you try to remove them you can easily puncture the battery and you DO NOT want a "thermal event" (fire) or to breathe in any of the smoke that will pump out when it is exposed to oxygen. I just did a full top case transfer here at work for a machine that had water spilt on it. You HAVE to replace the entire top case (it's one piece containing the Keyboard, Trackpad, and batteries.

Again DO NOT TRY TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. You can and likely will get extremely hurt if you damage those pouches at all.

 

[iConnected]

As I posted on your other thread (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/what-should-i-do-with-liquid-damage-macbook-pro.1888340/)

Take it to Apple, tell them - honestly - what happened and pay whatever is required to have it repaired correctly, such that you can continue to benefit from the remaining hardware warranty term.

 

[T5BRICK]

I feel really a lot betrayed by Apple Company.
I wish Apple was Sony. I wished they can replace my macbook for free because I spend 2K for this computer.

You spilled milk on your computer and somehow this is Apples fault? Liquid damage can be extremely hard to repair because it causes latent defects that aren't easy to detect and can cause failures over time.

I have a new problem to solve now.
Should I exchange the battery by myself or Go check the apple?
Because they will not fix it if i tell them its liquid damage. However, there is already record.
They use microscope so they will know there is milk spill on the motherboard.
Even though the computer are fully dried. What should I do? Any recommendation ?

You need to take your computer to Apple and have them replace the battery. You'll have to pay out of pocket for an expensive repair. This is your own fault for spilling a liquid on your computer.

 

[AZhappyjack]

I literally spent 30 dollars on screwdrivers ifixit set (Fry's Electronics; I'm going to turn in back and get a refund.

This pretty much says all that we need to know. It goes to the entitlement mindset. OP, you messed up. This problem is totally on you, as you caused the spill and ruined your MacBook Pro. And now you want somebody else to pay for the repair for a non-warranty problem. You aren't even willing to pay for a screwdriver set to try to repair the laptop yourself.

Sorry about your situation, but it was totally preventable - KEEP LIQUIDS AWAY FROM ELECTRONICS.

But now that you are here, at least man up and own it. Don't try to blame someone else. And don't compound the situation by committing a fraudulent act.

 

[spriter]

Whilst I admire the efforts to fix this, the OP really needs to just write it off as experience and refrain from drinking liquids near tech.

Could get a further hardware failure and/or lose valuable work (which isn't out of the equation when said OP has doused the thing in milk).

If you mess up, take responsibility, learn from it, pay the price, and try not to do it again.

 

[iConnected]

Whilst I admire the efforts to fix this, the OP really needs to just write it off as experience and refrain from drinking liquids near tech. ...

Hands up, this is pedantic - and far from entirely serious.

I rarely spill stuff so far from my mouth whilst in the process of drinking that I shouldn't drink near my MBP.

The issue for me has always been where best to place my cup / glass in between times.

 

[Studflower]

Option 1: $30 iFixit screw set + ~7 Hours of labor. Voided Warranty on a brand new 2015 model. Battery still dead and not sure if there is damage to other components.

Option 2: $800 repair by Apple. Warranty still intact, and everything works flawlessly.

I'd choose option 2. Every. Time. Especially on a 2-mo yr old macbook pro.

 

[old-wiz]

I had a new MBA that was sitting away from anything liquid. All was fine until I lost my balance and spilled water on it (top closed). Turned off, dried... died... Took it to Apple and paid for repair. Works fine now. The Apple warranty (and probably most others) do not cover accidental damage. The warranty is a hardware warranty only.

 

[Cuniac]

"I wish Apple was Sony. I wished they can replace my macbook for free because I spend 2K for this computer."

LOL, really? Sony having better CS than Apple?

Sony has the worst CS, I spent months trying to get a TV repair completed that I had to spend 200 on, for a know issue that I was told would have been covered if I had bought a larger TV...

 

[Cuniac]

There is no reason you should feel betrayed by Apple. It is in no way their fault you spilled Milk on you expensive computer. It would be like getting mad at Ford because your hit a pole with your 2 month old Focus and their warranty doesn't cover that. This sucks but its not their fault.

In fact you should be grateful they were willing to work with you at all and didn't tell you to buy a new one. I doubt your MBP cost 800....

 

[newellj]

You spilled milk on your computer and somehow this is Apples fault? Liquid damage can be extremely hard to repair because it causes latent defects that aren't easy to detect and can cause failures over time.

Thank you for putting that so nicely. Why is it that people have such an entitlement complex about expensive technology that they have ruined through their own carelessness?

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Thank you for putting that so nicely. Why is it that people have such an entitlement complex about expensive technology that they have ruined through their own carelessness?

Seems just about everyone who buys an Apple product also rushes out to buy all sorts of protective cases and covers. Keyboard, screen, shell, wraps, cases, sleeves, etc. Maybe the first purchase should be a spill proof mug.

 

[newellj]

Seems just about everyone who buys an Apple product also rushes out to buy all sorts of protective cases and covers. Keyboard, screen, shell, wraps, cases, sleeves, etc. Maybe the first purchase should be a spill proof mug.

Funny you should say so. I was thinking during lunch today at my desk that it is not an accident that the water I was drinking is in a bottle with a nearly spill-proof sip-top.

 

[MilkDamageDev]

Okay I don't give a **** about people that telling me that I should not complain.
But There are so many people decided to spend ridiculously amount of money to fix this.
However the OSX and everything worked. Nothing is broke except battery issue.

To those people who are willing to pay $800 dollars amount of money to fix it.
Come on is that sounds cheap for you? I'm just saying that they should at least check up diagnose and fix the only parts that are broken.

Integrate the system? I don't give a ****. If the system is still works that means its not DEAD!
I applied ethnyl alcohol and its works like charm whats better than that?

They're passive sensors (i.e. not connected to anything) and their only purpose is to turn red if they get wet

Yes I understand now its LCD stickers. Thanks

"I wish Apple was Sony. I wished they can replace my macbook for free because I spend 2K for this computer."

LOL, really? Sony having better CS than Apple?

Yes really Sony is better than Apple when it comes to Client service. They return a new system.
I'm not talking about computer system. I have experience for PS4. they returned me the new one.

I'm not sure Apple can be held responsible for you spilling milk on your hardware. Do you have home insurance which might cover the damage? You probably can get a better laptop for 800 bucks but the real question is, does it run OS X? If the answer is No then 7/29 will be a special day for you!

I already do have insurance for one year but it does not cover liquid damage. This computer already works like charm. Yes keyboard, speaker, trackpad, screen everything you think it works ! But battery is the problem. *I m not planning to buy another computer.

The liquid sensor is merely a litmus-strip like paper that turns red when in contact with liquid, it is not a chip that does anything in terms of powering down the machine.

Ok thank you

There is absolutely no way that you should be replacing the battery. They are soft cells glued to the top case. If you try to remove them you can easily puncture the battery and you DO NOT want a "thermal event" (fire) or to breathe in any of the smoke that will pump out when it is exposed to oxygen. I just did a full top case transfer here at work for a machine that had water spilt on it. You HAVE to replace the entire top case (it's one piece containing the Keyboard, Trackpad, and batteries.

Again DO NOT TRY TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. You can and likely will get extremely hurt if you damage those pouches at all.

I'm sorry I might have DIY to replace the battery. However, I can't replace it because the Apple or ANY Company sell the battery because it's the latest model 2015. Thanks for the warning. !

As I posted on your other thread (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/what-should-i-do-with-liquid-damage-macbook-pro.1888340/)

Take it to Apple, tell them - honestly - what happened and pay whatever is required to have it repaired correctly, such that you can continue to benefit from the remaining hardware warranty term.

I did tell them honestly, They are not stupid. They will know that it's liquid damage by the sticker that attached inside which is already red.

You spilled milk on your computer and somehow this is Apples fault? Liquid damage can be extremely hard to repair because it causes latent defects that aren't easy to detect and can cause failures over time.



You need to take your computer to Apple and have them replace the battery. You'll have to pay out of pocket for an expensive repair. This is your own fault for spilling a liquid on your computer.

*Did I blame it's Apple's fault? Nope I blame them for expensive price.
Don't tell me to pay for that amount of me for my stupid mistake.
You think You won't make a mistake? Think about it. One time you will shake my hand and tell me
that You need help to fix your macbook because price was so high.
*I did try to pay for the battery in Apple but they won't it will be the same price 800.
Yes i agree that it's my fault. So? Don't you think you make mistake in life?

This pretty much says all that we need to know. It goes to the entitlement mindset. OP, you messed up. This problem is totally on you, as you caused the spill and ruined your MacBook Pro. And now you want somebody else to pay for the repair for a non-warranty problem. You aren't even willing to pay for a screwdriver set to try to repair the laptop yourself.

Sorry about your situation, but it was totally preventable - KEEP LIQUIDS AWAY FROM ELECTRONICS.

But now that you are here, at least man up and own it. Don't try to blame someone else. And don't compound the situation by committing a fraudulent act.

Hey dfausty. Yes I did take my responsibility and fixed it. Did I ask someone else to pay for the repair fees? I didn't say that. I already did pay for screwdriver set and thermal paste and every tools to fix macbook. No big deal. * I understand your warning. Thank you. * I do not blame Apple but they have awful customer service in Genius Bar.

Whilst I admire the efforts to fix this, the OP really needs to just write it off as experience and refrain from drinking liquids near tech.

Could get a further hardware failure and/or lose valuable work (which isn't out of the equation when said OP has doused the thing in milk).

If you mess up, take responsibility, learn from it, pay the price, and try not to do it again.

Thank you so much for admiring me. However, I do not have any problem. I will let you know when I have a problem to prove me that I'm wrong. Because using toothbruth and rinse with Ethnyl alcohol 91% does work!!!