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My power cord melted and almost caused a fire. What do I do?

C

christall109

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 15, 2007
351
5
So the power cord coming out of the AC adapter to the Magsafe melted and almost started a fire. There is about an inch selection where all I can see now is the metal wiring underneith, all the insulation is off. Is this covered under AppleCare? Since it was smoking and almost caused a fire, would this have harmed my MacBook Pro? I'm lucky that when I returned home nothing was damaged. How do I document this?

What's protocol on issues such as this? This has never happened to me before.
 
Take it to an apple store. But before you do that, call apple customer support, and tell them what happened. Tell them you weren't home and could have lost your house due to this. With any luck you could be looking at a new unibody macbook pro for this happening.
 
JamesGorman said:
Take it to an apple store. But before you do that, call apple customer support, and tell them what happened. Tell them you weren't home and could have lost your house due to this. With any luck you could be looking at a new unibody macbook pro for this happening.
Click to expand...

Really? I'd just settle for a new charger... Do they do that and how bad does the circumstance have to be for a new unibody?
 
Even if it's out of warranty, Apple should be able to help you with what to do. Go to an Apple Store and have them check it out, or call their customer support line.
 
christall109 said:
So the power cord coming out of the AC adapter to the Magsafe melted and almost started a fire. There is about an inch selection where all I can see now is the metal wiring underneith, all the insulation is off. Is this covered under AppleCare? Since it was smoking and almost caused a fire, would this have harmed my MacBook Pro? I'm lucky that when I returned home nothing was damaged. How do I document this?

What's protocol on issues such as this? This has never happened to me before.
Click to expand...

Does the computer still work fine? If so just replace the power cord, or have Apple replace it if it's under warranty or you have apple care. A brand new magsafe power cord is not too expensive I don't believe.
 
christall109 said:
So the power cord coming out of the AC adapter to the Magsafe melted and almost started a fire. There is about an inch selection where all I can see now is the metal wiring underneith, all the insulation is off. Is this covered under AppleCare? Since it was smoking and almost caused a fire, would this have harmed my MacBook Pro? I'm lucky that when I returned home nothing was damaged. How do I document this?

What's protocol on issues such as this? This has never happened to me before.
Click to expand...

you probably can't prove you have clean power - so hopefully you have a warranty
 
I am with Cassie, take it to the Apple Store with the cord and have them check things out

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
JamesGorman said:
Take it to an apple store. But before you do that, call apple customer support, and tell them what happened. Tell them you weren't home and could have lost your house due to this. With any luck you could be looking at a new unibody macbook pro for this happening.
Click to expand...

lol

christall109 said:
Really? I'd just settle for a new charger... Do they do that and how bad does the circumstance have to be for a new unibody?
Click to expand...

you wont get a new unibody

you may even not get a new charger though you probably will

in any case, dont use that cord for th time being. if you must, at least super wrap in electrical tape
 
Take a lighter and burn the side of the macbook until it no longer boots (do this outside btw). Claim the damage was caused by the faulty power cord and request a replacement. Apple will provide you with a new unibody.

/sarcasm
 
midgetsanchez said:
Take a lighter and burn the side of the macbook until it no longer boots (do this outside btw). Claim the damage was caused by the faulty power cord and request a replacement. Apple will provide you with a new unibody.
Click to expand...

Uh, you forgot the ;) or the :p or the :rolleyes: or the :D after your post

'cause if that was a serious suggestion... it was a bad one

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
christall109 said:
Really? I'd just settle for a new charger... Do they do that and how bad does the circumstance have to be for a new unibody?
Click to expand...

You just want a new charger for something that could have killed you? I'd be furious if this happened to me.

This is completely inexcusable. Apple needs to look into this matter, as now several people have had a problem with fires/electrical problems.

Since they aren't being proactive about it, someone needs to sue them for the safety of everyone else involved. I don't mean a lawsuit where someone tries to gain personally, but a class-action lawsuit to make Apple ensure the safety of its products.

I don't want to have to worry about fires while I sleep.
 
NovemberWhiskey said:
You just want a new charger for something that could have killed you? I'd be furious if this happened to me.
Click to expand...

hell, why stop at a new computer. he deserves a 51% stake of apple for this!

:rolleyes:

midgetsanchez said:
And possibly burn down your house and family. I think this warrants a brand new laptop.
Click to expand...

lol no it really doesnt

stop living in imagination land
 
dukebound85 said:
lol



you wont get a new unibody

you may even not get a new charger though you probably will

in any case, dont use that cord for th time being. if you must, at least super wrap in electrical tape
Click to expand...

There was another person who this happened to and they gave him a new macbook pro. And I believe his computer was working fine afterwards, but they replaced it all anyway. So lol at yourself:p
 
You stated that your house could have burned down so to me the only reasonable response is:

Complain. Loudly.

People saying no new cord, really? I'd be asking for an investigation into what caused the incident (and for myself to be informed of the outcome) and for my computer to be examined for damage/replaced. If there was so much as a scorch mark on my computer I'd want it replaced. If my furniture had been damaged I'd also be pointing that out.

Saying that be polite, it's not the staff's fault, but if you do this in store be polite in a clear, carrying voice.
 
It didn't cause a fire
It didn't burn down the house
It apparently didn't even damage the computer

If it HAD, that would be a different story... but basing everything on what could have happened is tenuous


Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
JamesGorman said:
There was another person who this happened to and they gave him a new macbook pro. And I believe his computer was working fine afterwards, but they replaced it all anyway. So lol at yourself:p
Click to expand...

im off to continuously bend my power cable till the stress causes it to malfuntion during use so i can get a free computer. im gonna use my cord stretchedout and turned so the head is at like 90 deg from the cable! that should do it after a few days


i am going to bend my branklines as well so i can get a new car too

hmm im gonna also somehow make my house explode with a malfuntioning gas line so i can get a free house lol
 
dukebound85 said:
hell, why stop at a new computer. he deserves a 51% stake of apple for this!

:rolleyes:



lol no it really doesnt

stop living in imagination land
Click to expand...

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Who said a 51% stake in Apple?

I hope you know why we have seatbelts in cars today--along with all the other safety measures designed to save lives: LAWSUITS.

Without legislation designed to force car companies to look out for safety, you can be sure that they wouldn't be as stringent as they are today.

Grow up.

They should replace his computer, and then start looking into this matter and issuing a recall if one hasn't already been issued. Unfortunately, without a lawsuit, I'm pretty sure they are just going to keep going after their profits and not do anything but replace the computers to those few individuals that have had problems.

You should read up about the history of the Ford Pinto and what kind of calculations the business guys are making behind the scenes--the calculations that determine whether or not they should issue recalls.

Lawsuits are not all bad. It just depends on the type.
 
instaxgirl said:
You stated that your house could have burned down so to me the only reasonable response is:

Complain. Loudly.

People saying no new cord, really? I'd be asking for an investigation into what caused the incident, and for my computer to be examined for damage. If there was so much as a scorch mark on my computer I'd want it replaced.

Saying that be polite, it's not the staff's fault, but if you do this in store be polite in a clear, carrying voice.
Click to expand...

I completely agree.
 
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