Water on hinge area of MacBook Pro 2019

[annie90]

Hi,

So I had my Macbook Pro turned on and closed beside on the sofa with the hinge facing upwards. I took a drink of water from a bottle and it spilled down the front of my top and few drops landed on the hinge area of the MacBook around the left fan outlet.

I turned off the MacBook and dried up the water straight away and had good look around with a torch and I could not see any water residue in any of the 6 fan outlets so maybe none of that water actually got into the fan, I don’t know. The was also a tiny amount of water that had come though to the front of the hinge, I would imagine this was due to the movement of the hinge. The MacBook is back on and it seems to be working as it should.

Could I be ok with a small amount of water in that area that doesn’t look like it got inside the fan itself or is there anything else I should be concerned about?

 

[DaPhox]

You should be concerned.

 

[annie90]

You should be concerned.

Well that’s very helpful, really doesn’t answer my question. If you are going to say I should be concerned, you could at least give me information on what I should be concerned about.

is there anyone on here that could actually answer my question and give me something meaningful advice, please?
Thanks in advance

 

[jerryk]

First, you might have lucky and not gotten any water in the unit.

But, the first thing to be concerned about is water getting where it should not be and starting damage that may not appear for weeks or months. Corrosion under chips is real and once it starts is hard to stop without pulling chips off the board.

The second thing to be concerned about is tripping any of the moisture detector stickers throughout the chassis. If those get tripped and your system has issues in the future, Apple may look at those and declare it moisture damage. This can mean dramatically increasing repair costs or an outright declaration that the unit beyond economic repair.

 

[Audit13]

I recommend that you stop using the MacBook until the interior has been inspected.

If the MacBook is under warranty, I would remove the bottom cover, disconnect the battery, and start examining the board for any signs of moisture, corrosion, and damaged capacitors and resistors.

 

[annie90]

First, you might have lucky and not gotten any water in the unit.

But, the first thing to be concerned about is water getting where it should not be and starting damage that may not appear for weeks or months. Corrosion under chips is real and once it starts is hard to stop without pulling chips off the board.

The second thing to be concerned about is tripping any of the moisture detector stickers throughout the chassis. If those get tripped and your system has issues in the future, Apple may look at those and declare it moisture damage. This can mean dramatically increasing repair costs or an outright declaration that the unit beyond economic repair.

I really don't think any water could have gotten in through the fan (I hope so anyway) as I definitely could not see any moisture in any of the fan outlets, is there anywhere else in that area the moisture could have gotten through?

If the was to be corrosion under the chips down the line, how might the present itself, would I be right in assuming that it would slow down the responsiveness of the machine? I currently have AppleCare+ valid until 2022, if there was corrosion is it likely to present itself before that would run out? as I could get in repair by paying the excess.

I currently need to use the machine as I'm knee-deep in work for a postgraduate course but come the end of August I intend on bringing the machine for an inspection

I recommend that you stop using the MacBook until the interior has been inspected.

If the MacBook is under warranty, I would remove the bottom cover, disconnect the battery, and start examining the board for any signs of moisture, corrosion, and damaged capacitors and resistors.

As above it is currently under AppleCare+, I was to open the machine would that not void the warranty?

 

[Audit13]

As above it is currently under AppleCare+, I was to open the machine would that not void the warranty?

There are no safety seals that I know of the the MacBook.

I have not have a warranty voided because I removed the bottom casing from my MacBook but each Apple region could be different.

If you don't want to open the unit, and you want to be super careful, place the unit in a plastic bag and seal it with desiccant inside for a few days.

I certainly understand your concerns. The desiccant process is something I would personally try.

 

[jerryk]

I really don't think any water could have gotten in through the fan (I hope so anyway) as I definitely could not see any moisture in any of the fan outlets, is there anywhere else in that area the moisture could have gotten through?

If the was to be corrosion under the chips down the line, how might the present itself, would I be right in assuming that it would slow down the responsiveness of the machine? I currently have AppleCare+ valid until 2022, if there was corrosion is it likely to present itself before that would run out? as I could get in repair by paying the excess.

I currently need to use the machine as I'm knee-deep in work for a postgraduate course but come the end of August I intend on bringing the machine for an inspection



As above it is currently under AppleCare+, I was to open the machine would that not void the warranty?

I think you are fine opening the machine to look around. If you do, be careful and check for small stickers that have turned red/pink. These are the water damage indicators. Here is an example of some for phones. Hover over the pictures and you can see how these turn from gray to red/pink.

Also, I question taking the machine in for service or inspection unless you have an issue. No use getting a potential non-issue documented on this system in Apple's service database.