Liquid Damage!

[firozozman]

I spilt Tea on my Macbook Pro (v2013)

Though I had extended warranty Apple wont help any liquid damage. I gave my Mac for repair in a local shop. They diagnosed the following. Please help me understand if its worth paying 800$ + for this repair.

We ran a comprehensive software test on the logic board, here are the results:

- As per the diagnostics, the hard Drive is is OK mechanically, but whether the files are there or not can only be tested once the logic board has been repaired.

- Logic board chip defective - the SMC Controller is responsible for modulating and distributing power to all the parts and components on your Mac, please see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Management_Controller

The SMC controller is under powering the unit, and is not being able to supply adequate voltage to the unit. All the other components on the logic board as well as on the rest of the Mac passed our tests and are perfectly fine, the issue is only with one component.

The SMC controller/Power IC is a chip on the motherboard requires a replacement, this chip will extracted and replaced. The unit will also be tested thoroughly and the repair accompanies a 3 month warranty. (You can purchase an additional 12 months of warranty for just $99)

The cost for this repair is $399, which includes the part, labor and 3 months of warranty, or at this time you are at a $0 no obligation diagnostics

As part of this repair, we would also treat the logic board in 100% alcohol, also known as Methyl Hydrate to ensure that no further damage is caused from any dust or dirt accumulation.

Later they came back and said they need to replace the circuit board entirely and will cost $800+.

Please help.

 

[Borin]

I can't say whether or not such a cost is reasonable from this side of the pond, but do you have any household insurance or the like that covers electronics? If so I would've thought an insurance claim would be able to deal with this.

 

[firozozman]

Thanks Borin

Good Point. I will talk to an insurance agent.

 

[ScottishCaptain]

Something is extremely suspicious here.

The SMC doesn't "modulate or distribute" power in any way, nor does it supply any kind of voltage to the rest of the computer. It's actually a tiny microprocessor (specifically, a Renesas H8S) that is in charge of controlling the components that do. If the SMC chip were damaged in any way, absolutely nothing in the computer would function at all.

Because of this, there is absolutely NO WAY they could have verified or tested the rest of the computer. It's simply impossible. The only diagnostics available to an Apple tech that can confirm the operation of a computer require the machine to successfully startup and boot off a local USB disk drive (Apple Software Diagnistics) or a network volume (Apple Service Toolkit).

Once again, it is IMPOSSIBLE to verify the operation of the logic board without a working SMC chipset. However, this is the exact chipset they claim is defective (as well as a "power IC", whatever that is). See the problem here? I think you're being taken for a ride by an unscrupulous service centre, and I'd recommend you avoid these yahoos in the future.

-SC

 

[rawweb]

Something is extremely suspicious here.

The SMC doesn't "modulate or distribute" power in any way, nor does it supply any kind of voltage to the rest of the computer. It's actually a tiny microprocessor (specifically, a Renesas H8S) that is in charge of controlling the components that do. If the SMC chip were damaged in any way, absolutely nothing in the computer would function at all.

Because of this, there is absolutely NO WAY they could have verified or tested the rest of the computer. It's simply impossible. The only diagnostics available to an Apple tech that can confirm the operation of a computer require the machine to successfully startup and boot off a local USB disk drive (Apple Software Diagnistics) or a network volume (Apple Service Toolkit).

Once again, it is IMPOSSIBLE to verify the operation of the logic board without a working SMC chipset. However, this is the exact chipset they claim is defective (as well as a "power IC", whatever that is). See the problem here? I think you're being taken for a ride by an unscrupulous service centre, and I'd recommend you avoid these yahoos in the future.

-SC

I second this viewpoint. Also, whatever bloke told you they can't recover files from your hard drive until a logic board has been tested is trying to steal money from you. It's a couple of screws and the hard drive can be placed into an external enclosure, another computer...whatever...the files could then be backed up (if you don't already employ a backup, you should) from any machine.

Run, run as fast as you can.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Something is extremely suspicious here.

The SMC doesn't "modulate or distribute" power in any way, nor does it supply any kind of voltage to the rest of the computer. It's actually a tiny microprocessor (specifically, a Renesas H8S) that is in charge of controlling the components that do. If the SMC chip were damaged in any way, absolutely nothing in the computer would function at all.

Because of this, there is absolutely NO WAY they could have verified or tested the rest of the computer. It's simply impossible. The only diagnostics available to an Apple tech that can confirm the operation of a computer require the machine to successfully startup and boot off a local USB disk drive (Apple Software Diagnistics) or a network volume (Apple Service Toolkit).

Once again, it is IMPOSSIBLE to verify the operation of the logic board without a working SMC chipset. However, this is the exact chipset they claim is defective (as well as a "power IC", whatever that is). See the problem here? I think you're being taken for a ride by an unscrupulous service centre, and I'd recommend you avoid these yahoos in the future.

-SC

I second this viewpoint. Also, whatever bloke told you they can't recover files from your hard drive until a logic board has been tested is trying to steal money from you. It's a couple of screws and the hard drive can be placed into an external enclosure, another computer...whatever...the files could then be backed up (if you don't already employ a backup, you should) from any machine.

Run, run as fast as you can.

I read your post and immediately thought the same. After having dealt with a failed logic board last week, I do happen to know that they are talking from their ass. Also, I am unsure they could have just replaced the SMC chip. I don't even care if they're right about what it controls, I am not sure Apple would ever just replace the SMC chip. You could ask them, just to see how FOS these guys are. Is this an authorized repair shop? It doesn't sound like it. The cost to replace the MLB is about on par with what you see here. Can you take it to Apple for a diagnostic? If not, find an authorized repair shop and have them look once more. It does sound like you have an issue with the MLB, tea will do that, but I don't think you should be giving your money to these guys. Also, they said the 3 month warranty accompanied the repair then claimed that the price consisted of the part, labor and warranty. So again, their wording and their presumed actions appear shady.

 

[tubeexperience]

This sounds pretty suspicious.

Please post the link to the website for this repair shop.

 

[mac-n-sauce]

"We ran a comprehensive software test on the logic board"

Software is not the problem. Liquid damage caused a hardware problem. First of all it needs to be diagnosed from a hardware standpoint.
Does it turn on?
When you plug it in does it turn green, then go orange?
Liquid tends to hit the "one wire circuit" on these models which causes the computer not to turn on.
There are way too many possibilities to diagnose without knowing any symptoms.
You should easily be able to get the computer repaired at a reputable repair shop for $350 or less.
Most of the time the hard drive does not get damaged at all. It really depends on the amount of liquid and where it entered the laptop. The keyboard traps most of it.

 

[kschendel]

Is there residue on the logic board? Is it completely dry?

I spilled red wine (!!!) on a 2009 MBP and managed to get another 6 months out of it, by very very carefully removing the visible wine residues with clean water, drying, and letting the machine sit open in front of a fan for 2 days. Eventually the keyboard gave it up. (I gave it to a family member who is still using it after a keyboard replacement.) So as long as a chip didn't fry due to a short circuit, it might be revivable.

I'd open it up, and look for any obvious tea residues. Wipe them off with a damp cloth or q-tip, and let it dry completely (completely!!!) before reapplying any power. If the logic board really is dead, you won't be making it any worse. The good news is that machine has no optical drive to foul and no rotating machinery.

Anyone who calls methanol "methyl hydrate" is either trying to show off or BS you. It's not wrong, but it's a little like calling water hydrogen monoxide.

 

[duervo]

Stay away from that service provider. Way too many red flags in what they wrote to you, with the most serious one being their statement of using 100% alcohol. When you consider that statement along with the ones about what the SMC does, I would seriously question their competence to handle an extremely flammable substance such as 100% alcohol (assuming they were even telling the truth with that part). That stuff can go up in flames with a single static discharge.

 

[firozozman]

This sounds pretty suspicious.

Please post the link to the website for this repair shop.

The store is "buy n cell". They have 5 stores in Canada.
http://www.buyncell.ca/

 

[aks.icebreaker]

Hi
I need help with MacBook Air 2012. I accidentally spilled tang(sweet orange drink) on my laptop keyboard. Then I wiped it off and put it in a rice bag for 2 days. Then I took it out and it turned on. All good. Then when the battery was low it plugged it to the adapter and it was not charging. I tried to reset the SME by pressing shift control option key along with power. I tried 20 times. The light flashed and then about 24th time it started charging. I was super happy. However though the keys and the pad doesn't feel the same what it was, but then again when low battery it tried to charge the same thing. It's not charging. I tried SME resetting but nothing is working. I have to take it to store but I am sure they gonna charge a big time. Please help me. No idea what should I do. I am a student and I really need a laptop.

 

[MultiFinder17]

Hi
I need help with MacBook Air 2012. I accidentally spilled tang(sweet orange drink) on my laptop keyboard. Then I wiped it off and put it in a rice bag for 2 days. Then I took it out and it turned on. All good. Then when the battery was low it plugged it to the adapter and it was not charging. I tried to reset the SME by pressing shift control option key along with power. I tried 20 times. The light flashed and then about 24th time it started charging. I was super happy. However though the keys and the pad doesn't feel the same what it was, but then again when low battery it tried to charge the same thing. It's not charging. I tried SME resetting but nothing is working. I have to take it to store but I am sure they gonna charge a big time. Please help me. No idea what should I do. I am a student and I really need a laptop.

It's generally considered good manners to start your own thread for your issue rather than hijacking someone else's.

So far as your issue is concerned, you need to take it to an Apple Store or a reputable third party to see what exactly was damaged in it. The Tang killed something in there.

 

[firozozman]

Take it to a reputable mac repair place. Dont try to turn on any more, you could easily damage it further. Read the reviews of the store before taking it there. I did the mistake of taking to a place where instead of repairing they damaged it further.
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I can't say whether or not such a cost is reasonable from this side of the pond, but do you have any household insurance or the like that covers electronics? If so I would've thought an insurance claim would be able to deal with this.

Thanks for the suggestion. I got the insurance to cover this cost (minus deductibles).