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Mac mini m1 leaking liquid, won’t turn on

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philfournier

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 3, 2021
27
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Today I noticed my Mac mini m1 was completely shut off. I’ve never turned it off since I bought it, it’s always on, in sleep mode, and yeah I’ve had issues waking it up like everyone else, unplugging and plugging back in the USB-C cable. Today, I tried to turn it back on, nothing. Unplugged it, waited 30 seconds, tried holding the power button. Nothing. It randomly gave me the start up sound and the front light indicating it was on after a bunch of plugging back in, but then it shuts right down again. Doesn’t even show up on my monitor. Monitor just says there’s no source.



i noticed the back was subtly wet. The black part where all the ports are. I went to wipe it, and more liquid appeared. Whenever I rub it with my fingers more and more appears. I removed the black plastic from the bottom and there’s evidence of some form of liquid inside. It has NEVER been spilt on, so save me that. No drink has ever been near this thing. What is going on??????
 

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There isn't anything in a computer with liquid in it, unless it has a liquid cooling system, which the mini doesn't have. Except electrolytic capacitors, but that's brown, or some kind of batteries, but it's not that much.
You sure you don't have a leak?
 
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The Mac mini M1 motherboard doesn't have any electrolytic capacitors that could leak. But, the power supply does have some large electrolytic filter caps, and it's possible one of these leaked. That's still a lot more liquid than I would expect from a leaking capacitor though. Bizarre.

I know you said it's never been spilt on, but....do you have a pet that's mad at you for some reason?
 
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Well look on the bright side... you know why the computer won't turn on... moisture on the electronics.

You may not have spilt something on it, but someone/something else may have.

It would take a rather severe humidity change for condensation buildup. You either live in the tropics, have turned your bedroom into a greenhouse, or set up your computer in the bathroom.
 
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No I’m not kidding. No one has spilt anything on it. It’s winter here. I’m in New Brunswick Canada, the room is warm just from baseboard heaters. Sometimes I use an electric heater but I haven’t used it in a little while now. It’s sitting on a grovemade desk stand and pretty close to the wall. Is it possible the fan is blowing out, hitting the wall and redirecting into the computer causing moisture?
 
uller6 said:
The Mac mini M1 motherboard doesn't have any electrolytic capacitors that could leak. But, the power supply does have some large electrolytic filter caps, and it's possible one of these leaked. That's still a lot more liquid than I would expect from a leaking capacitor though. Bizarre.

I know you said it's never been spilt on, but....do you have a pet that's mad at you for some reason?
Click to expand...
I’m 100% positive nothing has been spilt on it by anyone or anything.
 
pmiles said:
Well look on the bright side... you know why the computer won't turn on... moisture on the electronics.

You may not have spilt something on it, but someone/something else may have.

It would take a rather severe humidity change for condensation buildup. You either live in the tropics, have turned your bedroom into a greenhouse, or set up your computer in the bathroom.
Click to expand...
I live in New Brunswick Canada, it’s been cold out for the past week or so and warm inside heated by baseboard heaters. That’s pretty much it. I have it sitting on a wood desk stand and it is up against the wall maybe like 6” or less from the wall. You think the fan is blowing air and bouncing off the wall back into it to create condensation?
 
tollickd said:
you know the way the pics look to me that could be it! what the weather like in your part on the world?
Click to expand...
New Brunswick, Canada. Cold and snowy. Regular winter though. Condensation makes sense if it’s sitting on a wood desk stand on my desk but the desk is against the wall and the back of the Mac mini is about 6” or less separated from the wall. Could the air blowing out bounce back in over time to create condensation? The fan is pretty much non existent on these
 
If nothing has been spilt on or near it then it can only be condensation, there is nothing inside the mac that could leak. Well, apart from a capacitor but not that much and if it was a capacitor your device would have bigger issues.
 
LeeW said:
If nothing has been spilt on or near it then it can only be condensation, there is nothing inside the mac that could leak. Well, apart from a capacitor but not that much and if it was a capacitor your device would have bigger issues.
Click to expand...
And it won’t power up. Sometimes it will for a few seconds, but not enough time to get the monitor to recognize it and see what screen it gets to before shutting down again. Then I have to unplug/plug back in multiple times/wait a while, and I eventually get the start up sound, then shut down again.
 
philfournier said:
And it won’t power up. Sometimes it will for a few seconds, but not enough time to get the monitor to recognize it and see what screen it gets to before shutting down again. Then I have to unplug/plug back in multiple times/wait a while, and I eventually get the start up sound, then shut down again.
Click to expand...

That could be caused by condensation inside. If it is wet under the cover it is probably wet inside. Too much for it be even a leaky capacitor and it is too spread out to be from something like that, at worst it would be a very small drop that would be on the inside, not all over the outside of the bottom cover. That definitely looks like condensation, got the right look and pattern.

I would get it open and have a closer look inside, condensation bridging across element can be the cause of your power up issues.
 
philfournier said:
I’m in New Brunswick Canada
Click to expand...
Do you use a humidifier?

If the inside of your home is warm and humid (obviously from a humidifier) and you brought in a very cold piece of aluminum (the Mac Mini) from outside your home, the moisture in the air could condensate all over the outside and inside surface of it.
 
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LeeW said:
That could be caused by condensation inside. If it is wet under the cover it is probably wet inside. Too much for it be even a leaky capacitor and it is too spread out to be from something like that, at worst it would be a very small drop that would be on the inside, not all over the outside of the bottom cover. That definitely looks like condensation, got the right look and pattern.

I would get it open and have a closer look inside, condensation bridging across element can be the cause of your power up issues.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much! I booked an appointment with a local apple approved store to have a tech look at it. I left it u plugged for a while and just actually powered it up to the log in screen and was able to enter my password and get in for the first time since the shut down. the monitor recognized it. Moments later, it shut back down again.
 
vertical smile said:
Do you use a humidifier?

If the inside of your home is warm and humid (obviously from a humidifier) and you brought in a very cold piece of aluminum (the Mac Mini) from outside your home, the moisture in the air could condensate all over the outside and inside surface of it.
Click to expand...
Check the recent comments. I actually don’t have a humidifier. I purchased the Mac mini in December and it’s been inside here ever since and hasn’t moved an inch. Barely even been touched by human hands. It’s pristine
 
Once I actually get it to power on, it does for a moment and then shuts off again and doesn’t matter how many unplugs and back in I do, I have to wait a while and it’ll boot up again and then shut right back down. Sucks
 
If you rule out all external liquid, all you're left with is a very unfortunate case of condensation. It may have damaged your mini just for being plugged in. Be ready for bad news from the store.
Hope you have some kind of insurance...
 
Stop powering it up for starters as the water can cause unwanted bridging, send the wrong voltage to some component and kill it, store it in a dry place until it gets looked at.
 
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