MBA Keyboard Damaged $$?

[SqB]

My wife has managed to spill a small amount of soda on her MBA keyboard and now has some really sticky keys. I'm sure it's going to take a full KB replacement to get us back to par.

I'm assuming that it's going to be in the many $ range. Has anyone had to pay for a MBA KB yet? How much did it run you?

I'm exceptionally good at computer repairs and have worked on many notebooks including my own MacBook, but this is one I really don't want to open up. We've got AppleCare and I don't want to void the warranty or take any chances.

 

[Apple Ink]

Have you tried turning it on? {Pls do so only if you are sure it dried} Asking because it might be more than just keyboard damage (hope not).

Any way, the minute you take it to Apple, your warranty is voided and you Apple Care wasted!

 

[SqB]

Yes, it was on and in use for several days before I even knew about it. She thought it would be a simple matter of popping off a few keys and cleaning under them .

I don't see how the warranty is voided if I take it in and pay for service to the damaged components. As long as does the work and restores it, the warranty should stay intact.

 

[Molopo]

I'm pretty sure you void the warranty whenever accidental damage is done. Reason for that is because Apple can blame any future problems on you spilling soda on the keyboard, and there's really nothing you can do about it.

Anyway, if you took it to Apple and paid for the repairs, they'd probably re-issue a warranty. It'll be costly though, in any case.

 

[Tallest Skil]

I don't see how the warranty is voided if I take it in and pay for service to the damaged components.

Perhaps you don't get what a warrantee is... Because it is void, you HAVE to pay.

 

[SqB]

I've done this before with another computer (not ) that had a component that was accidentally damaged, in this case the LCD was broken. The repair was done by an authorized repair location and due to that, the warranty was intact after the repair. The accidental damage did not void the warranty once the device was restored by the service center to it's pre-damage state. What I'm saying is that if I pay for the components that were damaged to be replaced (obviously they are not covered as they were damaged by accident) wouldn't the remainder of the warranty remain intact? Why would 's warranty differ from other manufacturers. I'll read the details once I get home and figure it out.

Regardless, I'm going to have to take it in as I'm sure I'm not going to be able to find a replacement KB/bezel unit for the MBA. I'm more concerned about what the cost of the repair will be.

 

[darngooddesign]

Have you tried taking off the keys and cleaning underneath?

 

[SqB]

Have you tried taking off the keys and cleaning underneath?

I'm not up on how Apple KB's are designed, but I've used notebooks before that pulling the keys off of broke them permanently. If anyone here has popped the keys off their MBA and successfully reattached them, I'd be open to doing that since I've been assured that it was a minimal amount of soda (yeah right).

I guess I could test it with a useless key like the eject button .

 

[Molopo]

IIRC, the keyboard is all one piece. Shouldn't be too hard to replace. If it's not one piece, well then that's not going to be very good for you.

 

[alphaod]

If you're going to go get the keyboard replaced, go to Tekserve; it will cheaper and Apple will never know that you had the keyboard replaced.

That is if you're sure the other parts have not been tainted; your warranty will be intact.

 

[Rondue]

I've done this before with another computer (not ) that had a component that was accidentally damaged, in this case the LCD was broken. The repair was done by an authorized repair location and due to that, the warranty was intact after the repair. The accidental damage did not void the warranty once the device was restored by the service center to it's pre-damage state. What I'm saying is that if I pay for the components that were damaged to be replaced (obviously they are not covered as they were damaged by accident) wouldn't the remainder of the warranty remain intact? Why would 's warranty differ from other manufacturers. I'll read the details once I get home and figure it out.

Regardless, I'm going to have to take it in as I'm sure I'm not going to be able to find a replacement KB/bezel unit for the MBA. I'm more concerned about what the cost of the repair will be.

I work with electronic service companies and repair centers on consumer electronics and that story is really neat but i've never seen that happen before. accident damage voids the warranty plain and simple doesn't matter if they pay for it out of their pocket the warranty is still gone so i wouldn't count on apple allowing you to do this. liquid + laptops + women (sorry ) = goodbye laptop.