MBA Rev B Keyboard Cleaning

[keantan]

Hi everyone,

I would just like to ask whether it is worth the effort to take apart my MBA rev B myself to try and clean under the keyboard (I have a number of keys that are loosing clickyness and it's starting to affect the typing) or sending the whole thing straight to Apple and let them sort it out (I can't really afford to send it in a week like last time (for hinge issue) which is why I was considering doing it myself. I was thinking of cleaning the top as well. My MBA has a hard life. Since I was digging around in there do you all think its worth replacing the CPU gel as well? My MBA JUST about runs youtube, it stutters with 480p sometimes (won't run 720p without lagging horrifically and certainly not 1080p). Temps are about 60-65 C just web browsing, msn, skype and iTunes, and run into the high 70s mid 80s while watching flash. Everything else works great : ) (except 1 screw fell out the bottom).

Thanks everyone

 

[coast1ja]

I would not attempt to remove the keyboard to clean it. My Rev. A lost it's clickiness too, but it was just from wear, not stuff under it.

To remove the keyboard, you have to take EVERYTHING out of the casing... I mean everything. It's a level 4 repair for apple technicians (the highest difficulty you can get!).

Just get a good can of compressed air and blow the dust out. If that doesn't work, take it to apple if it still has applecare.

I would suggest reapplying the thermal compound though, as it's not that difficult. Make sure to get the good stuff and not put too much on.

 

[keantan]

I would not attempt to remove the keyboard to clean it. My Rev. A lost it's clickiness too, but it was just from wear, not stuff under it.

To remove the keyboard, you have to take EVERYTHING out of the casing... I mean everything. It's a level 4 repair for apple technicians (the highest difficulty you can get!).

Just get a good can of compressed air and blow the dust out. If that doesn't work, take it to apple if it still has applecare.

I would suggest reapplying the thermal compound though, as it's not that difficult. Make sure to get the good stuff and not put too much on.

I think mine is stuff under it (dirt from being out and about everyday). Judging from the videos on the internet I must say it didn't look THAT hard (I would say I'm pretty handy with a screwdriver, done a hard disk upgrade on my iMac), Unfortunately although a can of compressed air sounds like a very good idea, it doesn't look sufficient for the amount of stuff that needs cleaning out. I might just apply the thermal paste and see how we go, now where to find alcohol/cotton swabs to get the original stuff off, I can probably source Artic Silver from somewhere : )

I didn't realise that there were different levels for Apple Technicians. I was thinking of doing the certification myself, but never really seriously looked into it. Just so that I can fix macs and not void their warrantees constantly .

If it has to go into Apple, it'll have to wait for another week+, I have exams and I need the computer since its got all my lecture material on it for revision! It's so annoying not having the J (after 3 attempts) key as well as a few others.

 

[coast1ja]

This is a picture that my Apple Tech. sent me during the keyboard replacement on my MBA. There are (to my knowledge) four levels of repair. A battery replacement is a level one, on the MBA I think the hard drive replacement is a 2, logic board replacement is three, and complete tear-down is a 4. This is also how apple charges for the repairs... so the Techs love it because they get paid more from Apple for higher level repairs.

 

[keantan]

So out of interest would a wobbly screen replacement be counted as a level 4 as well? that's been done once, and so has the bluetooth (because it wasn't working after i got it back from having the screen fixed). : )

 

[coast1ja]

So out of interest would a wobbly screen replacement be counted as a level 4 as well? that's been done once, and so has the bluetooth (because it wasn't working after i got it back from having the screen fixed). : )

I'm not sure. I would bet the hinges are a level 2 or 3... they just replace the entire screen, not the hinges, so it might be higher, I'm not sure. I just know that my tech was a lot more willing to replace the keyboard (a level 4) than he was to fix the hinge issue... which would lead me to believe it is not worth his time and trouble.

I consider myself fairly good with tools and computers, having built many desktops recently... but even I wouldn't try this. If you're still under warranty, just make them do it.

 

[keantan]

Alright will follow your advice on that.

Thanks