User profile for user: Erica P.
Erica P. Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Alleged Liquid Damage to Logic Board of Macbook

I purchased a new Macbook in May of 2008. I went out of town for a few days in July and turned off my computer and unplugged it. When I came back, there was a little black "x" on my battery icon and the computer would only run off of the power adapter. I thought it was just a problem with the fact that I let the battery completely drain, but a new battery didn't fix the problem. I took my computer in to an Apple store and they kept it to do a repair. I got a phone call later that same day saying that there was liquid damage in my computer and that I would need a new logic board, which would cost me about $750. I didn't have the repair done because I thought the $750 was outrageous, especially when I know that I didn't spill on my laptop. (I'm an adult: I can admit when I spill.) The computer runs fine off of the power cord, so I have put off making the repair. Recently, I've heard of about 4 other people that I know who have had this same thing happen. (All of a sudden the little black "x" on the battery icon and not being able to unplug the Macbook.) I'm wondering if anyone can help me. This has been SO incredibly frustrating. I saved for over a year in order to buy this computer, and for it to have this problem so soon is aggravating. I do not want to pay $750 for the repair because that's almost as much as the computer cost in the first place! The most frustrating thing is that I KNOW I did not spill on it! I don't have roommates, either. I seriously went out of town for a few days, came back, and this problem was there.

Is it possible that the computer was delivered to me with water damage, or received water damage somewhere in the mail, and it just took a couple months for the corrosion to occur? And if so, is there anyway I can get it fixed under warranty? Or am I just screwed? I've read plenty of posts on the Internet with people having this same problem. What did you all do?? If I am just screwed, is there any other company that does cheaper repairs than Apple?

Posted on Feb 12, 2009 10:13 AM

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12 replies
User profile for user: a brody
a brody
User level: Level 10
85,296 points

Feb 12, 2009 11:06 AM in response to Erica P.

Welcome to Apple Discussions!

Companies that are cheaper than Apple for some repairs are here:

http://www.dttservice.com/
http://www.powerbookresq.com/
http://www.microdocusa.com/
http://www.macspecialist.com/
http://www.techrestore.com/

Contact your insurance company to see if you can work this out with them.

Anything is possible, though the fact it took so long for the issue to appear makes it difficult to comprehend how this issue could have happened due to shipping. You never know, you could have had a leak from the ceiling when you were gone during a rainstorm. You could also conceivably get the issue resolved if your machine is under the Exchange and Repair program:
http://www.apple.com/support/exchange_repair/

Since a battery which misbehaves could also damage the logicboard too. That you could then argue with the support technician, if it is under such a program, the issue which Apple admits to is covered under that program could have resulted in liquids from the battery.

Message was edited by: a brody
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User profile for user: a brody
a brody
User level: Level 10
85,296 points

Feb 12, 2009 1:51 PM in response to Ziatron

Not all of them are made in China. Some are in Taiwan, Singapore, Ireland, and some even in California.

Regardless shipping by air normally does not end up in the ocean.

There are none in the time frame of the age of that computer:

http://www.planecrashinfo.com/2008/2008.htm

That crossed the Pacific or were of a cargo carrier that would have
shipped machines from the factory.

So while it is possible, it wouldn't have happened from a water landing.
And there are no incidents of water spills known to have occurred in cargo holds.

It would have had to happen in the physical delivery on the ground.
The fact it might have been made overseas has no bearing on whether or not water would have gotten in.

Furthermore, you would have noticed the box was seriously waterlogged if the computer had any water damage when you received the computer.

It would have been at that point you should have informed the place you bought it from of the possible damage.

Message was edited by: a brody
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User profile for user: y_p_w
y_p_w
User level: Level 6
17,762 points

Feb 12, 2009 2:06 PM in response to a brody

a brody wrote:
Not all of them are made in China. Some are in Taiwan, Singapore, Ireland, and some even in California.


When was the last time Apple had a full production portable computer made outside of China? I thought their sources were Quanta, ASUS, and Foxconn. Quanta is the largest portable computer manufacturer in the world. All three may be Taiwanese companies, but nearly all their manufacturing has been shipped to mainland China. My circa 2002 iBook G3 600 was made in Taiwan - probably from a Quanta plant.

I remember Apple had an assembly line in the 80's in Fremont, CA, but wasn't that shut down years ago?
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User profile for user: y_p_w
y_p_w
User level: Level 6
17,762 points

Feb 12, 2009 3:49 PM in response to a brody

a brody wrote:
I'm not entirely sure about the California plant history, but do remember for awhile there was one in Sacramento as well.


I remember reading an article in Time Magazine about the burn-in process for the new CRT Macintosh computers back around 1985. They apparently had the facilities and space in Fremont to heat them for 24 hours.
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User profile for user: a brody
a brody
User level: Level 10
85,296 points

Feb 12, 2009 6:39 PM in response to Erica P.

I have had personally good experience with DTT Service.
The rest I've gathered from others experience on this board.
Powerbook Res Q is a division of iResq, the former Macresq squad which my customers have had good experience with.

Tech Restore I've seen advertising on the web for the past 6 years on Macobserver.
So while I don't know how good their service is, they have staying power.

The others I'm not as familiar with.
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User profile for user: Ziatron
Ziatron
User level: Level 5
4,214 points

Feb 13, 2009 3:47 PM in response to a brody

Not all of them are made in China. Some are in Taiwan, Singapore, Ireland, and some even in California.


I purchase products from Apple on a regular basis. In the last 10 years or so I have NEVER seen a piece of hardware that was not made in China. In the early days (1983) I can remember them having manufacturing plants in Texas and the free parts of Asia.

Regardless shipping by air normally does not end up in the ocean.


True, but how could you or I KNOW how they are shipped? When I have had computers custom configured by Apple they are shipped by air. But "standard" computers for regular inventory could be shipped by ocean.

Anyway, my original post was not to be taking completely seriously. 🙂
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User profile for user: y_p_w
y_p_w
User level: Level 6
17,762 points

Feb 13, 2009 4:25 PM in response to Ziatron

Ziatron wrote:
Not all of them are made in China. Some are in Taiwan, Singapore, Ireland, and some even in California.


I purchase products from Apple on a regular basis. In the last 10 years or so I have NEVER seen a piece of hardware that was not made in China. In the early days (1983) I can remember them having manufacturing plants in Texas and the free parts of Asia.


My (late 2001) iBook G3 600 was made in Taiwan. Most of my Apple adapters were made in Thailand, although sometimes the supplied plug was from somewhere else. I thought that the earlier iPods were made in Taiwan.

If there's any particular reason for Apple products to be made (or just assembled) in China, it's because they've contracted with manufacturers who have shifted there. Like I said before - Quanta, Foxconn, and ASUS are based in Taiwan. Their manufacturing used to be primarily in Taiwan.

China has gone through the stages where they're no longer as competitive for low-cost items and manufacturing is shifting to lower-cost options like Vietnam. Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore used to be in the position where China is now. Higher end manufacturing is there now, but it remains to be seen how long before cheaper Southeast Asian countries start manufacturing more electronics items.
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User profile for user: impulse_telecom
impulse_telecom
User level: Level 3
659 points

Mar 16, 2009 5:08 PM in response to Erica P.

Hi,

Sometimes, the black X where the battery icon belongs can be solved by resetting the power management unit chip. For the MacBook: turn off the computer. Remove the battery. Disconnect the charger. Hold the power button down for at least five seconds. Reinstall the battery, then reconnect the charger. Turn on the computer to see if the normal battery icon is back.

If you are close to an Apple retail store, call to make an appointment at the Genius Bar. Ask the store staff to let you try a different battery.

It seems unlikely the MacBook was water damaged before it reached you. I found that my cats like try to sleep on my MacBook because it is slightly warm. In a house with cats, it could be drool from a sleeping cat that shorted out the logic board. I still think a bad battery is a more likely cause.

Bill
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Alleged Liquid Damage to Logic Board of Macbook

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