Strange case of water damage

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Level 1

4 points

Strange case of water damage

Back in March 2024 I managed to damage my MacBook Pro by placing it a bag with a leaky water bottle - which I didn’t realise until far too late. Took it to the nearest Genius Bar 50 miles away who sent it off for repair. They seemed to have replace everything but the speakers (I’ll come back to that) and charged me £1100. Got it back in what seemed full working order. Since then, lesson learned, the machine has stayed firmly on my desk and I don’t even drink near it. Last week, after 9 weeks of working, it failed to start. It’s still under the 90 day repair warranty so I took it in to our local Apple reseller who sent it off their authorised repairer. They reported back and sent a photo of serious water damage with a repair cost if £1500!!!

I know no water has been near it. So, question:

Is it possible that the first repair didn’t detect water remaining in or around the speakers…or somewhere else?

This is a very real and stress-inducing mystery!

Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Jun 12, 2024 5:43 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

MartinR

Level 7

25,087 points

Jun 12, 2024 7:28 AM in response to PaulRK22

Take it back to the Genius Bar that did the original repair, not a different repair center.

There are liquid sensors inside the MBP. It's quite possible they may not have been replaced during the original repair and still flag for liquid intrusion. It's also possible that water marks may remain visible on interior parts or the case.

The original Genius Bar should be in a position to understand those possibilities and provide warranty service. But the local Apple reseller could rightly assert liquid damage based on visible evidence.

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Answer 2

PaulRK22 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 12, 2024 7:49 AM in response to MartinR

Thanks, Martin, much appreciated, but it still doesn’t make sense. Here’s the recent photo of the 2nd time, taken by the repairers when they inspected the interior. Unfortunately there are no photos of the original water damage and repair. How can this damage be explained if the laptop has not been near any liquid since the first time it got damaged and was repaired, replacing the case top and bottom, logic board, Touch ID with Audio Board, Trackpad, IO Board, Display?

Traces of water must have been left unnoticed.

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Answer 3

MartinR

Level 7

25,087 points

Jun 12, 2024 8:13 AM in response to PaulRK22

Since the case has already been opened by the 2nd shop, I'd open it myself to look at it in person.

And I'd still take it back to the original Genius Bar. It's hard to imagine that there would have been *any* water left inside by the original repair.

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Answer 4

PaulRK22 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 12, 2024 7:51 AM in response to PaulRK22

Photo of 2nd repair inspection. Apple have no photos of the 1st time. How on earth did that damage occur when the machine has not been near any liquid since the first repair?

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Answer 5

PaulRK22 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 12, 2024 9:14 AM in response to MartinR

Booked in to Genius Bar on Saturday.

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Strange case of water damage

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