MacBook Unibody A1342 no power after water damage to logic board

You can buy new Logic Boards online but they can be quite expensive. Also, I don't think Apple would touch a Logic Board with signs of water damage unfortunately, they'd rather you buy a new MacBook. You could try a Certified Reseller or repair shop, but again, it could be quite expensive.

Another option could be to buy a broken, not water damaged board from eBay and replace the capacitors?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Macbook-13-Unibody-A1342-2-26GHz-P7550-SLGVT-Logic-Board -820-2567-A-AS-IS-GLP-/261054870214?pt=Motherboards&hash=item3cc81532c6#ht_528wt _1156

This one has video problems, so it could be a case of replacing something from each board. Be careful though, it could still be water damage.

A Logic Board usually goes for around $300 on eBay, or maybe by a not working MacBook of the same model and replace the Logic Board.

Hope this gives you some useful info 🙂

In another recent thread of a similar nature, a user spilled orange juice on her MacBook, ended up taking it to the Apple store and they inspected and estimated the repair at $700. But could not guarantee it would work again as there may have been other damage to components.

So the question becomes, is it worth trying to repair or better to replace?

It seems unlikely that some parts just "fell off" those are probably empty soldering points, if you provide a wider shot of the board I could check my macbook's one (unibody, late 2009) and tell you if anything is missing. If all the components are in place then just try carefully cleaning the board with alcohol, check for any blown fuses and if everything seems ok cross your fingers and try starting it up again 🙂

@CoccoBorg:

I need your help, please. I spilled wine on my mid 2009 unibody macbook pro, now when I power up I see Hard drive light On, I hear fan noise, but don't hear any startup Apple chime and nothing on display, I cleaned the logic board with 91% alcohol, but that didn't change anything. Before cleaning the logicboard, their were no signs of wine on the logicboard, but there was a lot of wine on the keyboard black sheet.

My guess is:

1. The keyboard might be causing this behaiour, I wan't to bypass the keyboard, can you please confirm if these are the right power pads on logicboard?

http://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/106612/Where+are+the+power+pads

2. You mentioned something about fuses, where will I find them on logic board?

3. Any othe suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Thanks

@fatboysam

1.The pads shown in the pic are the ones you need to short to get the Mac to start, in order to troubleshoot your MacBook, try to disconnect the keyboard's cable first (the large black ribbon cable) and then with the keyboard disconnected short the pads. This should do the trick 🙂

2.I had no idea where the fuses are on your MacBook, but iFixit has the answer to this too 😀

http://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/73182/Why+doesn't+my+screen+light

Although this might not be useful as your mac doesn't chime, but who knows...

3.In case a fuse really is blown NEVER, EVER, TRY TO BRIDGE IT! The fuse blown BECAUSE something else would have broken instead if it didn't! Test the fuse with a multimeter, if it's ok it will read 0Ohms (as current can flow through it) if it's blown your multimeter will display an out-of-scale message of some sort.

Hope this helps,

-Francesco

Thanks for quick response, I am totally confused, here is why, I tried shorting these pads, but I was not able to power up, but with a keyboard plugged in, I am able to power up with power button, Any idea ?

Thnx

The thing is: your power button is probably toast, it shorted when wine (containing almost 90% water) reached it and now when you try to turn your Mac on it turns it right off. Maybe you just need to press a litle harder on the pads, use a pair of very small pliers or something similar to do it. Before you try that though, why don't you send me a pic of your own logicboard so that I can see what pads you are trying to short?

I attached some pics, in the second pic, I tried to short the 2 squares as shown in ifixit pic. I used a paper clip. Thanks

Any comments please. Thanks

Try using something a little bit more solid than a paper clip, like a small blade

Three weeks ago I had a 7 year old water damaged Macbook repaired by a guy who advertises on eBay. He offers a money back guarantee - cost was $220. Just another option in case your own efforts don't pan out.

(Go to eBay and search for "Repair Macbook liquid damage")

I had one more question, as you know I had washed my logic board with Alcohol, in that process, ofcourse the thermal paste also came off from CPU and GPU, but I didn't put it back, do you think that can cause anything from booting the machine ?

Is it absolutely mandatory

Well, of course you NEED to put some new thermal paste on the CPU and the GPU! This is critical!

And no, it'll not boot without it. Never try to start a computer without thermal paste and heatsink, you might end up with a dead Mac! Try putting some thermal paste on and reseat the heatsink!

really appreciate your quick response, i will do it ASAP.

Now, I need someone whom I can brainstorm with, I think you are the right guy🙂.

Here is the sequence of events

1. Spilled wine

2. Immediately 2-3 keys stopped working

3. I used the MB for 1 day, next day 1 entire row stopped working

4. I opened it and saw some dirt, so I used Air duster and cleaned the backside of logicboard very thorougly

5. I tried to start the Macbook, and it didn't start.

At this step, did the Air duster caused anything like some part got loose ???

"My guess is their was no damage to the Logic board with a wine spill."

6. I still assumed wine spill damage, and took out the logic board, I didn't see any liquid damage, but still I cleaned it. but ofcourse is till doesn't work.

How shall I debug this, I am thinking of buying a old MBP 2009, swap the logic boards to debug this problem, what do you think ??