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Insect inside my LCD screen

A tiny insect has crawled in between the LCD panel and the backlight of my 27" iMac and died. Close inspection reveals that it is behind the LCD characters. I called Apple support, and they were sympathetic, but said I had to go to the local store. The local store told me it was not their fault I had a bug in my iMac, and in fact, this "infestation" (his words) would probably void the warranty on my 6 month old iMac.

My iMac sits on the desk in my office. My office is not "infested" with bugs. But Apple's LCD screen is not sufficiently sealed to dust and other contaminants so it will prevent a tiny insect from being attracted to the light and crawling inside of it. I am very disappointed in their response.

Does anyone know if there is any recourse to the local Apple store? The woman at MY-APPLE assumed it would be a warranty repair. It seems to me that the LCD component should be sufficiently sealed to prevent bugs from crawling into it. And I live in Southern California, not Northern Michigan.

Does anyone know if I am likely to be able to disassemble the screen and clean it myself?

See for yourself. The bug is next to 14 point Arial in TextEdit:

www.bmumford.com/tmp/Bug.jpg

Posted on Jul 24, 2014 3:30 PM

59 replies

K Shaffer

Level 7

34,996 points

Jul 24, 2014 5:01 PM in response to Bryan Mumford

Others in the ASC discussions had mention of tiny insect visitors or permanent residents

inside their iMac displays; those owners said nothing of an Apple statement of AppleCare

being void by these resident insects. And no previous mention of their being recent ones

since they could have been incarcerated within while iMac was elsewhere. (Maybe.)

I'd certainly not want to have AppleCare coverage shortened by an arbitrary ruling at an

Apple Store, just because some tiny insect set up shop (or was installed as on-site tiny

inspector, reporting back to his superiors on the outside?) in an essentially new Mac.

Check into the instances of 'tiny insect in iMac display' or something similar in ASC; so

as to note that it has happened more than a few times. Hard to say any one incident

constitutes an infestation, or should terminate the warranty. I'd escalate this should an

employee at a singular Apple Store suggest that yours is the only time it happened. Or

if it should result shortening your iMac warranty (complementary or extended AppleCare.)

While they can make a decision, you could ask the issue be escalated should there be

a functioning issue. I'd be concerned that some other part would fail, during the span of

time that a normal warranty plan would be in effect, that has nothing to do with that bug.

Why should you have to pay, say, if a logic board goes out at 9 months, due to a bug in

side the display in what is essentially a new Mac, that was found before 6 months?

This sounds a bit flakey to me. But what do I know? LOL 🙂

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,712 points

Jul 24, 2014 5:27 PM in response to Bryan Mumford

LLet Apple handle it.

Jul 28, 2014 9:55 AM in response to Bryan Mumford

And exactly what has happened to me, watched the bug crawl around praying it would not die in a visible area and it did. there is nothing to do but replace the whole screen....earlier models allowed you to remove the glass but As you have found our models have it fused. ****** of would be putting it mildly

Jul 28, 2014 10:10 AM in response to Jackdunstan

1-800-MY-APPLE said it would be warranty, subject to confirmation by the local store.

The local store said the "infestation" was my problem and might void my warranty.

A local repairman said it would have to go through the local store, but the new LCD screens with LED backlight are a "sealed unit", and he would not be able to vacuum or blow an insect out from between the screen layers.

if Apple sealed it to prevent contamination, it seems like the existence of a tiny winged insect indicates either a fault in the seal or an insect egg inside the screen at the time of manufacture.

Mr_Rossy

Level 1

0 points

Jul 30, 2014 2:20 AM in response to Bryan Mumford

Snap, my 2013 27" has 2 or 3 of these pesky little bugs in the screen. My brother thought that it might in fact be the sealer from the screen edge flaking and falling between the panel and glass. 1 mark definitely looks like a bug but the other 1 could very we'll be a flake of sealer.

I'm obviously screwed as I'm out of warranty and my apple store is a fair distance from my home. Being a typical Apple dependent fanboy like most I'd like to take it back and get it fixed to satisfactory condition but have my doubts about packing up the machine and driving the distance to the shop, waiting in a long queue for repair / referral or the inevitable fob off....

Let me know how you get on with Apple.

Matt

Jul 30, 2014 7:14 AM in response to Mr_Rossy

Could you send me a picture of your bug? You need to use a camera with closeup lens, held carefully to focus closely on the bug. An iPhone might do, but we'll need a sharp picture. It seems possible that the screens were contaminated during manufacture. If the bugs are the same type, it's a good argument that it's a manufacturing problem.

If you can email an image to me, I will publish them on a website so we can compare. You can use the email address "bugs-at-bmumford.com"

Here's my picture:

www.bmumford.com/tmp/Bug.jpg

Mr_Rossy

Level 1

0 points

Jul 30, 2014 7:46 AM in response to Bryan Mumford

Email from my iPhone just sent.

just to confirm that the address is without -at- and directly replaced with @ ? Sorry I'm not used to that terminology.

Rudegar

Level 10

170,850 points

Jul 30, 2014 8:05 AM in response to Mr_Rossy

I would suspect so as a valid email would require a @ somewhere

ukhattie

Level 1

0 points

Aug 22, 2014 5:37 AM in response to Bryan Mumford

I've also got a small insect in the screen of my late 2013 27" iMac ... I first spotted it a couple of days ago and was very depressed about it. Then I got excited this morning when I thought it had gone, but I see now that it's just moved so it's obviously still alive for now. I agree it must be Apple's fault because either (a) the set up isn't sufficiently sealed or (b) it is and the insect or egg was in there from the get go. I would be very offended at the suggestion that I have any sort of "infestation" in my office.

fredlk

Level 1

0 points

Aug 22, 2014 6:11 AM in response to ukhattie

I now have 4 dead bugs in the display of my late 2013 27" iMac.

I was depressed after the 1st, but now I'm just mad. They're always in my line of sight.

I wish there was a way I could remove and clean the display as there was with the previous model.

Aug 22, 2014 10:06 AM in response to ukhattie

ukhattie-

If you can email an image to me, I will publish them on a website so we can compare. You can use the email address "bugs-at-bmumford.com"

Apr 18, 2015 9:28 AM in response to Bryan Mumford

I am facing the same issue... I notice an insect inside the screen of my MacBook Pro (late 2013 version). Seems like that batch of Macbook pro is facing this issue so I suspect it might be infested at point of assembly. So worried that I might see more insects. What should I do? So did anyone manage to get Apple to service their MacBook pro due to this issue?

Apr 18, 2015 10:04 AM in response to Suspended4th

Can you send me a picture of your bug? You need to use a camera with closeup lens, held carefully to focus closely on the bug. An iPhone might do, but we'll need a sharp picture. It seems possible that the screens were contaminated during manufacture. If the bugs are the same type, it's a good argument that it's a manufacturing problem.

If you can email an image to me, I will publish them on a website so we can compare. You can use the email address "bugs-at-bmumford.com"

K Shaffer

Level 7

34,996 points

Apr 18, 2015 12:30 PM in response to Bryan Mumford

An insect expert with microscope or macro image technologies could match up the

insects with their general natural habitat and see if they are of the same type, also

where they originated. Also, if these are of the type of insect that gains territory due

to human influence, they could have been almost anywhere for a time, back when

the product was manufactured, or stored in warehouse locations. Perhaps after the

point of manufacture if the housing is not air-tight; certain electronics require venting

and those openings could allow somebody very small to enter & set up housekeeping.

Good luck in your quest!🙂

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Apr 18, 2015 12:35 PM in response to K Shaffer

What if they turn out to be a protected species, there might be penalties for disturbing them or their habitat 🙂

Insect inside my LCD screen