MacBook Core Duo Water Damage

Ok it has been 4 days since I spilled water in the device, I have had it flipped over on its side with a fan blowing on it for two days. I plugged it in today, the green light comes on when the power cord is plugged in, and the battery shows power on the battery itself. However when I press the power button nothing happens.

Please HELP. Today I took off the keyboard and could not see any wet area, but would like to know what is the best step now. Is it likely in need of a new Logic Board? If so is it worth it, or worth buying a new laptop to replace it?

[quote|mahoodlum]Ok it has been 4 days since I spilled water in the device, I have had it flipped over on its side with a fan blowing on it for two days. I plugged it in today, the green light comes on when the power cord is plugged in, and the battery shows power on the battery itself. However when I press the power button nothing happens. Please HELP. Today I took off the keyboard and could not see any wet area, but would like to know what is the best step now. Is it likely in need of a new Logic Board? If so is it worth it, or worth buying a new laptop to replace it?[/quote]

First, I'm sorry to hear about your accident with the water glass. I hope you're able to get your MacBook going again.

Since the computer was on and initially shut down on its own when the water entered, it is likely that water reached areas which caused sufficient damage to end up with the current result - not able boot.

Without disassembling your MacBook and inspecting where the water (or traces of it) went inside, it's hard to say whether a new logic board, DC board, or other replacement components would bring it back to life.

Have you been backing up all the data from your MacBook to an external drive regularly? If not, and you need current information from your MacBook's internal HD, you still might be able to extract it as long as the water did not reach the internal hard drive as well.

[quote|MacMentor]First, I'm sorry to hear about your accident with the water glass. I hope you're able to get your MacBook going again. Since the computer was on and initially shut down on its own when the water entered, it is likely that water reached areas which caused sufficient damage to end up with the current result - not able boot. Without disassembling your MacBook and inspecting where the water (or traces of it) went inside, it's hard to say whether a new logic board, DC board, or other replacement components would bring it back to life. Have you been backing up all the data from your MacBook to an external drive regularly? If not, and you need current information from your MacBook's internal HD, you still might be able to extract it as long as the water did not reach the internal hard drive as well.[/quote]

MacMentor, Thank you for your thoughts. We both have the same exact laptops, so if I am unable to get it working, I am going to swap hard drives, if at least to back it up. Fortunately backups are things we both do, but it has been a while for both of us. I did open up the laptop yesterday, the keyboard is off, but I am having a hard time locating the damage, is there any recommendations on what to look for?

[quote|mahoodlum]MacMentor, Thank you for your thoughts. We both have the same exact laptops, so if I am unable to get it working, I am going to swap hard drives, if at least to back it up. Fortunately backups are things we both do, but it has been a while for both of us. I did open up the laptop yesterday, the keyboard is off, but I am having a hard time locating the damage, is there any recommendations on what to look for?[/quote]

UPDATE: After a week, I decided to test a couple things out. First I Put laptop back together but I used the keyboard from my macbook (same exact model) to see if the keyboard was broken, it was not. So I broken macbook has a couple of things in its favor, when the power cord is connected the charging light turns on, and it does charge the battery. The Harddrive works, I was able to put it into my laptop and back up the information.

So now I have a macbook case with a non-working, well something, can someone direct me to any instructions or ways to figure out what I would need to replace to make this laptop work again? I'd buy a new logic board, but my fear is that the fan may broken. Anyway to test these things out? Thanks in advance.

[quote|mahoodlum]UPDATE: After a week, I decided to test a couple things out. First I Put laptop back together but I used the keyboard from my macbook (same exact model) to see if the keyboard was broken, it was not. So I broken macbook has a couple of things in its favor, when the power cord is connected the charging light turns on, and it does charge the battery. The Harddrive works, I was able to put it into my laptop and back up the information. So now I have a macbook case with a non-working, well something, can someone direct me to any instructions or ways to figure out what I would need to replace to make this laptop work again? I'd buy a new logic board, but my fear is that the fan may broken. Anyway to test these things out? Thanks in advance.[/quote]

New I/O Board and New Logicboard Forget about the fans I would try start the macbook up without fans.But by the way did you open the macbook and take out everything so that you can see where the water did go.

[quote|DjNunes]New I/O Board and New Logicboard Forget about the fans I would try start the macbook up without fans.But by the way did you open the macbook and take out everything so that you can see where the water did go.[/quote]

Quote from DjNunes:

New I/O Board and New Logicboard Forget about the fans I would try start the macbook up without fans.But by the way did you open the macbook and take out everything so that you can see where the water did go.

I took off the keyboard, but beyond that I have not taken out anymore, and I honestly don't know how to find water damage, what should I be looking for? I might take the time this coming weekend to take apart the fan and heat sink to see if there is water damage. What is the I/O Board?

[quote|mahoodlum]I took off the keyboard, but beyond that I have not taken out anymore, and I honestly don't know how to find water damage, what should I be looking for? I might take the time this coming weekend to take apart the fan and heat sink to see if there is water damage. What is the I/O Board?[/quote]

The piece of board where the powercable goes in and where you have mic in an line out/sound and one usb this connections are all on the I/OBoard

[quote|DjNunes]The piece of board where the powercable goes in and where you have mic in an line out/sound and one usb this connections are all on the I/OBoard[/quote]

It was the logic board. Picked up the logic board & thermal paste from the post office (missed the delivery yesterday), 2 hours later I got my GF's macbook working again. Upon further analysis of the broken logic board it appears that the processor was likely hit with water, which in turn I think killed the logic board.

Question for Ifixit crew, would you like the broken logic board? Is replacing the processor an easy task?

[quote|mahoodlum]It was the logic board. Picked up the logic board & thermal paste from the post office (missed the delivery yesterday), 2 hours later I got my GF's macbook working again. Upon further analysis of the broken logic board it appears that the processor was likely hit with water, which in turn I think killed the logic board. Question for Ifixit crew, would you like the broken logic board? Is replacing the processor an easy task?[/quote]