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Will a new keyboard fix this problem?

I sloshed about a cup of milk over the front edge of my open and running MBP. It got into the trackpad, keys, and down beyond the keys. I flipped it, powered down, drained it, opened the case, dried all the milk I could see with cotton swabs, reassembled, and left a fan blowing on the keys overnight.

I tried it out this morning and it seems to sense an Apple key being held down most (but not all) of the time when neither of the Apple keys are being pressed. I tried turning off the Apple key's functions in the System Preferences, but doing that changed nothing.

How likely is it that installing a new keyboard will fix this problem? Is there something else I could do to fix it short of buying a new Mac? For what it's worth, I really don't have the funds to replace the MBP right now and am therefore open to hearing any suggestion.

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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Thanks for the answer mh3, but washing the keyboard doesn't sound worth the time when a new one is $50.

My main question is still unanswered: How likely is it that installing a new keyboard will fix this problem? I've got a modifier key (command) firing even when it's not being pressed, and now the 'c' key is dead and I've got the 'j' key sending '1' instead of 'j'. Various other keys are starting to act up as well. Does anyone know whether these problems could be being caused by damage to something other than the keyboard?

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Deep clean

and completely (days) dry that sucker! There could be moisture under the logic board, cleaning the keyboard would not be amiss either... wiping ≠ cleaning.

If this answer is acceptable please return and mark it.

Good Luck,

N.

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Bah. Was confused by the interface because I'm slow and thick. I'll repost this in the proper place now:

Thanks for the answer mh3, but washing the keyboard doesn't sound worth the time when a new one is $50. My main question is still unanswered: How likely is it that installing a new keyboard will fix this problem? I've got a modifier key (command) firing even when it's not being pressed, and now the 'c' key is dead and I've got the 'j' key sending '1' instead of 'j'. Various other keys are starting to act up as well. Does anyone know whether these problems could be being caused by damage to something other than the keyboard?

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Why don't you remove the top case and check if there are stains spots on the logic board ? You could then clean the residues with isopropyl alcohol and Qtips. You can also connect an external keyboard and mouse to the unit and power it without the top case to test the machine. There are two power pads on the logic board that you can trip with a small flat screwdriver to power the machine. Check for the power icon or the words POWER BUT. Concerning the keyboard, I would replace it if the machine is still functional cause there's no way to clean it without take it apart and clean the internal layers and conductive traces.

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I removed the top case immediately and checked the logic board and everything else. As it happens, I did take the keyboard completely apart down to individual layers, keys, and key actions, and I'm going to try cleaning it. You're right, I could replace it for $50, but once I'd removed it I was having such a good time that I just kept going. I'm sure you know how it is.

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I would also try washing the keyboard if I were you; this is the only way to make sure that the problem is with the keyboard and NOT with something else. That said, I also believe that the motherboard (or other boards) is not too easy to get damaged by spilled liquids, since they are shielded by some sort of transparent film after manufacturing, and they cannot short-circuit.

Wash the keyboard, dry it VERY WELL (the fan method should work, although an air-conditioned room would be better) and try it again. Even if it still got issues, but some other key do not work properly, you'll know the problem is with the keyboard.

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if the keyboard works otherwise and you can use computer normally, i would think of changing the keyboard. basically, fat from the milk probably dried inside the keyboard and have caused it to stick.

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Not really, not if you mean mechanical sticking. The mechanical action of all the keys is unhindered. I'm mostly just wondering if this might be a problem deeper than the keyboard, maybe with the logic board, just for example. Thanks for the speedy reply, though.

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Joel V will be eternally grateful.
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