Fix Your Stuff Community Store

2.26 or 2.4 GHz / White plastic unibody enclosure

646 Questions View all
Question Closed

Options

Half of Keyboard not working after water spill

I have a MacBook (late 2009, I believe) model# A1342. After a small water spill, a portion of the keyboard stopped working. I'd say about half the keys do nothing, and it behaves as though the Shift key is constantly pressed. Everything else about the system works perfectly, and I can still use it if I plug in an external USB mouse & keyboard.

I am guessing the only option for repair is to replace the keyboard, but I wanted to find out for sure before I go ahead and do that. Are there any other components that could have been damaged to cause this issue?

If I do have to replace the keyboard, what part do I need and is there a good guide on how to do it somewhere?

Any help at all will be much appreciated!

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Yes No
Score 0
Add a comment

2 Answers

Filter by:
Most Helpful Newest Oldest
Chosen Solution

Options

The A1342 macbook keyboard can be replaced but it's a difficult job if you compare with the macbook pro keyboard replacement. The A1342 top case access to the keyboard is blocked by a black panel glued with resin (not easy to separate). There are no screws to retain the keyboard to the upper case but plastic melted spots so you have to heat the plastic spots to remove the keyboard and reheat these spots to reinstall the keyboard. Also unlike the MBP A1278 keyboard, the A1342 keyboard is hard to find especially the QWERTY french-canadian keyboard that has the same form factor that the AZERTY keyboard from FRANCE. If you have the France keyboard, the US keyboard wont fit in your top case, form factor is different (return key)

For all theses reasons I think it's a better decision to buy a good working used top case instead of trying to replace a faulty keyboard in the A1342 macbook model.

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 4

4 Comments:

Thanks, I forgot about that board.

by

Oh wow, okay thank you for the info! It's starting to look like this machine will be scrapped for parts.

by

That uppercase can be had used for under $75: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B...

by

Even if the Macbook comes from France you can transfert all the components in a US top case. The only difference between the two machines is the keyboard. The A1342 is still a nice machine. I'd replace the top case and sell it.

by

Add a comment

Options

Once these keyboards get shorted out, it would take someone like louis Rossman to repair them and the time and effort just aren't worth it. To see if it's just the keyboard that needs replacing plug in an external keyboard and mouse and see if everything works.

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 2

6 Comments:

External keyboard works just fine. So would that mean it needs an Upper Body replacement? Yikes, that's a pricey repair for a 5 year old computer.

by

No, you can replace just the keyboard and save a whole lot of bucks. It is labor intensive. You have to remove about 67 tiny screws and put them back in. I use an electric screwdriver to get them out. The keyboards can be found on eBay or out of Shenzhen. Email Jack Yang at sales2@advanced-mark.com. I don't know if he will sell such a single small part but tell him I sent you. My order last week took 4 days to get.

by

Copy this address quickly as it's another parts supplier and iFixit may be offended so I will remove the answer shortly. The repair takes me about 1 1/2 hrs.

by

Thank you very much! I will look into that option.

by

One more question, if you don't mind. The laptop in question was originally from France, and has a French keyboard. If I replaced it with a US/Canadian keyboard would it work/fit properly, or do I need to track down a French one?

by

Show 1 more comment

Add a comment
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 0

Past 30 Days: 0

All Time: 867