Macbook Pro Repair - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: ···
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 08, 2024, 01:12:42 pm
content: My Macbook Pro no longer turns on.Small amounts of a carbonated soft drink have leaked onto the keyboard. The Macbook did not shut down. To avoid further damage, I switched it off and left it to dry for a day.It has not turned on since then. Neither via battery nor via power cable. I have tried all four usb-c ports.Technical Information· Macbook Pro 15" 2017· Model according to backplate: A1707I have opened the cover and tried to look for optical faults. Unfortunately, I did not remove the mainboard completely, but only examined the down facing side.The liquid indicators are unchanged. I noticed that one side of one inductor was a little sticky and the looked different in color. A little brown.Before I completely remove the mainboard, I wanted to ask where I can get components for it. I know digikey and mouser. However, it is difficult for me to find the right component. How do I find this resistor for example, attached?Edit 14.03.2024 17:10:· corrected naming of electronic components (replaced resistor with inductor)· added side view showing corrosion

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2024, 02:45:03 pm
content: That is a coil. Does not look broken to me.Maybe the key to turn the computer on is not working due to the soft drink spill.Interesting user name by the way.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2024, 02:51:28 pm
content: I say this with truly no intent to be insulting or condescending: doing component-level diagnostics and repairs on these things isadvancedelectronics repair. If you can’t even identify an inductor as being an inductor, I don’t think you have the experience and knowledge needed to perform this repair at this time.

author: ···
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 08, 2024, 02:52:29 pm
content: The liquid only landed on the keyboard, but I'll check on that.There were residues of the liquid where the screwdriver points, which I cleaned with a cotton bud.

author: indeterminate
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2024, 08:48:33 am
content: carbonated soft drink is corrosive , and left to dry out conductive.The first thing you do is disconnect the power and run the effected parts under clean running water.then you can dry it out and then wash in isopropanol.if it still will not work after everything is clean then its time to get out the schematic and start checking voltages.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2024, 04:49:09 pm
content: Whatever that is - to the left, next to the fan - is does not look OK.And I agree - this Apple stuff is extremely hard to work on, you might find some infos over at Loius Rossmann:https://boards.rossmanngroup.com/forums/macbook-logic-board-repair-questions.15/Essentially, you should know what you are doing, and have the right tools. And luck. And experience in fixing these (lots of experience).

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 09, 2024, 04:54:44 pm
content: Switching it off does not switch it off. You'd need to quickly disconnect the battery to prevent damage.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 09, 2024, 04:56:59 pm
content: Quote from: Haenk on March 09, 2024, 04:49:09 pmThere looks to be something going fishy with parts next to unpopulated connector, probably corrosion. But photo is too blurry there to say for sure.

author: p.larner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2024, 01:07:56 am
content: unless the battery was unplugged from the mainboard can say theres tracks corroded thru,unless the mainboard had any power source removed within less than a few mins.

author: p.larner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2024, 11:49:03 pm
content: i steer well clear from anything newish made by apple,locked devices outrageously priced sw designed to be unfixable,the list goes on,imho american overpriced garbage!.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2024, 08:23:41 pm
content: Quote from: p.larner on March 11, 2024, 11:49:03 pmMost modern hardware, especially the super-slim stuff, is similarly difficult to fix.“Locked”? You can run anything you want on a Mac, you aren’t locked into any particular source for software. As long as someone (including you, if you can code it or compile it) makes a Mac version, you can run it.Apple hardware has proven to be exceptionally cost-effective for me. It costs more up front, but it lasts forever (and remains useful!), and above all things just work, so I don’t waste time chasing down weird issues. That’s worth gold.

author: ···
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 14, 2024, 08:19:50 pm
content: The damage is done.The top of the mainboard was in a worse condition of course. There were two different places where the liquid had dried out.While cleaning the bottom area, a capacitor came off completely.While I could have replaced the coil on the bottom facing side without hesitation. The condition of the top side complicates matters enormously.Now to get back to my initial question. How can I get the right parts? Do I have to get the schematics in order to be able to tell which parts to buy or is it also possible without, as for example with this coil where there is a label on it?

author: EHT
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2024, 10:00:11 pm
content: Clean it with water and then isopropanol as already suggested, then see what is damaged. Some solder reflowing could help. For you question about the parts, obviously that depends on the exact part, so first find out what needs replacing, if anything. Standard surface mount passives etc., you can get from any of the large suppliers but any special Apple ICs, you cannot get.

author: indeterminate
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2024, 10:16:00 pm
content: Yes you need the schematicand the data file and boardview programjust about everything is off the shelf from the major parts suppliers.oddities you will find on flebay or aiThe codes printed on most smd parts are not the full part number , frequently there just a manufactures internal reference numberso you need to know who made it and what series it belongs to to get the data sheet to be able to look up the code and find out what it isits much easier to work from the schematic.you will also find that one barbecued component on one side of the board will have destroyed another component on the far side of the boardwithout the schematic your chance of getting it working are near 0

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2024, 07:30:42 am
content: The thing is with these small SMD passives it is hard to tell what it actually is. Ferrite beads and capacitors can look the same. The way to tell these apart is to see if it has a low resistance. A capacitor normally has no resistance when measured with Ohms on a DMM. But when broken it might cause a short.But than still remains the value of the component. How many Farads (micro, nano or pico), what voltage rating, etc.Having powered it up while the muck was still on the PCB might have killed some non passive parts, and it will be difficult to find these on the board. It requires knowledge of the system, so yes schematics will be a must in that case for sure.The coil you mentioned in your first post most likely is still in working order. Only if very high currents went through it due to the muck it might be broken, but in that case it would look different due to a lot of heat being generated in the coil.

author: bte
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2024, 07:38:01 pm
content: Louis Rossmann's repair wiki for A1707 is here:https://repair.wiki/w/MacBook_Pro_A1707There are a few items to check under the "MacBook Pro A1707 Not turning on" heading.