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davidflas · 08:58 AM

Last night one of my fuksing cats knocked a glass of diluted coke onto my pb. this morning I noticed the wetness around my pb and it was making a loud sizzling sound. I wiped up the liquid around the bp and then poured more of it out of my poor 'book. I've taken the bottom off and dried things out as much as I can. there seems to be some discoloration of the motherboard in the area behind the superdrive. I'm not an electronics expert, so I"m afraid to take it apart much further. My tibook is dead no power at all. it was asleep and plugged into the wall when the spill happened.... WHAT SHOULD I DO!

PS I don't have applecare, but the mac is less than a year old. should I buy applecare and report this later?

iWrite · Jul 28, 2003, 05:45 PM

Yuck, another cat story.

It seems like EVERY single time I turn around someone here reports about something their cat did or almost did to their Powerbook.

Another reason why they're only good for violin strings.

Anyway, I don't think trying to get AppleCare and get the system fixed is going to do much good because (ding dong!) Apple CAN tell what happened to a Powerbook.

However, some of the folks here should know of some good repair shops that might be able to help you? Maybe they'll list some of them when they read this post.

Boy, oh boy, that would be one DEAD cat if my cat did that! (Realistically, dropped off at animal rescue for a new home.)

Good luck.

bmhome1 · Jul 28, 2003, 07:32 PM

MOST IMPORTANT: DO NOT turn it on or attempt to. Pull the battery out. Open case up as much as you can or dare. Put it in a source of directed warm, dry airing place for several days. Blasting out visible residue in crevices with computer keyboard canned air product will help. Don't apply power until it is absolutely, totally dry, everywhere first.

That's for certain good advice.

Additionally, someone may advise flushing out the coke with either distilled water or alcohol first since the coke and electronics don't get along. I'm not sure which is the best to dilute out the sugary residue.

If your hard drive got penetrated with coke, you may need a replacement. Everything else could get lucky. It has worked out for others. Your biggest mistake (other than spill) was turning it on right after.

iWrite · Jul 28, 2003, 07:37 PM

That's really good advice.

Especially when you remember that Coke (or Pepsi) is a corrosive -- which is why people pour it on their car's battery terminals to clean them when they get gunked up.

bmhome1 · Jul 28, 2003, 11:24 PM

There's a huge difference whether regular soda or diet soda got spilled also. Regular Coke dries to a sticky, dark film where as diet dries barely noticable and not sticky at all, its just almost all water. Hopefully, it was diet spilled?

davidflas · Jul 29, 2003, 09:03 AM

here's more info:

the liquid in question was a regular coke was diluted as the ice I had in it melted. It was mostly water and was a room temp when the spill occurred. I woke up in the morning and noticed the water on the desk. the pb had been left in sleep mode with the ac adaptor plugged into it. the light was green when I found the damage and showing a full battery charge. The lid was closed at the time of the spill. I unplugged everything and took out the battery. I took the bottom and the keyboard off and have had the 'book on its side since yesterday morning. I haven't noticed any stickiness and all wetness seems to be gone. has anyone had this experience before? any way that I can test the components if the bp won't power up?

iWrite · Jul 29, 2003, 09:12 AM

Look, everyone here is going to give you opinions and advice and some of the advice is excellent (like kill your cat and what bmhome1 said), but the fact of the matter is that you simply need to find an Apple-authorized repair center nearby and take it in. Only they'll be able to LOOK at it and give a good opinion based on what they SEE. It may be something really simple and inexpensive that needs replacing.

This is what I keep my Powerbook on at the sofa or in bed because IF a drink spills it drains in between the two sections and not on the Powerbook.

Good luck.

beachmark · Jul 29, 2003, 09:48 AM

When you are able to take of fthe bottom and so use a hair blower to get the water remains out of it. So not put it on hot air or anything just let it blow inside the machine.

It helped me one day to get a colleague's computer back on track so why should it not help you.

By the way i have one rule around my computer and the desk that it is one: NO FOOD OR DRINKS ALLOWED

LlamaBoy · Jul 29, 2003, 10:00 AM

I am very sorry to hear about your Powerbook (and that you have a cat). I am hear to tell you that there is hope. About two years ago, before I discovered the world of Apple, I spilled beer on my Dell Inspiron laptop. Please save all "It deserved it!" jokes.

I was frantic. I cleaned everything I could, took out the battery/CDROM/etc and let it dry for a day. When I went to power it on- nothing. Completely dead. I called Dell and described the situation, and they said it probably damaged the motherboard and it would be $850 to replace. #@$(&! Damn beer!

But I didn't give up yet... I took the entire laptop apart. I cleaned every single component with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol (very slight amounts). I put it back together... and it was HEALED!! It has worked fine ever since, although I had to buy a new keyboard.

So don't give up hope!

JHromadka · Jul 29, 2003, 10:50 AM

Something similar happened to me a few months after I bought my Powerbook. My Shiner Bock beer tipped over and spilled on the left corner of my keyboard. I immediately shut it down, took off the bottom panel, used a hairdryer (on low) and then left it sitting next to a fan to make sure it was dried off. Next day and ever since, has been working like a champ.

davidflas · Jul 29, 2003, 10:58 AM

I normally have a no drink rule around my pb, but I slipped up this one time. My pb his been on its edge with the bottom and keyboard off and the battery removed for almost 48 hours. I'm going to give it a try tonight. I know that I could just take to an Apple service center, but I don't have $1000 for a new motherboard right now. If it doesn't work tonight I'll take it in there tomorrow.

Thanks to those who responded with helpful advice. To those who wrote "I told you so" or "kill the cat" responses: Will either of those things fix my powerbook? NO! Also, I'm well aware that liquids and PB don't mix, you don't have to tell me.

forcelite · Jul 29, 2003, 11:06 AM

JHromadka, Shiner bock is good beer!

I work at apple and see alot of this. What you want to do is use rubbing alcohol exactly like Llamaboy said. The danger is not water, its water with electricity, which shorts out electronics. So as long as yo uodnt try to power it up you will be ok.

Two exceptions are, anything with moving parts could be coroded from the coke, Also since the computer was technicly on, casuse it was in power saving mode, you still might have shorted it.

Also it sounds like you tried to power it up wich is bad

djjava · Jul 29, 2003, 11:55 AM

get an icurve or something toprop your PB above the desk surface to prevent future Cat Attacks

davidflas · Jul 29, 2003, 12:00 PM

Originally posted by forcelite:
JHromadka, Shiner bock is good beer!

I work at apple and see alot of this. What you want to do is use rubbing alcohol exactly like Llamaboy said. The danger is not water, its water with electricity, which shorts out electronics. So as long as yo uodnt try to power it up you will be ok.

Two exceptions are, anything with moving parts could be coroded from the coke, Also since the computer was technicly on, casuse it was in power saving mode, you still might have shorted it.

Also it sounds like you tried to power it up wich is bad

Thanks for your response. I was wondering if there is any thermal paste on the cpu or other components that might have been washed out. I think the fact that the Mac was on when it was flooded may have cooked my goose. I'll find out tonight when it get home from work.

bbales · Jul 31, 2003, 11:10 AM

Hey David: what's the latest? Is your PB OK?

The Placid Casual · Jul 31, 2003, 01:51 PM

I have 2 cats myself, and know what they can do..! One thing is for sure, they didn't mean to do it so don't be too harsh on them!

I hope the PB is OK...

Peace,

Marc

tgrundke · Jul 31, 2003, 02:00 PM

I wish I could blame a cat, but several months ago I was the dumbass who spilled a mug of hot tea on my Pismo.

Suggestion: Remove the battery, unplug the Pismo. Removed the keyboard and drive bays and placed a roaring fan in front of it for several hours to dry it out.

Amazingly enough, the sumbitch fired right back up later that night and I'm about three months on with no problems (spare a near heart attack).

Angus_D · Jul 31, 2003, 03:15 PM

You can't buy AppleCare past the first year, by the way.

davidflas · 06:41 PM

The latest is that my PB spent 72 hours with the bottom and keyboard off and with the battery removed. There is no wetness left and no evidence of stickiness. I put the battery back in and....nothing! I haven't had a chance to take it to the local apple dealer, but I think the fact the it was in sleep mode and connected to ac power at the time doomed it to a certain death. My powerbook is less than a year old, I got it in november 2002. I dread finding out how much it will cost to repair it. Not to mention all the files on the hd that I may never get back

PS I wasn't hard on my cats at all, I know that it was my fault for leaving the glass on my computer desk.

The Placid Casual · Aug 1, 2003, 04:35 AM

Originally posted by davidflas:
The latest is that my PB spent 72 hours with the bottom and keyboard off and with the battery removed. There is no wetness left and no evidence of stickiness. I put the battery back in and....nothing! I haven't had a chance to take it to the local apple dealer, but I think the fact the it was in sleep mode and connected to ac power at the time doomed it to a certain death. My powerbook is less than a year old, I got it in november 2002. I dread finding out how much it will cost to repair it. Not to mention all the files on the hd that I may never get back

PS I wasn't hard on my cats at all, I know that it was my fault for leaving the glass on my computer desk.

I would place the info on a 'need o know' basis...

Take it into the Applestore and just tell them that 'it isn't working anymore'. You left it asleep at night, when you saw it in the morning it wasn't working any more...

Well worth a try, and if they don't pick up the drink incident and fix it free, more fool them for not being diligent enough...

Peace,

Marc

MacNStein · Aug 1, 2003, 07:08 AM

I gotta agree with Marc on this, take it in and don't say anything negative. Just tell them it no longer powers up. If they can tell it's been soaked in soda, then you're screwed. However, unless there's considerable residue they probably won't know.

Maybe that sounds deceitful, but you're NOT lying to them, you're just not telling them everything... which is ok in the US. Our politicians do that to us every day.

iWrite · Aug 1, 2003, 07:08 AM

GREAT advice...IF...

it was failproof.

People don't realize this, but no Apple-authorized repair center OR Apple Store are authorized to fix Powerbooks or iBooks. They ALL get flown back to Houston where a guy by the name of Nguyen checks them ALL in.

Now, this is the thing I'm warning about: A friend of mine had something similar happen (sick story - left it out on the screened in patio and it rained and the water pooled on the patio table it was on and you get the picture) and he took it in with a vague "it just stopped working story." Well, Apple brought it in. Things looked good. Then they called him and said that not only was it going to cost several hundred dollars, but they were charging a diagnosis fee on top of the several hundred. He was really burned about it and I was surprised, but not really, know what I mean? They didn't know what it was until they took it all apart and then figured it out -- which they DID figure out by the way.

Sometimes it's better to come clean about things.

Whatever it is, good luck with this. I sure wish ShreveSystems was still open in Shreveport Louisiana because I'd tell you to send it them -- they were dynamite with repairs even if not Apple-authorized for notebooks. We had a couple of systems fixed there (out of warranty) and they were significantly cheaper than Apple.

bbales · Aug 1, 2003, 09:08 AM

I say, come clean. They're gong to figure it out right away anyway.

Sure wish drying it out had worked for you, though. I know you're kicking yourself up one side and down the other.

MacNStein · Aug 1, 2003, 03:42 PM

Originally posted by iWrite:
GREAT advice...IF...

it was failproof.

People don't realize this, but no Apple-authorized repair center OR Apple Store are authorized to fix Powerbooks or iBooks. They ALL get flown back to Houston where a guy by the name of Nguyen checks them ALL in.

Now, this is the thing I'm warning about: A friend of mine had something similar happen (sick story - left it out on the screened in patio and it rained and the water pooled on the patio table it was on and you get the picture) and he took it in with a vague "it just stopped working story." Well, Apple brought it in. Things looked good. Then they called him and said that not only was it going to cost several hundred dollars, but they were charging a diagnosis fee on top of the several hundred. He was really burned about it and I was surprised, but not really, know what I mean? They didn't know what it was until they took it all apart and then figured it out -- which they DID figure out by the way.

Sometimes it's better to come clean about things.

Whatever it is, good luck with this. I sure wish ShreveSystems was still open in Shreveport Louisiana because I'd tell you to send it them -- they were dynamite with repairs even if not Apple-authorized for notebooks. We had a couple of systems fixed there (out of warranty) and they were significantly cheaper than Apple.

Dude, THIS IS NOT CORRECT!

The store I work for repairs Powerbooks, iBooks, Power Macs, iMacs, etc. We fix any and ALL Apple systems. I personally, am certified to repair any Apple portable or desktop system. So, there are some of us still around, though not nearly as many as there used to be.

I'm not advertising, I just thought I'd let that be known.

phabfive · Aug 1, 2003, 03:54 PM

I once liked cats also... Before I read this, I was just in an apartment with 2 cats that jump on everything. I put my PB inside a New York Times so they wouldn't even notice it.

nayr x · Aug 1, 2003, 04:15 PM

Are you sure it was your cat that attacked the PB? I have been reading a lot about 'Windows Evangelistic Squirrels'... (lousy bill gates and his rodents....)

iWrite · Aug 1, 2003, 10:35 PM

Dude, THIS IS NOT CORRECT!

The store I work for repairs Powerbooks, iBooks, Power Macs, iMacs, etc. We fix any and ALL Apple systems. I personally, am certified to repair any Apple portable or desktop system. So, there are some of us still around, though not nearly as many as there used to be.

Not any portable under a CURRENT Apple warranty you aren't.

If you're working on Powerbooks or iBooks under CURRENT warranty you'll lose your license.

Don't believe me? Call any Apple Store nationally. Or Apple Customer or Executive Relations.

I know this because I personally spoke to Clint Powell and Jean Toulouse about this. Do you know who Jean Toulouse is? She's the Executive Director of Corporate Relations -- including repair issues. She's the "bigwig" and she told me/us this PERSONALLY two months ago because I needed something done to a Powerbook that was VERY minor and my local Apple-authorized repair store said that they'd do it if I could get Apple to send them the part AND okay the repair. Otherwise they were in danger of losing their license to repair items. I'm talking about portable notebooks here, not mouses, or anything else. IN WARRANTY APPLE NOTEBOOKS.

If you don't believe me give Apple a call. 800-APL-CARE and go to option #3.

Since this was a discussion had less than 90 days ago I doubt it's changed much. Even the local Apple Store could not do this repair -- it was very simple. They also stated it would have to be overnighted back to Houston. That's when I called and got Clint Powell then Ms. Toulouse.

iWrite · Aug 1, 2003, 10:46 PM

Let me clarify something because I don't want anyone thinking that I'm calling them a liar or that the person posting is a liar.

I'm ONLY repeating what I was told by an executive at Apple Computer.

I had an issue with a keyboard not fitting correctly and it only required a new keyboard but Apple insisted that it be sent back into them for examination. It bummed me out. That's why I started calling. I wanted my local Mac shop to swap out keyboards. Nothing doing. Then I went to the Apple Store at the mall and it was the same story. I was upset about having to send it away for who knows how long for something so trivial. That's when I started calling Apple and spoke to several people finally speaking to Jean Toulouse (who is VERY nice by the way) and she told me what Apple's "rules" are regarding iBooks and Powerbooks. She said it's because Apple wants to make sure that they are in control of what is being repaired on in-warranty systems personally as some of the Apple-authorized stores were found to be repairing out-of-warranty and customer-abused systems and that since portables (iBooks and Powerbooks) had the most incidences of neglect and abuse, Apple has a laboratory set up in Houston with engineers who will go over questionable repairs ("my computer quit working for no reason at all,"). They simply want to be in control of all portable repairs unless there is an EXTREME situation and proof that the system is still in repair.

This is the explanation given to me and I'm just passing it along.

Anyway, got my Powerbook back in only 3 days but it was a stupid issue that must have cost more to overnight it back and forth than simply swapping keyboards.

Have a good one.

Lateralus · 11:06 PM

I empathize with your situation, David.

One week after getting my iBook 500, I walked away to make a sandwich and left the iBook running on my bed as I downloaded a small software update. When I came back about 10-15 minutes later with sandwich in-hand, I was horrified to see that my two cats had been having a 'Chew Party' at the expense of my precious iBook. When all was said and done, the damage they had done to the LCD, outer casing, AC adapter, palm rest and mouse clicker amounted to almost $900 according to Apple. Apple refused to cover it because they said it was cosmetic, which I understood.

To say the least, I was devastated. I couldnt talk or think for hours. I was in 'blank-stare-mode'. I eventually sold the iBook because everytime I used it, the sight of the damage made me so upset that I couldnt enjoy using the machine.

In short: The whole situation made that the most expensive/stress-causing sandwich I had ever eaten.

Anyways, I am glad to see that you arent punishing your cats. I didnt lay a finger on mine or even yell at them (Partly because of my mini mental-breakdown ). My cats knew what they were doing when they did it, but I am sure that they forgot by the time that I walked into the room. Your cat did what it did completely on accident. So either way, neither my cats nor your cat would have understood why we were punishing them.

Well, good luck with your PowerBook.

MacNStein · 10:29 AM

Originally posted by iWrite:
Not any portable under a CURRENT Apple warranty you aren't.

If you're working on Powerbooks or iBooks under CURRENT warranty you'll lose your license.

Don't believe me? Call any Apple Store nationally. Or Apple Customer or Executive Relations.

I know this because I personally spoke to Clint Powell and Jean Toulouse about this. Do you know who Jean Toulouse is? She's the Executive Director of Corporate Relations -- including repair issues. She's the "bigwig" and she told me/us this PERSONALLY two months ago because I needed something done to a Powerbook that was VERY minor and my local Apple-authorized repair store said that they'd do it if I could get Apple to send them the part AND okay the repair. Otherwise they were in danger of losing their license to repair items. I'm talking about portable notebooks here, not mouses, or anything else. IN WARRANTY APPLE NOTEBOOKS.

If you don't believe me give Apple a call. 800-APL-CARE and go to option #3.

Since this was a discussion had less than 90 days ago I doubt it's changed much. Even the local Apple Store could not do this repair -- it was very simple. They also stated it would have to be overnighted back to Houston. That's when I called and got Clint Powell then Ms. Toulouse.

We do in WARRANTY/Applecare and out of Warranty repairs on Powerbooks and iBooks, Apple sends us the parts, we repair the machine, Apple compenstates us under our Warranty service agreement with them.

Let me describe the procedure...

1.) Customer brings in or ships machine to us, telling us it's symptoms.

2.) We diagnose the problem(s).

3.) We log into GSX ( http://gsx.apple.com ) and fill out service form with information about the problem/repair and request which parts are to be shipped to us.

4.) Apple ships us the parts(s).

5.) We receive the parts via Airborne Express next day air around 10am-12pm.

6.) That day we repair the machine in question. We then contact the customer and arrange for pickup or to have the Mac delivered to them.

7.) We package the faulty parts in the boxes the replacement parts came in. The boxes have a two layer shipping tag, we simply take off the top layer of the tag, mark the appropriate box on the tag indicating that the part is defective. We then log the Airborne tracking number in our system.

8.) Airborne comes back by the next business day, usually with other parts for other repairs, and picks up the defective parts and delivers them back to Apple.

9.) Apple then compensates us based on a set scale for doing the part replacement based on that repair.

We do this EVERY DAY. I don't know who you've been talking to, but they are incorrect. This is a large part of our business, and our store has been doing this for over 20 years. The procedure has changed over time, but the fact is that we are an Apple Authorized Service Provider and we do WARRANTY service for Apple for ANY computer they manufacture.

If you still have doubts, contact Allen Tallent at 865-689-6601, he's the president of the company and primary owner. Our hours are from 9AM to 5:30PM EST Monday-Friday (we are also available other hours and Saturdays by request).

I think that your sources simply are uninformed regarding their Authorized Service Providers policies.

Moose · Aug 2, 2003, 10:16 AM

If you have a homeowner's/renter's insurance policy, call your agent to see if you have computer coverage. If so, file a claim.

Avenir · Aug 3, 2003, 05:58 AM

Originally posted by MacNStein:
We do in WARRANTY/Applecare and out of Warranty repairs on Powerbooks and iBooks...

I too work at Apple Auth repair center, and from what I know, it depends on what needs to be fixed. Certain parts, if diagnosed as being bad, apple will ship, we repair, and sometimes not even have to send the bad part back (IE PB top case, and some others)... others that Apple can recondition (DVD drives, etc ) we have to send the bad part back, and some (diaged bad logics, etc) the PB has to be sent back to Apple in its entirety. In your case, say the logic is fried or the HD is dead, I'd say most likely the whole thing is going back if that is indeed the diagnosis. Good luck no matter what happens... I spilled a whole glass of water on my Wallstreet, but it dried perfect overnight, and still runs to this day. Miracles can happen...

MacNStein · Aug 3, 2003, 09:24 AM

Originally posted by Avenir:
I too work at Apple Auth repair center, and from what I know, it depends on what needs to be fixed. Certain parts, if diagnosed as being bad, apple will ship, we repair, and sometimes not even have to send the bad part back (IE PB top case, and some others)... others that Apple can recondition (DVD drives, etc ) we have to send the bad part back, and some (diaged bad logics, etc) the PB has to be sent back to Apple in its entirety. In your case, say the logic is fried or the HD is dead, I'd say most likely the whole thing is going back if that is indeed the diagnosis. Good luck no matter what happens... I spilled a whole glass of water on my Wallstreet, but it dried perfect overnight, and still runs to this day. Miracles can happen...

The only time we've sent things to Apple is when we diagnose that more than one part is defective. This is because Apple penalizes us if we have to replace more than one part (wierd policy). The penalty affects us for the rest of the month lowering our service compensation rates.

Last month I had to send in an iBook that had a bad HD (bad sectors) and Logic Board (faulty DIMM socket retainer clip).

Those are the only whole systems we send to Apple though. You are right, some parts we don't send back; PB keyboards, cases (top or bottom), mice, etc. Usually if the part has a 661 in the part number, the part goes back to Apple... most Apple part numbers begin with 661 (defective 922 numbered parts get tossed). Anyway, that's it in a nutshell.