2014 MacBook Air Water Damage - Fixable?

mike-77 on 07/06/2018 - 13:58

So one of our kids spilt water all over the top of my closed MacBook Air (2014) model. Didn't know until I went to use but think it happened sometime in the 8 hours prior. Sat in near the heater for a week before trying to power it back on. It works apart from this rainbow coloured line in the middle of the screen. The line was much wider initially but seems to have reduced to the pictured size.

https://imgur.com/CqYVlBi

Is it fixable or probably more importantly economical to fix? It was purchased a few years ago in the crazy Kogan deal so it only cost me <$500 but it was still a reliable laptop.

It is used mainly as a family backup laptop but would love to have it working properly again. Any advice?

Computing

Comments

  • McBanjo on 07/06/2018 - 14:50

    I would say slim to no chance. Even if you fixed it cheaply, there's a chance it will pop up with the issue again and be unreliable. I would recommend waiting for another crazy Kogan grey import deal (the 12" refurbished deal for ~$900 was amazing), waiting to see if the issue will improve, or plug it into an external monitor and use it that way.

    • McBanjo on 07/06/2018 - 15:46

      Alternatively you can buy the replacement display assembly part on eBay and try to fix yourself using YouTube videos, but you risk breaking it more.

      Also, don't put electronics next to a heater….. put them in a bucket of rice for 2 weeks.

  • Cheap Charlie on 07/06/2018 - 15:04

    There is a chance its repairable, the problem is finding some one who knows what they are doing.
    You may be best served sourcing a replacement at the right money.
    I would imagine there is still some value to your dmaged device.
    You may be able to recoup some funds selling the unit for parts.

  • mike-77 on 07/06/2018 - 15:12

    Had a feeling this would be the case. Works perfectly plugged into TV or via airplay but not the most practical way to use it I don't think. I was tempted by that last Kogan deal on the MacBook but seemed like a lot of dollars for a backup laptop.

    Maybe a good wireless keyboard with a built in trackpad and just leave it permanently plugged in to tv for the few occasions it is needed. Just doesn't seem as practical kids doing their homework on a 50" TV from 10 feet away :)

  • Cheap Charlie on 07/06/2018 - 15:43

    With the issue not been replocated on an external display suggests the display its self is damaged.

    • Hybroid on 07/06/2018 - 15:50

      Or hopefully could just be the display connector. Might be as simple as unplugging, clean and plug back in.

      http://www.ezramoore.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/air1.jpg

      • Cheap Charlie on 07/06/2018 - 15:54

        Worth a shot

        • mike-77 on 07/06/2018 - 16:38

          Yeah that looks like it would be worth trying at least.

        • mike-77 on 07/06/2018 - 17:09

          @Hybroid: Thanks for that. Watched a video and it was starting to look really complicated but the step by step instructions don't look quite as bad. Just trying to understand the layout of the internals.

          Looks to me that step 19 (removing the display cable connector) can actually be done as soon as I have the back off so I could at least unplug it , clean it and plug it back in (unless of course it is the other end of the connector inside the display - which is more probable?)

          Appreciate all the help.

  • try2bhelpful on 07/06/2018 - 15:48

    My man managed to fix his Apple laptop. It wouldn't boot up anymore when I knocked over my iced tea on the coffee table and it ran into it. (I was absolutely mortified I did this). He took it to a repair guy to look at and he said it wasn't worth getting him to repair it as it would cost too much. They guy was really good he didn't charge us for the consult. My man then went online and bought the "special kit" to take apart the Apple MAC, he dried it all out and then put it back together; he then pulled it apart and put it back together again to get the keyboard working properly. (I think it is pretty much an interactive process to get it all working). A screen is a different matter. In time it might dry out further, but probably not. I would get a new machine and keep it out of harms way when it isn't in use. Best of Luck

  • mgh4me on 07/06/2018 - 21:47

    I had a bloke in Newcastle NSW repair a water damaged MacBook Air 2015 for $350. He tracked down the specific area that was burnt out on the main board and replaced the necessary components using micro soldering. Worked fine.

  • mike-77 on 04/07/2018 - 16:38

    O.P.
    Just as a followup to this, finally got around to having a look at the MacBook last night. Turned it on and the problem with the line was still there but thought it looked a little bit smaller, anyway using airplay to the tv did an update and was playing around with a few things and it went from the coloured lines to flickering text in that area of the screen. About 20 minutes later the screen was working perfectly again.

    Not sure why/how? I had used it for an extended period a while ago and the lines didn't go away but anyway I was very excited to have it working again. Not sure if it will last but a pleasant result so far

    • try2bhelpful on 04/07/2018 - 17:46

      Thanks for the update and congratulations. Maybe it just took a while to dry out. Cross fingers it stays OK for you.

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