Sweet Smell Coming from Refurbished Surface Book?

LJames Tabby on 04/08/2024 - 12:33

I recently bought a refurbished surface book and noticed a few odd things after I had taken the laptop to work.

At the end of the day when I was bringing it back home and opening up my bag I noticed there is a strong sweet smelling fragrance.

I notice the smell emanates mostly from the keyboard, but can be temporarily removed by wiping down the keyboard, screen and exterior with a damp cloth. After leaving it overnight I smelled the exterior again and it does not have a smell, but the interior where the screen and keyboard are continue to have a sweet lithium smell.

Is this something I can use to get a warranty refund?

Is the laptop dangerous because I cannot see any battery bloat?

Computing

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 04/08/2024 - 12:42

    Probably the thermal glue and other Chems used to clean down and prep electronics , there was a big news piece some time ago regarding the use of that new sugondese adhesive.

    • James Tabby on 04/08/2024 - 12:50
      +1

      Yeah, I'm not sure, that's why I wanted to ask people first because I don't want to waste the seller's time.

      A lot of people have purchased refurbs according to comments on ozbargain, so I thought this is the best place to ask.

      I just wonder how many people have a fruity smell coming from their laptop.

      I wanted to go to the Microsoft Experience Centre in Sydney and see if the newer laptops also have the smell, but I don't want to look like a crackhead sniffing the keyboard!

    • Muzeeb on 04/08/2024 - 12:59
      +8

      That makes scents. Cheers

    • HairyChickens on 04/08/2024 - 15:13

      Esters probs

    • NotACat on 05/08/2024 - 09:15

      This is sort of what I’m thinking. What OP described reminds me of a cyanoacrylate accelerator spray you can get for hobby model making. Being a refurb it might’ve had a small crack or split in some plastic that was fixed.

    • jollibot on 05/08/2024 - 10:23
      +1

      Alright, since nobody else seems to be biting…

      Sugondese?

      • James Tabby on 05/08/2024 - 16:23

        I could not tell if that was a joke or just a typo. Nevertheless, the rest of the comment was quite useful, in that it raised the point that it could be something else other than the battery.

    • HeWhoKnows on 05/08/2024 - 11:04
      -1

      Could be.
      But a refurb can just be reformatting the hard disk and reinstalling Windows after a decent clean of the device.

      So could be some reminents of cleaning fliud

      Definitely nothing to worry about for OP

      Its when you get that "burning" smell you need to worry

  • JIMB0 on 04/08/2024 - 13:17
    +2

    It'll be from whatever the previous owner split on the keyboard before trading it in.

    • Muzeeb on 04/08/2024 - 13:34

      fruity smell

      Apple cider vinegar ✅

      • Master Bates on 04/08/2024 - 14:02
        +1

        My keyboard smells sweet and a little salty. Thoughts?

        • Muzeeb on 04/08/2024 - 14:18
          +1

          You've clearly purchased my old laptop.

          Username checks out.

          • James Tabby on 04/08/2024 - 15:15

            @Muzeeb: I can only hope nothing sinister is sitting on top of my laptop's keyboard…

            I want to put it on gumtree but maybe I'll clean it up a bit more and use it for another week.

  • Aureus on 04/08/2024 - 15:49
    +2

    Lithium is odorless.

    • OZBargainer in SA on 05/08/2024 - 08:33
      +1

      It may be, by itself, but the rest of a lithium ion battery may not be. I have come across some failing lithium batteries which do give off a sweet smell.

      If I I'm thinking of the correct model, the keyboard part also has a battery and if that's the source, it'll make sense that wiping down the outside doesn't remove the smell.

    • Sinnerator on 05/08/2024 - 09:13

      but its case smells like burning plastic :-)

    • jv on 05/08/2024 - 09:36
      -1

      Lithium is odorless.

      What about Liquorice Lithium?

      • jollibot on 05/08/2024 - 10:24

        We've told you before, JV; your medicine doesn't taste of liquorice!

  • pegaxs on 04/08/2024 - 16:59

    sweet lithium smell

    Wonder if SCA has this in a car air freshener…

    As some one who plays with radio controlled cars and planes, I can say that I have never smelt a "sweet lithium" smell, and I've had plenty of LiPo and LiIo batteries die in that time.

  • jv on 05/08/2024 - 09:37

    a refurbished surface book

    They sprayed it with Glen 20 to get rid of the germs.

  • skillet on 05/08/2024 - 12:25

    I used to work in the IT department of a reasonable size company. My repair room is quite small and any foreign smell can be detected easily. The ladies laptops usually smells pretty nice and I can tell right away if it's a smokers laptop. It's usually the hand moisturiser that they use according to the ladies.

    Put it under the sun let the UV sanitise the surface and it should be gone when it's degraded.

    • peteru on 05/08/2024 - 13:55

      UV! Brilliant advice if you want the plastic to go brittle and crack as soon as possible.

      • Oofy Doofy on 05/08/2024 - 20:55

        it takes a long time for that to happen, not a day outside in indirect sunshine.

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