What to do straight away
Where has the liquid gone?
Once the Mac is open, look for traces left by the liquid: tide marks, white or greenish deposits, tarnished connectors. Liquid conducts electricity and oxidises metal. This corrosion carries on after the liquid has dried, which explains faults that appear several weeks after the spill.
The symptoms also tell you which parts have probably been affected:
- Keyboard: if keys no longer respond, stick or type on their own, the keyboard has probably been affected. See our article on a keyboard that no longer responds.
- Trackpad: if it no longer clicks or responds poorly, the trackpad or its flex cable is to blame. See our article on a trackpad that no longer clicks.
- Keyboard backlight: if the keyboard no longer lights up, the backlight or the logic board may be affected. See our article on a faulty keyboard backlight.
- Logic board: if your Mac no longer charges or won’t turn on, the logic board is to blame in most cases. See our article on a MacBook that won’t turn on.
Which parts to replace
A part the liquid has reached usually needs replacing: cleaning it may get it working again for a while, but the corrosion carries on. Most often, this concerns the following parts:
- Logic board: as soon as liquid has reached it, you’ll need to replace the MacBook’s logic board.
- Top case keyboard: liquid most often gets in through the keyboard. You can easily find the right top case keyboard for your model (top case with the keyboard).
- Trackpad: if it has got wet, we recommend replacing it. Here are all the available trackpads.
- Battery: if liquid has run onto the battery or its connector, replace it as a precaution. Here are all the available batteries.
- Flex cables and connectors: corroded flex cables and connectors (trackpad, display, ports) can also be replaced. Here are all the flex cables and all the available connectors.
If the liquid has only reached one part and the logic board is clean, replacing that part is usually enough. If several major parts are affected, compare the cost with the price of another Mac: see our article repair or buy a refurbished Mac.
Find the part for my Mac
Not sure of your model? Quickly identify the parts you need for this repair without making a mistake.
DIY repair
Before connecting the new parts, check that there’s no liquid or residue left on the connectors, and always disconnect the battery before touching a connector. To find out what can be replaced on your Mac, read our article what can you replace yourself.
Need help with the repair? We offer tutorials to guide you step by step through replacing the part. Our team of technicians is also on hand if you need advice.
