Macbook M1 stopped charging and now doesn't start. So took it to the iStore.

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Macbook M1 stopped charging and now doesn't start. So took it to the iStore.

new2nz

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#303421 9-Feb-2023 00:19

I bought an M1 last Feb and last week it stopped turning on and charging. So I took it to the iStore shop in Takapuna (Auckland) since it's still within the 1 year.

They said it's got liquid damage so not covered. But I don't understand how that can be. I'm anal about not letting any liquid near the machine and have never allowed anything to spill on or near it.

When the laptop stopped working my first thought was "is the battery still working since it's not charging". The battery stop taking charging a little before it stopped powering up - could the battery have leaked by any chance? How could I confirm this?

Would anyone have been through something similar with Apple and perhaps know what I can do to try and dispute this or look for other solutions, please?

eracode

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#3033773 9-Feb-2023 01:40

Even if it was outside a one year period you should still be covered under CGA - provided there is no liquid ingress.

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Dynamic

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#3033777 9-Feb-2023 05:36

Ask for proof of the liquid damage. I'd guess they should be able to show you a photo of the 'tide' mark inside the machine.

IMHO the 'indicator' strips are not good enough. My kids had some $300-ish Vodafone branded mobiles that stopped working and we were told water damage. I bought some $500 Vodafone-branded mobiles as replacements, opened up the factory sealed packaging, and he both of them had indicator strips already triggered!!!!! I politely but firmly did my 'nana.

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Mehrts

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#3033835 9-Feb-2023 09:56

Did you take it directly to the store, or did you get in touch with Apple first to schedule an appointment under warranty?

Definitely ask to see proof of said water ingress. If they only show the water indicator spots/strips and only one or two have been triggered, then I'd ask them to provide proof of water ingress on the board itself. Those water indication strips/spots can be very sensitive (too sensive IMO).

new2nz

94 posts

Master Geek

#3033852 9-Feb-2023 10:30

Mehrts:

Did you take it directly to the store, or did you get in touch with Apple first to schedule an appointment under warranty?

Definitely ask to see proof of said water ingress. If they only show the water indicator spots/strips and only one or two have been triggered, then I'd ask them to provide proof of water ingress on the board itself. Those water indication strips/spots can be very sensitive (too sensitive IMO).

Thank you. we went directly to the store as it's the closed thing in this country to an official apple store.

I'll do that thank you. For you help.

new2nz

94 posts

Master Geek

#3033853 9-Feb-2023 10:31

eracode:

Even if it was outside one year you should still be covered under CGA - provided there is no liquid ingress.

Thank you. I'll have to get proof from them.

new2nz

94 posts

Master Geek

#3033855 9-Feb-2023 10:32

Dynamic:

Ask for proof of the liquid damage. I'd guess they should be able to show you a photo of the 'tide' mark inside the machine.

IMHO the 'indicator' strips are not good enough.

I'll do that thank you. I'll get some photographic evidence.

eracode

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#3037987 17-Feb-2023 04:47

@new2nz Is it too soon to ask how you got on with this?

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new2nz

94 posts

Master Geek

#3037994 17-Feb-2023 06:55

Have had some info back from the store but I don't see any water damage - all they did was send back a couple of close-up photos of a bit of dust, but no pictures of the whole laptop where I could see the battery and the whole insides. So am talking to them about this.

Handsomedan

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#3038009 17-Feb-2023 08:52

new2nz:

Have had some info back from the store but I don't see any water damage - all they did was send back a couple of close-up photos of a bit of dust, but no pictures of the whole laptop where I could see the battery and the whole insides. So am talking to them about this.

Please keep us informed.

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xpd

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#3038025 17-Feb-2023 09:34

Still contact Apple anyway..... I've had dealings with that store previously and didn't think much of them....

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new2nz

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Master Geek

#3038135 17-Feb-2023 12:40

xpd:

Still contact Apple anyway..... I've had dealings with that store previously and didn't think much of them....

Will do. thankyou

Dynamic

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#3114581 11-Aug-2023 12:25

Hi @new2nz

I was curious how you got on with this issue?

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#3114658 11-Aug-2023 13:37

Other M1 users have had the water detect strips change colour just by long term use in humid atmosphere.

CYaBro

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#3114674 11-Aug-2023 14:19

Yea this has been an issue for a long time with those 'liquid indicators'.

When I had my AASP store in Whangarei we had quite a few come in that had the indicators triggered but there was no sign of any actual liquid damage inside.
We always thought that they were most likely just triggering from the humidity in the air.

I had, and a friend now has it, a 2013 MacBook Pro that the indicators are all red and that thing never had liquid split on it, and it still functions perfectly today.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

jamesrt

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#3114702 11-Aug-2023 15:40

Well, I had an x86 Mac that stopped charging etc, and I was told liquid damages. Considering I'd accidentally given it a glass of water a few days earlier, it was hard to argue that one - fortunately, my insurance covered it, and I had good TimeMachine backups....