Is this an acceptable repair ?

[Big Jim]

Have a Lenovo 330-15IKB laptop here.
Was bought new and had liquid damage, keyboard/palmrest was replaced.

Then it came back in with a board fault, gave customer the option of a board repair or refund on the original keyboard replacement, they opted to have the board repaired.
Board repair carried out by a 3rd party (we use them regularly)
Received back and tested, then given back to customer.
customer then reports further issues.

It is currently with us now and we discovered any pressure on the keyboard around the "W" area would shut the laptop off immediately.
We ordered a spare keyboard (without palmrest) and tested it and it was fine.

so we then returned the original keyboard/palmrest and got a replacement, just arrived and fitted, and tested all working ok. but I then put a little more than normal pressure in that area and it shutoff again.

So I removed the motherboard and inserted a piece of paper between the motherboard and keyboard and tested again and now it is fine. The back of the keyboard is covered with a metal shield that is plastic welded onto the back of the palmrest.



So my suggested solution here (a bit of a bodge) is to cover the back of the metal plate with kapton tape in any area that the motherboard can touch it.
Not something I have ever done before, and is obviously not a "proper" repair but at a loss as to what to do otherwise.

Your thoughts ?

 

[britechguy]

Given the exact circumstances you describe, I have zero issue with that repair.

It's pretty much that, or replace the machine entirely, and given its history, well . . .

 

[Markverhyden]

I agree. Nickel solution to a dime problem. And you might want two layers of Kapton just in case.

 

[mikeroq]

Given the age of the laptop (I know it's not that old but it's way out of warranty) and liquid damage I would have only offered a replacement computer. I would offer the customer now you can tape and hope for the best or get a new laptop. Surely you've out more into it than it cost by now.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Yeah, I don't do repairs on liquid damaged machine at all, they get replaced wholesale.

But if a bit of electrical tape on the underside of the keyboard shield sorts it... after all you've done to it... Well you either do what you must to get it to go away, or replace it. I'd at least try the former first. But again, I'd never allow myself to be in this situation to start.

 

[fincoder]

Given the age of the laptop (I know it's not that old but it's way out of warranty)

And if it's Intel 7th gen (or earlier) it's only got a few more years of supported OS. It's a lesson to all of us about liquid-damaged laptops, if there's any chance that liquid has reached the main board then repair shouldn't be attempted.

But at this point, yes the tape seems like a reasonable solution.

 

[Big Jim]

what are you talking about old ?
The customer bought this new, from us in October 2019
Keyboard issue in March (note I made a mistake in the OP there was no mention of liquid damage at this point, on our system)
then back in to us within 2 weeks for random power issues


I did offer a full refund to the customer at the point they opted to continue with a further repair, I don't remember the exact conversation but I'm fairly sure I would have been leaning towards replacing the device. But ultimately the decision is the customer's to make.


It's 8th gen Intel by the way.

 

[Rosco]

Yeah, I don't do repairs on liquid damaged machine at all, they get replaced wholesale.

Yea. I had one too many of these types of issues with water damage. I learned the hard way.

That said, if the tape works, then tape it. If it fails again, replace the laptop.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Yeah, I don't do repairs on liquid damaged machine at all, they get replaced wholesale.

But if a bit of electrical tape on the underside of the keyboard shield sorts it... after all you've done to it... Well you either do what you must to get it to go away, or replace it. I'd at least try the former first. But again, I'd never allow myself to be in this situation to start.

This x1000. I never do anything but data recovery on liquid spills. If I were to break that rule it would be a FIRM NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND deal. For exactly this reason. You can never truly fix 'em.

 

[cypress]

Yeah I wouldn't have given the customer the option to repair the device, I would have just told them it needs to be replaced. I been burned in the past, never again.

 

[MudRock]

Cell phones, definitely "Water on the board and corrosion visible? Fix enough for data recovery, if I can even do it."

Laptops, I will evaluate. Very much like @nlinecomputers though; If I do fix it, "NO WARRANTY - IF IT DIES TOMORROW, IT IS DEAD" -- Sometimes it is a matter of liquid on one cap kind of thing. Quick scrub, ultrasonic if possible, reflow solder.

I have had a laptop that was DRENCHED in a roof leak. Customer INSTANTLY ripped the battery out the second he noticed and it was already off. No corrosion. Fellow was low fixed-income (Like, $20-$40 a month is his discretionary spending cash...) - Made no promises, but got it working. Replaced hard drive with a known good pull and away he went.

He weed whacked my building for the summer as payment. Last time I saw him a few months back, the bloody thing was STILL going.

I even had one that I never felt comfortable selling because some bonehead dumped their drink (that I had asked them to leave outside and promptly tripped on their kid...) - Still running fine for me.

General rule of thumb; More dense the electronics, smaller the components, the worse water is on it. I've fixed cattle fence energizers that someone forgot to close. 10m work, ultrasonic cleaner, and easy cash (Those things aren't cheap.)

 

[Larry Sabo]

I tell customers no warranty on liquid repairs because they are like zombies -- the problem keeps coming back time and time again. Nobody's happy: the customer feels he has wasted his money, you have wasted your time, and you risk leaving a dissatisfied customer behind to badmouth you.

 

[MudRock]

I tell customers no warranty on liquid repairs because they are like zombies -- the problem keeps coming back time and time again. Nobody's happy: the customer feels he has wasted his money, you have wasted your time, and you risk leaving a dissatisfied customer behind to badmouth you.

Yep. If I suspect someone might not grasp that, or known to badmouth others, I will say no anyways on that premise alone. They have to understand that any water damage repair is a ticking time bomb with an unknown length fuse. It WILL die sometime sooner than natural failure.