What Was Happening
A Putney SW15 customer walked into our workshop with a MacBook Pro A1245 that had taken a direct drink spill onto the keyboard. Some keys were sticking when pressed and others had stopped working entirely, registering no input or producing the wrong character. The machine was otherwise powering on and running normally — the display, trackpad, and ports were all functional, which suggested the logic board had survived the initial contact.
The customer brought the machine in promptly after the spill rather than waiting, which made a significant difference to the outcome.
Our Diagnosis
We opened the machine and inspected the logic board for liquid residue and signs of corrosion. Light contamination was found around the keyboard connector area — the spill had reached the board but had not caused visible corrosion at this stage. The keyboard membrane had absorbed liquid and was confirmed as requiring replacement; a saturated membrane does not recover function reliably even after drying.
No logic board damage was found beyond surface residue from the spill. The quick response had prevented the oxidation process from progressing to the board components.
How We Fixed It
The logic board was cleaned with isopropyl alcohol, working carefully around the connector areas to remove all residue. The board was dried and inspected again before any reassembly.
The keyboard was replaced with a compatible unit for the A1245. After installation, we conducted a full keyboard input test — all keys including modifiers, function keys, and special characters — and a general function check covering display, trackpad, ports, and battery.
The Result
The MacBook Pro A1245 was returned to the Putney customer the same day with a fully working keyboard and no remaining symptoms of liquid damage. The walk-in repair was completed without advance booking.
Why This Happens on This Model
The MacBook Pro A1245 has a keyboard positioned directly above the logic board with minimal physical separation between the two. Liquid that enters through the keyboard travels downward quickly and can reach board components within seconds. The keyboard membrane on this model absorbs liquid into the silicone dome layer beneath the keys, which does not dry out and recover reliably — replacement is required once liquid contamination is confirmed. The speed with which the customer acted prevented the board contamination from progressing to corrosion.
Prevention Tips
- Power off and disconnect the power immediately if liquid contacts the keyboard — keeping the machine running increases the chance of electrical damage
- Turn the laptop upside down after powering off to let any pooled liquid drain away from the board rather than settling on it
- Bring the machine to a repair professional as quickly as possible after a spill; the faster liquid residue is cleaned, the less likely it is to cause corrosion
- Do not attempt to dry a liquid-damaged MacBook in an oven or with a heat gun — these approaches can cause further damage
- Keep drinks away from the keyboard, particularly on the desk where an accidental knock can send a full drink directly into the machine
Local Help in Putney SW15
We carry out liquid damage repair and keyboard replacement for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models at our Putney SW15 workshop. Walk-in repairs are welcome, and same-day turnaround is available for liquid damage cases that are brought in promptly.
Related Services
- Liquid Damage Repair — cleaning, drying, and component replacement for liquid-damaged Macs and laptops
- Liquid Damage Repair in Putney — local service covering SW15
More Case Studies
- MacBook Air water damage repair in Wandsworth SW18 — similar liquid spill with prompt response limiting board damage
- iMac liquid damage and water spill repair in Barnes SW13 — liquid damage on an Apple desktop
- Sony Vaio laptop internet and battery replacement in Putney — another repair at our Putney workshop