1. angkorbeer's Avatar
    Hi,

    So I have a problem. A while ago, my 2 year old son spilled some juice on my PB’s power and volume button, which became stuck. They sometimes work but not very well at all. Since this is my fault and I’m past guarantee, I didn’t think of trying to have it repaired and I simply worked around the problem by using the controls from the screen, and making sure that I never ran out of battery.

    I just picked it up this morning and it seems dead. My girlfriend used it last night to read in bed and I’m very surprised that she could have emptied the battery… But all I know is I’m unable to wake up the screen by swiping sideways. So I plugged it and tried to power it on, but to no avail. So either it’s simply off and the power button is toasted, or maybe there’s some deeper problem with the tablet; hard to tell.

    I was wondering, is there any way at all to power on the tablet other than by using the power button?
    Also, what should I do if I can’t power it on? Where and for how much can I have the tablet repaired w/o guarantee?

    EDIT: I'm located in Montreal (thanks BergerKing).
    Last edited by angkorbeer; 10-20-13 at 09:14 AM.
    10-20-13 08:55 AM
  2. BergerKing's Avatar
    Might add that you are in Montreal, Quebec, so folks know where to advise you for possible help.

    Having an updated profile is very helpful to others when you need help.
    angkorbeer likes this.
    10-20-13 09:04 AM
  3. angkorbeer's Avatar
    UPDATE:

    I managed to power it on by pressing the power button repeatedly and very hard...
    It turns out the battery is very dead and I was lucky I could get the button to work this time.

    Anyways, I'd still like to know regarding a possible repair.
    I'd especially like to know if it's worth it in terms of $$$ or if I should start shopping for a different tablet.

    Thanks.
    10-20-13 09:17 AM
  4. bambinoitaliano's Avatar
    UPDATE:

    I managed to power it on by pressing the power button repeatedly and very hard...
    It turns out the battery is very dead and I was lucky I could get the button to work this time.

    Anyways, I'd still like to know regarding a possible repair.
    I'd especially like to know if it's worth it in terms of $$$ or if I should start shopping for a different tablet.

    Thanks.
    If your tablet is still within a year of your purchase I suggest you contact BlackBerry. The company is pretty decent in repairing or replacing your unit. Otherwise depending on your budget and your need of a tablet either go with a cheap Playbook again or some android tablets.

    You might want to go through the threads that teach you how to stack charge your playbook.
    10-20-13 09:36 AM
  5. angkorbeer's Avatar
    Thanks, but I did specify it's pas guarantee.

    Also, given BB's current state, I doubt I'd invest in another PB tablet...

    And as for stack charging, it seems to involve the power button, which is toasted.
    10-20-13 09:42 AM
  6. FF22's Avatar
    There are a few disassembly videos. You might be able to take it apart carefully and see if you can get the sticky/sugar/juice off the power button assembly with a moist q-tip using alcohol. You might detach the battery before doing so.

    Good luck.
    paper_monkey and angkorbeer like this.
    10-20-13 08:47 PM
  7. GiantSchnauzer's Avatar
    With the playbook off spray some electrical contact cleaner. Through the gap by the buttons and let dry. How I get all my stuff clean as well as the micro usb and Hdmi ports.

    Z10 Rocking 10.2
    10-20-13 11:15 PM
  8. angkorbeer's Avatar
    With the playbook off spray some electrical contact cleaner. Through the gap by the buttons and let dry. How I get all my stuff clean as well as the micro usb and Hdmi ports.

    Z10 Rocking 10.2
    I've used such cleaner before --for a synthesizer on which I'd spilled a whole pint of beer!-- with success. But I haven't been able to find any for years. Some guys at an electronics shop told me it was now illegal to sell it (because of environmental concerns, I believe...).

    Where do you buy yours?
    10-21-13 07:41 AM
  9. sad_old_man's Avatar
    I don't know about that cold place you live in but contact cleaner is standard computer cleaning equipment and should be available from any electronics, computer shop. Failing that it will be available on the web. I use the contact cleaner and then being impatient I use an aerosol full of air to blow away the offending residue. It is a hit and miss affair but better than losing your pb.
    10-21-13 08:01 AM
  10. angkorbeer's Avatar
    I don't know about that cold place you live in but contact cleaner is standard computer cleaning equipment and should be available from any electronics, computer shop. Failing that it will be available on the web. I use the contact cleaner and then being impatient I use an aerosol full of air to blow away the offending residue. It is a hit and miss affair but better than losing your pb.
    The guys who told me this might have been wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were illegal here and not elsewhere: Quebec has all sorts of different regulations concerning chemicals, even compared to other Canadian provinces. All I know is I've asked at a couple of shops and couldn't find any recently. But I'll look again. I guess I'll find some online.
    10-21-13 08:14 AM
  11. GiantSchnauzer's Avatar
    Could use some brake cleaner from an auto store , but that might be too corrosive for the plastic of the circuit board hehe.
    So Grab a contact cleaner that's safe for plastics, plenty in the net.

    Need advice: Toasted power button-img_00001555.jpg



    Z10 Rocking 10.2
    10-21-13 08:16 AM
  12. BravoZuluDelta's Avatar
    Yeah avoid brake cleaner, it'll eat up your plastics. Ask me how I know.

    The stuff I use is made by MG Chemicals in Canada. Unfortunately their liquid format has been discontinued, but the aerosol is still available.

    Here is the product page: Super Contact Cleaner with PPE | MG Chemicals

    And here is a list is distributors in QC: Qu�bec Canada Distributors | MG Chemicals

    Avoid just spraying it into the buttons without disassembly, as it could seep into the LCD screen. I had this happen to a 9800 and it took two years to dry out.
    angkorbeer likes this.
    10-21-13 08:31 AM
  13. sad_old_man's Avatar
    The guys who told me this might have been wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were illegal here and not elsewhere: Quebec has all sorts of different regulations concerning chemicals, even compared to other Canadian provinces. All I know is I've asked at a couple of shops and couldn't find any recently. But I'll look again. I guess I'll find some online.
    Again I don't know Canada and I would be surprised if switch cleaner is banned but I don't know. The other alternative would be "surgical spirit" as we brits call it. I have no idea what you call it. Beware there are two types on sale. You need to get the one that's non oil based.... It is just another form of solvent but due to the idiots that sniff it and drink it they put additives in it to prevent this. Paint stripper, meths, adhesive remover, furniture restorer are all just solvents but have oil added to them. As a last desperate measure use the spray from a chemist that cleans spectacle lenses! It's oil free and is the same as switch cleaner only not as strong and more expensive but still works.....eventually.
    10-21-13 08:40 AM
  14. sad_old_man's Avatar
    Yeah avoid brake cleaner, it'll eat up your plastics. Ask me how I know.

    The stuff I use is made by MG Chemicals in Canada. Unfortunately their liquid format has been discontinued, but the aerosol is still available.

    Here is the product page: Super Contact Cleaner with PPE | MG Chemicals

    And here is a list is distributors in QC: Qu�bec Canada Distributors | MG Chemicals

    Avoid just spraying it into the buttons without disassembly, as it could seep into the LCD screen. I had this happen to a 9800 and it took two years to dry out.
    That's because it was oil based. True cleaner is almost pure alcohol and evaporates almost on contact.
    10-21-13 08:43 AM
  15. BravoZuluDelta's Avatar
    That's because it was oil based. True cleaner is almost pure alcohol and evaporates almost on contact.
    Yes, I'm pretty sure it was due to the polyphenol ether additive they use, which is supposed to provide an anti-corrosive barrier.
    10-21-13 08:45 AM
  16. sad_old_man's Avatar
    Yes, I'm pretty sure it was due to the polyphenol ether additive they use, which is supposed to provide an anti-corrosive barrier.
    Yep that's oil based!
    BravoZuluDelta likes this.
    10-21-13 08:49 AM
  17. angkorbeer's Avatar
    From what I'd gathered, you could do the job simply with rubbing alcohol, or anything similar that evaporates real quickly. I believe alcohol and ether was in the stuff I'd used for my synth; same as the Super Contact Cleaner in the post above. Glad to see it still exists in Quebec after all: I'll use it on my other electronic equipment (bass pedals, synth, console, etc.).

    Now I guess I need to figure out how to disassemble the PB.
    10-21-13 08:53 AM
  18. sad_old_man's Avatar
    From what I'd gathered, you could do the job simply with rubbing alcohol, or anything similar that evaporates real quickly. I believe alcohol and ether was in the stuff I'd used for my synth; same as the Super Contact Cleaner in the post above. Glad to see it still exists in Quebec after all: I'll use it on my other electronic equipment (bass pedals, synth, console, etc.).

    Now I guess I need to figure out how to disassemble the PB.
    There are detailed instructions in other threads on how to dismantle your pb. I like to keep things simple! You want the substance out of your switch not in your pb? Therefore hold your pb upside down when you spray it?
    10-21-13 08:59 AM
  19. angkorbeer's Avatar
    There are detailed instructions in other threads on how to dismantle your pb. I like to keep things simple! You want the substance out of your switch not in your pb? Therefore hold your pb upside down when you spray it?
    You mean without dismantling it first? That'd be simpler indeed, but one thing is you're supposed to take the battery out first so as to avoid short circuits...
    10-21-13 09:05 AM
  20. BravoZuluDelta's Avatar
    It sounds like you might have access to guitar picks. If so, run one along the top edge of the PlayBook, near the power buttons, between the black back panel and the lighter coloured bezel trim. Twist the pick gently as you run it across, and the back should start to separate. That's all there is to taking the back off.
    angkorbeer likes this.
    10-21-13 09:18 AM
  21. dgjackson40's Avatar
    How would club soda/seltzer work on juice??
    10-21-13 07:23 PM
  22. angkorbeer's Avatar
    How would club soda/seltzer work on juice??
    From what had been explained to me (which made a lot of sense), the reason you use contact cleaner with alcohol and ether is you want to make damn sure not a drop remains when you plug back the power.
    10-21-13 08:30 PM
  23. GiantSchnauzer's Avatar
    Probably work pretty good if the juice was on your shirt

    Z10 Rocking 10.2
    10-21-13 11:08 PM
  24. Brian Levy's Avatar
    Look for Deoxit, a contact and control cleaner used in the electronics industry and is common. The old standard carbon tech (sp) was outlawed some years ago. Hit the audio equipment repair shops, those specialising in vintage gear as it is as basic a tool as a screwdriver for them.

    You want to clean the juice out asap as it is corrosive.
    angkorbeer likes this.
    10-22-13 12:09 AM
  25. Chaddface's Avatar
    The contacts for power and volume are the dome shaped variety attached to the board. The offending liquid should be cleaned off the board but that shouldn't be causing your trouble unless the dome has a crack which allowed the liquid in.

    Was your power button flush and difficult to use before the incident?
    If so, when you have it apart place some heavy weight paper or something similar under the board on either side. That will raise the board a bit and make the buttons more responsive.

    My 9900 doesn't take good pictures so I can't show you but when you have it apart it will be obvious. Between the plastic buttons and dome contacts there is a rubber membrane that will need to cleaned as well.
    angkorbeer likes this.
    10-22-13 12:44 PM
34 12

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