Continuing the discussion from Is keyboard replacement really that hard?:
Hey y’all,
Due to a tea spill accident, my Framework 13’s keyboard isn’t working that well anymore. 
I’ve seen multiple posts online about how you should really just replace the whole input cover (one linked above, and one on Reddit). I’ve (embarrassingly enough) actually had a similar incident before (I will now no longer permit liquids near my computer 
), and I just ended up replacing the Input Cover entirely.
I wanted to check here if my plan to proceed is a good idea / if you guys had any thoughts. (Hopefully someone else with a keyboard spill issue might see this too!)
1. The Accident
Immediately after the spill, I lifted up the laptop and turned it upside down so that the tea didn’t seep any further. After some hours of panicking involving lots of 91% isopropyl alcohol and trying to leave it to dry, the results are that ONLY the spacebar doesn’t work. Other keys that originally had the tea over them ended up feeling sticky. The touchpad and fingerprint sensor are completely working, as well as all internal components! 
For anyone in the future with a spill accident, I would say that ensuring that the damage doesn’t actually get to internal components (the mainboard) would be a decent priority. The external components (input cover, expansion cards, etc) are much more easily (and affordably!) replaceable. Additionally, if you’re able to clear it of all liquid, let it dry for many hours, probably at least 24 to be safe tbh. The moisture won’t technically fry anything that’s not powered on, so as long as you powered it off immediately during the spill you might be able to recover more. (For reference, when my first similar incident happened, about HALF the keys were out.) I’m thinking that this is because if you only turn it on once it’s dried a lot on the insides, then it’s technically not shorting much internally.
2. Where I’m At
As for warranty, in the list of things that wouldn’t be covered:
Damage caused by misuse, accident, neglect, or abuse.
so that’s out of the question. For those seeing this in the future, replacing the Input Cover alone instead of the whole keyboard assembly is definitely easier. I’ve disassembled my original broken keyboard just to see how it is, and it’s very tedious involving lots of screws for the keyboard membrane. It’s also possible to damage the various ribbon cables and strip screws. That said, replacing the keyboard alone is certainly not impossible, and would be cheaper.
On the note of price, though, the good news for me is that I can just get a refurbished Input Cover. (I’ll be swapping to the Blank ANSI one this time! 
) So the price difference isn’t too insane this time when it comes to picking between a kb or input cover.
3. My questions:
- What do Refurbished Input Covers even come from? What can I expect in quality from them? (i haven’t purchased a refurb product before)
- Should I consider just replacing the keyboard - has anyone else had an okay time doing it?
- Unrelatedly, my bottom cover screw heads are beginning to strip - can I replace them?
), but it uses both methods.
I imagine there are tools to put them on, and maybe some techniques that help without special tools. If anyone passing by happens to know, enlighten us please!