Chosen Solution
Spilled a drink on it in early 2014. Worked fine until just recently. Now the fan perpetually runs at max RPM and the kernel_task runs at over 100% cpu. I took it into Apple and the diagnostic yielded that the fin stack has failed. They want $800 to fix it which is more expensive than a 2016 new MBA. Is it possible to disable this failsafe that gets the fan blowing and throttles the processor? That or is there a fix that costs less than the value of the device?
Try to reset the SMC and the PRAM SMC RESET Shut down the computer. Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected. On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time. Release all the keys and the power button at the same time. Press the power button to turn on the computer. PRAM RESET Shut down the computer. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step Turn on the computer. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time. Release the keys. command = the cmd key option is the alt key if this did not work try installing SMCfancontrol and set the setting to default if this didn’t work try replacing the heatsink (do not forget to replace thermal paste) the part costs $14,95 MacBook Air 13" (Mid 2013-2017) Heat Sink do at own risk if this didn’t work the MacBook might just be fried
