Spilled drink on my keyboard...

Okay, I've got an old old (486cpu) computer with an old style keyboard connector in the back--and I spilled a sugar-free beverage on the keyboard. I tried to dry it out but I don't think I was thorough enough. Several keys stopped working while others performed fine, so I switched keyboards (yeah, I actually have another keyboard using the old connector), but they're both acting EXACTLY the same way... even after a cold reboot too.

What I'm wondering is not weather or not it's fixable or replaceble (because I plan on retiring this old unit soon anyway), but I am trying to determine exactly what has happened. Is it possible that a short from the liquid have spiked the board?