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[Q] Water Damage

S

samsunguser123

Lurker
Hi,

I dropped my S3 in a pool. I left it off for a couple days with the battery removed. After a couple days I decided to open up my phone. I noticed some corrosion in the back of the motherboard and cleaned it off with alcohol. My phone turns on but the screen doesn't. I looked at the motherboard and doesn't look like it fried. Is there a way for me to troubleshoot to figure it out why the screen is not turning on?
 
I hate to be the harbringer of doom, but the damage might not necessarily be visible, and given you can't access all the places without ungluing the phone's screen from digitizer, there might still be some water.
Perhaps try to follow this video, see it can help

YouTube
 
If the phone wasn't left off in a sealed container with rice or preferably silicon gel in a little packet for a while then you may be up a creek without a paddle.

Switching the phone on with any moisture inside can sign a death warrent for some of the components.

Hopefully there's an easy fix but be prepared for the worst.
 
BynoUK said:
If the phone wasn't left off in a sealed container with rice or preferably silicon gel in a little packet for a while then you may be up a creek without a paddle.

Switching the phone on with any moisture inside can sign a death warrent for some of the components.

Hopefully there's an easy fix but be prepared for the worst.
Click to expand...

Have to agree with this, leaving the phone alone with the battery cover off only allows the water to sit and take it's time to dry inside the phone. Putting it in rice helps to "suck" the water right out of the phone and dries it much faster. If you ever find yourself in this situation again throw the phone (off of course) immediately into a bag of rice and wait a week.

Since the phone is pretty much toast anyway I would go ahead and peak around to see if there is anymore corrosion. I would specifically check the connectors.
 
Can i add that if anyone gives their phone a proper dunking (saturated) in anything other than fresh water like a pool with chlorene in it or the sea, it goes against the grain but dunk it in some fresh water, preferably pure h2o but even tap water if you have to before drying it out :thumbup:
Sorry it doesnt help the OP though. I hate stories like that :(
 
Good Luck with the rice approach. I read about that, too, and tried it when I dropped my S3 into water -- but it didn't work. Had to get an new one through Asurion.
 
funkylogik said:
Can i add that if anyone gives their phone a proper dunking (saturated) in anything other than fresh water like a pool with chlorene in it or the sea, it goes against the grain but dunk it in some fresh water, preferably pure h2o but even tap water if you have to before drying it out :thumbup:
Sorry it doesnt help the OP though. I hate stories like that :(
Click to expand...

Also good would be 97% Alcohol to help displace the water.
 
Thank you all. I found that the LCD connector was corroded (had to use a magnifying class). cleaned it heavily with alchohol and the screen was working again!

next problem is that the microphone is not working. How can i troubleshoot or repair this? i cleaned the microphone hole, still didn't resolve the problem. Is the mic something i can replace?
 
Nice one. Thanks for coming back with the tip. Thats cool :)
I duno about the mic' it could have water stuck deep inside it or if it has a paper part in it, it could be damaged by the water. Its probably a replacable part though :)
 
samsunguser123 said:
Thank you all. I found that the LCD connector was corroded (had to use a magnifying class). cleaned it heavily with alchohol and the screen was working again!

next problem is that the microphone is not working. How can i troubleshoot or repair this? i cleaned the microphone hole, still didn't resolve the problem. Is the mic something i can replace?
Click to expand...

The mic may have shorted. Or there could be water still trapped inside. I had water temporarily disable the mic when I owned the Optimus V. But that was a drop of water. You accidentally submerged yours. If it hasn't dried out by now then I don't know what to tell you. I'm sorry. :(
 
pandacookie said:
The mic may have shorted. Or there could be water still trapped inside. I had water temporarily disable the mic when I owned the Optimus V. But that was a drop of water. You accidentally submerged yours. If it hasn't dried out by now then I don't know what to tell you. I'm sorry. :(
Click to expand...

It definitely dried by now. Is there a way I can replace it?
 
I was told to search "400465424494" on ebay and that's the microphone I need. Don't know how to install it but I will figure it out when I receive it. I will keep you guys updated.
 
Attached is a photo of my replacement microphone and my phone. Any idea how I'm supposed to install this thing?
 

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