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Just fixed a water damaged phone by bathing it in Isorpopyl Alcohol...

Just for the record, I'm not sure if this will consistently work but I thought it good to put this on record for anyone else who is at wits end with a water damaged cellphone. I dropped my phone in a river and it stopped working (Touch Pro 2). Well, actually it went in well I was swimming and forgot it was in my pocket.
I let it dry off with a hair dryer, but it was still squirrelly with the input. It would repeat certain characters. Also it would not charge from USB. It was basically unusable so I figured I would try soaking the main board in Isopropyl Alcohol (perhaps remove whatever it is that is shorting out the mainboard). I let the mainboard (without the screen) soak overnight in a sealed tupperware container (so the Alcohol wouldn't evaporate). Then I took it out to let all the Alcohol evaporate. Put it all back together a few hours ago and, violla, it works perfectly. No repeated inputs, no other problems.

Wow, That was lucky, Congrats

Congrats......
I posted about this last year about water infiltration incidents. It generally goes as follows:
If you drop your phone into water, fruit punch,toilet, etc. First thing to do---
1. Remove battery immediately
2. Open up as much as possible daub dry excess water
3. Submerged in Alcohol (200 proof drinking alcohol is best), Isopropyl or denatured works almost as good. leave 1-2 hours (the alcohol binds to the H20 and prevents the H2O from corroding the metal or electronics)
4. Dry with hair dryer
5. Put in desiccant (enough to submerge) or rice, or millet etc. and leave over night
Hair dry to blow any excess dust.... reassemble and you are done. If it did get water damage that renders the phone unusable then, use white out and white out the water strip back to white and go for replacement.
This method I have used for treating flooding on my underwater cameras for 20+ years and I have been successful 98% of time
Once again, congrats

Very interesting. I've also heard of putting in the fridge as it draws out all moisture?
Sent from Odin on my HTC desire

just fix a water damaged phone by changing the battery

it was a black berry phone soaked in water

Always wondered about that.

Thanks for the tips! I will keep it in mind, though the best way that's working for me right now is paying attention

Nice one, i shall try this on my damaged nokia =D

I can relate. I once jumped in the mediterranean with my phone in my pocket.
The SE k750i was a good phone...

First time I hear about this

what?! that's pretty awesome bro.

Lucky try rice.

That's fascinating. Could've used that info about 6 months ago when I managed to drop my phone into a toilet. Luckily it was unused.

It is nice with some tricks. Ill hope it work for me too xD

This is awesome.. Believe it or not a few years back my GF knocked over a class of water into my open pc.. and yeah it died.. Did a similar method here on the mobo and it worked.. for a while
Shot for the tip, I will keep it in mind

definately adding this to my bag of tricks of fixing electronic devices people bring to me to be fixed.

isopropyl is used for inject printers as well...

I always heard to take the battery out immediately. Rince the phone real good in DISTILLED WATER. Shake out as much water as you can, then put it in the oven on about 150-200 degrees for a couple of hours to dry it out.
I dropped my Nokia 6133 in a puddle of muddy water. Did the above and it worked for another year until I upgraded to a newer phone.

How does this method work for salt water? Dropped my Razor in the ocean a few years ago. Not a good day.
Yes, I said razor! I used to love that phone!
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Water Damaged Phone

I dropped my phone into the ocean about a week ago. It's been in rice since then. I just took it out and it turns on and shows my home screen and gets data and is receiving texts and stuff, however neither the touch screen nor the four android buttons work. I searched and people were suggesting soaking the phone in alcohol for this. Is your any chance that would fix my problem? Maybe it could be as simple as replacing my phone's screen? Thanks for any help.

What I would do is take the phone apart (remove the backcover, battery and unscrew the screws) locate the digitizer flex cable and blow dry it. There may be water left in the component.
Refer this this video on the disasembly.

Probably a bit late but you want to clean it with de-ionized water or Isopropyl alcohol. To be honest i would have put it in a bowl of either of those instead of rice as soon as i got home. I've personally found the rice trick to be a myth,works just the same as leaving it out to dry. Sea water contains high amounts of salt and drying it will just make the salt crystalise.You need to "Wash" the salt out and the 2 ive suggested wont leave residue on the PCB (info from my mum who is an electronics teacher)

[Q] used an ice pack to cool my note pro 12.2 condensation on outside maybe inside..

I wish I read these forums before i attempted to put an ice pack under my tablet.
what i did was under my note pro 12.2 i wrapped an ice pack in 2 plastic bags and put it under my tablet, it immediately kept the temperature to only 21C i was really happy but i noticed on the back of the tablet (it has a faux leather back that might be porous) there was condensation building up where the ice pack rested (water vapour in the air drawn to that spot) i immediately wiped it off and then put the icepack back on the back of the tablet, again after couple mins there was condensation so i wiped it off.
only after speakign to a friend did i realise that might be a bad move because the water condensation could potentially go to the underside of where the tablet had the ice pack (which is more plastic i saw a video of my tablet being taken apart so i know what the insides look like)
what are the chances that water vapour has gotten inside into the important components? there's no vents the tablet is almost air tight bar the micro usb charging slot on the right and the 3.55mm headphone jack on the left, the micro sd card slot is sealed, those are the only entry points i imagine water vapour could get in.
i did this inside my bedroom, not sure how humid it is relatively it was cold today around 8C but with southerly wind so felt more like 13C.. is it possible for condensation to get inside the tablet given what i've described?
there's no breeze, im indoors however i did see condensation on the OUTSIDE where the ice pack rested so i just assumed the bit inside it behind the back cover also was cooled down and naturally air moisture woudl be drawn to it.. that leads to the question how much air moisture is inside the tablet in the first place and is there any viable way for it to enter via either the 3.55mm jack or the micro usb port 3.0 on the right?
you said that condensation goes down not up but is it possible i may have condensation inside the tablet? surely naturally if there is any it would go to the metal parts of the device inside IF there is any, as a precaution i put it in a box of rice but read that silica is better so got a few of those and some instant noodles which apparently is better than rice to get moisture out.
my thinking is if it's sealed up as in like most tablets are.. how is the moisture going to get out via the micro usb or 3.55mm jack ports? surely the silica and instant noodles dont have enough sucktion power to draw all the moisture that's inside a sealed tablet?? or maybe i'm underestimating the power of it.
surely people with iphones or ipads can relate, the device is completely sealed just a headphone jack and a charging port.. people have dunked theirs in water and put it in rice and voila it's fine.. howerver if it was sealed to begin with only a small amoutn of water realistically is going to get in via the charging port or the headphone jack right>? unless it's submersed.
what i cant figure out is if there is condensation inside for whatever reason.. how is it going to get out?? there's only a micro usb port and headphone jack .. which might indicate that not much woudl get in way of condensation in the first place? i dont really udnestand the physics of it but i know cold surfaces attract condensation.. that proved it by the outside of the tablet but what about the inside??
i put it in rice as a precaution adn i really dont want to take it apart as im still under my 28 day return thing (ideally i'd return it but the colour i want has been discontinued) so i cant guarantee if there's moisture inside.. but let's assume there is.. how is it going to get out? this isn't normal water in cracks and in a phone which i can open up take the battery out and dunk in rice so the rice can be close to the areas of water.. this is just water vapour which may be attached to the underside of the back cover.. so obviously it'll heat up again because the insides get hot and evaporate.. but how does it get out??

I used ice packs to cool old phones when using as hot spots and they lasted many years. I doubt much if any moisture is inside but you can pop the back off relatively easy with a pry tool(pick basically) if you want to check.
If you left it there for many hours I might be concerned. Now I use a usb fan designed to cool tablets or small laptops I picked up for under ten bucks.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-P907A using XDA Free mobile app

There was definite moisture on the back of the tablet I wiped it of. Which makes me think that inside the cover there must be too however is that moisture from the hote air already inside the tablet that just exists? Or is it new air which is drawn to the cold surface, the question is if I'm inside my room with just the normal air surrounding me maybe humid slightly can it get in via the headphone jack or the micro usb port?
Remember basic physics moisture and water vapour is drawn to cold surfaces and if there was definite moisture on the outside of the tablet where the ice pack was surely the inside behind the cover will have some too, how much I do not know however I cannot ptry the back open as I'm still under warranty and it'll invalidate it so I can't check
If thee is much air actually inside the tablet that definitelytinto water vapour condensation and stuck to the surface temporarily however when it heats up again it'll evaporate back into the air I presume but first as a liquid. Then. Back as a gas floating in the air inside, I doubt there was much if inside.
My worry is simple physics would state that even if the air from otside didn't get into tthe device the air inside already contains some moisture, the ice pack on outside would make the condensation occur and thus go to the back of the inside back cove rand surrounding metal parts which are colder, when I remove the ice pack ats up turning that replaced condensation into liquid (on the back of the inside of the cover) which when heated up enough should go back into the air as normal assuming 100% transder, it seems that all the moisture inside the tablet that's floating inside the hot air will be drawn to the ice pack spot inswhere the battery is. The danger part is when u remove the pack and the condensation then then turns back into liquid that's when it can get into important parts and corrode I won't know this for at least a year without opening itplus it may rust. When it turns b ack into a gas and stays in the air inside the tablet is that sufficient for it not to do any damage or is the damage done already?
I have to assume that when the condensation turns into liquid before it then is reabsorbed by the gas in the air inside the tablet it'll have done some damage. I'm not really sure how. Long that will be.
Does anyone know physics better and able to give me a better understanding ould have occurred inside the tablet?

You basically have the answer right. As the device is used the heating and cooling of the components will expand and contract the air molecules inside the device causing air to be drawn in/out of it. This allows a relative equilibrium between inside and outside air in terms of humidity so that's how moist air is in there to begin with.
Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk

I don't seem to have a problem with the temperature. Mine has the Samsung cover on it, so there is an air gap between the back of the tablet and the table.
I've had the P900 since September and use it 4 to 5 hours a day. OK the temperature here in Bahrain / Saudi is not in the 40°C yet, but it doesn't feel hot to the touch with use.

Changing display

My display damaged and i wanna to ask you smth guys.
How difficulty is it to change it by myself?
I watch this video "
" and i concluded its pretty easy to change it. But the only tool i dont have is the heatgun the other tools i can buy.
Tell me your opinion. Is it easy to do?

Can't tell if it's easy, but in other situations that I needed a heat gun and didn't have one, I used a hair dryer, which is way more common to have at home, or at least easier to borrow from a neighbor or something like that

Watch tear down and repair vids.
If a repair shop will let you watch them do it.
ESD, learn and understand what it is. Discreet components ie the display and mobo are very susceptible to it out of circuit.
Bare minimum protection is a bare wood surface to work on and a relative room humidity of 50% or better. A earth grounded ESD mat and wrist strap is best
Disconnect the battery as soon as possible in the disassembly process. Discharge below 40% if possible before starting.
Have all the drivers, picks, fine precision tweezers, and tools needed. Excellent light and a 2X or so optical visor be nice.
Inspect for additional damage*.
Have a set of OEM seals and now's a good time to replace the battery if it's performance has noticably dropped.
Take pictures disassembling if needed. It must be put back together exactly as it was.
Do Not over torgue screws... less is better.
Be very careful not to damage the ribbon microconnectors.
Take your time, no rush.
*any impact that can break the display or bend the frame can damage the mobo. High G loads or direct impacts can damage chipsets internally, fracture solder joints and internally damaged multilayered mobo PCB internal traces.

I did it three days ago, bc my mix 3 had contact with water.
Its kind of easy to do with a hairdryer and a small plastic tool.
The hardest part is to glue it back together.
(But I have to say my screen didn't work afterwards. The expert in the phone repair store said its maybe a problem on the motherboard)

slowmotion11 said:
I did it three days ago, bc my mix 3 had contact with water.
Its kind of easy to do with a hairdryer and a small plastic tool.
The hardest part is to glue it back together.
(But I have to say my screen didn't work afterwards. The expert in the phone repair store said its maybe a problem on the motherboard)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the battery isn't promptly removed and especially if it's not immediately powered down the current can cause corrosion and short out circuits. The power section is particularly vulnerable. Try again, inspect mobo and the ribbon connectors for signs of corrosion and moisture. Use bright light and magnification.
Is it completely dry? A good soaking with anhydrous isopropyl will help remove hidden water. Again dry completely afterwards. Getting the underside of BGA chipsets dry is imperative.
The micro connectors tend to trap moisture too.
Careful use of compressed air can be very useful but the key word here is careful. Don't stick a nozzle with 100 psi an inch or two from the mobo! Either use low pressure clean, dry air or back it up for high pressure air.
Use your best judgment... it's a bit of an art.
After you dry it as good as possible let it sit in a warm, dry room with a fan on it. Complete drying may take days without disassembly.

Thank you for the tips! I will try it like you described

The same is true with flooded cars, promptly pulling the battery can limit the damage even save the vehicle.
Be wary on flood damage vehicles for sale now, always check for water lines/marks
Most will suffer impossible electrical problems forever. Brine water always kills...

Water Damage on my Pixel 4a

So I didn't get the insurance for my wife's Pixel 4a and it (and my Pixel 4) were submerged in water at Busch Gardens for about 5 minutes at about 3 feet deep. My Pixel 4 works fine and hers is dead. They were both in a plastic "protective" phone bag that was fully sealed. Somehow water got inside the bag, maybe a tiny pinhole I couldn't see. It's currently sitting in a bowl of rice as I don't have any silica gels at the moment. It's been in rice for over 12 hours but still won't start and I can still see condensation inside the camera lenses. She is currently using my old Pixel 2XL so we're good there. I am hoping I can bring this back to life. Any ideas?

Hardly would you be able to sort that out. I have managed to get mine out with rice but that was before the damage became irreversible which is your case I guess.

Please keep us updated.

So did drying out the phone work ok?

Forget the rice... voodoo would work better.
You need to take off the rear cover asap and disconnect the battery to avoid permanent damage.
The clock is ticking Mr Wick... tic-tok...
Use anhydrous isopropyl alcohol* to absorb the water. Flush liberally but make it fast. Displace as much as the alcohol as fast as possible next.
Low pressure (10-15 psi) compressed clean air can be used. Best done in a dry room to prevent condensation. Remove as much as possible.
Allow to dry in a warm dry room with a fan on it for at least 2 days before connecting the battery.
You could forego the isopropyl alcohol and just use this last step extended to a week but no water can remain. I reccomend using the isopropyl for large amounts of water. The BGA chipsets have their contacts under them, these must be 100% dry... you can't visually inspect them. All switches and micro connectors must be dry. No water at all in the phone when done.
Next time double bag in zip lock freezer bags... better yet, don't bring phones.
* it is flammable... don't get stupid. Take care not to get it in between the display and glass if this possible to do as it would leave a residue.
Use your best judgment.