1

Score

Avatar
Cliff
13

Asked

phone got wet with salt water

History

The phone was in an otter box in my bag and was hit by a wave. Took it out of the bag and otter box the phone was still on the screen turned black and the phone got hot. Put the vaccume cleaner suction to the speakers on the bottom for a second or 2. let it sit for 2 weeks. tried to turn on and nothing removed the SIMs card no visual damage. Pluged phone in to the phone charger and a battery came up showing a small red line like it had a dead battery tried charging all night and sill wasnt charged. It showed an icon just below the battery of a lightning bolt and when i unpluged it showed a plug in and a lightning bolt.

Post Answer

2

Score

Avatar
Daniel Dugger
175

Answered

PermalinkHistory

When your phone got into the water the battery contacts shorted out and destroyed the battery. You can get a new battery from iFixit and install it yourself. This will usually correct the problem, but there is a slight chance that the logic board is damaged. I would first get the battery, and if that does not work then you would have to get another logic board for your iPhone.

Edited by

Product Image

iPhone 3G Replacement Battery

Does not require soldering — 50+ available at 14.95 each.

2

Score

Avatar
Ron
25

Answered

PermalinkHistory

The secret of saving any salt water electronic device, is to immediately, as it comes out of the salt water, submerge and flush it with fresh water over and over. Then remove it from the fresh water and immediately blow out all water with compressed air. Place the unit in a warm oven less than 90 F. Let it bake for several hours being careful not to overheat it. The alternative to this is to use a warm (not hot) hair drier, and a lot of time. Don't become impatient and overheat the unit. When you are completely certain that it is dry, inside and out, replace the battery and start it up.

Update

Speed in getting it into freshwater is the most important aspect. Do not allow any salt water to dry in the unit. Also I forgot to mention remove the battery as soon as possible preferably as it comes out of the fresh water or before.

Edited by

+Ron, good approach, but why not just follow this guide http://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/Electronics_W... . You are still having water under any component that sits slightly aboye the logic board. Biggest concern will be corrosion after.

oldturkey03,

0

Score

Avatar
nick
12.3k

Answered

PermalinkHistory

I am revamping my old answers now

First, start with cleaning the logicboard and dock connector

Installing iPhone 3G Logic Board

Installing iPhone 3G Dock Connector

this is done with 97% isapropal alcohol and a toothbrush, I would also remove the EMI shields from the phone too to clean under there, and brush the motherboard and such

after that, take the motherboard and dock connector out and let them dry, and REPLACE THE BATTERY

Installing iPhone 3G Battery

if that does not help, replace the dock connector and try again

Installing iPhone 3G Dock Connector

if that does not help, it will be your motherboard in this phone, and in that case, don't bother, not even I can justify the motherboard cost myself

Edited by

0

Score

Avatar
Tetsuo
151

Answered

PermalinkHistory

It's most likely the phone is beyond repair by now. Salt water is incredibly corrosive and if enough got in to short circuit the battery, some damage has occured. Salt water damage can SOMETIMES be fixed but rarely after letting it sit and corrode for two weeks. You might as well pull it apart and have a look.

0

Score

Avatar
Steve Logan OSG
295

Answered

PermalinkHistory

I'm with 'beyond repair' above me. That said if your time and efforts are free to you, you have only the cost of parts to worry about. I would recommend a limited approach, as the salt walter tells me 'reliable' may not be in it's future if it works at all. My definition of limited approach- try the battery. If that does not work, STOP. One could go down the rabbit hole on this one, buying part after part, until you were better off just getting a cheap 3GS.

Add Your Answer