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Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage

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  1. Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage, Assessing visible external damage: step 1, image 1 of 3 Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage, Assessing visible external damage: step 1, image 2 of 3 Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage, Assessing visible external damage: step 1, image 3 of 3
    • Look for liquid or residue between the touchscreen and LCD. This phone shows water build-up between the touchscreen and LCD, and most likely contains more liquid inside.

    • In this case, there is no obvious damage or corrosion in the external dock connector.

    • There is no obvious damage or corrosion in the headphone jack.

  2. Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage, Disassembly: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Liquid damage inside the phone may complicate disassembly. Beware of cables and connectors that may be adhered to other components in unexpected ways.

    • Lifting the front panel of this phone, the flex for the dock connector has stuck to the back of the midframe.

  3. Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage, Assessing visible internal damage: step 3, image 1 of 3 Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage, Assessing visible internal damage: step 3, image 2 of 3 Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage, Assessing visible internal damage: step 3, image 3 of 3
    • The water damage sticker is now pink, indicating that the inside of this phone was flooded with liquid.

    • Residue and corrosion discoloration can clearly be seen on the connectors for the LCD, Digitizer, and proximity sensor, as well as the camera and SIM card slot.

  4. Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage: step 4, image 1 of 2 Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage: step 4, image 2 of 2
    • The dock connector water sensor sticker has turned pink too, indicating liquid flooding of this end of the phone.

    • The top of this dock connector looks fairly clean, with only a few green corrosive changes near connector 4.

  5. Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage: step 5, image 1 of 3 Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage: step 5, image 2 of 3 Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage: step 5, image 3 of 3
    • The rear of the display assembly shows more green corrosion and debris on the LCD and digitizer connectors.

    • Removing the LCD and the back cover of the ear speaker and proximity sensor assembly reveals liquid damage to the speaker.

    • The proximity sensor is only lightly damaged.

  6. Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Closer inspection of proximity sensor/earpiece flex reveals more corrosion damage.

  7. Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • After removing the logic board, more liquid damage is visible.

    • The vibration motor has some rust.

    • The battery pins have corroded.

  8. Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Headphone jack connector 5, the vibration motor, and the volume switch show some light corrosion.

  9. Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage: step 9, image 1 of 2 Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • Rear of motherboard showing some signs of corrosion to battery contacts.

  10. Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage, Removing the logic board shield cover: step 10, image 1 of 2 Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage, Removing the logic board shield cover: step 10, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Spudger
    $3.99
    Buy
    • Depending on the nature of the liquid damage, removing this shield may not be necessary, and doing so risks damaging the small components mounted on the logic board. If you decide to remove the shield, proceed cautiously and use a plastic tool such as a spudger, or a plastic opening tool to lever off the shield.

    • Look for the dimpled tabs on the shield that reach down over the tabs attached to the mother board.

    • Using your plastic tool, catch the edge of a dimpled tab near a corner of the shield, and pry it up away from the logic board.

    • Being careful of all the tiny surface mounted components, work your way around the available edges until the shield comes free.

  11. Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage, Cleaning the logic board: step 11, image 1 of 2 Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage, Cleaning the logic board: step 11, image 2 of 2
    • Submerge the logic board in isopropyl alcohol, and allow it to soak long enough to loosen hardened residue, and to displace any remaining water or other liquid. Use a soft brush to remove visible corrosion and residue.

    • Residue from motherboard left in isopropyl alcohol container.

    • Clean all flex ends, battery contacts, connectors, chips, and fuses on motherboard with a soft brush.

    • Repeat cleaning if necessary, or if traces of residue are still visible.

    • Allow the logic board or other parts to dry completely before reassembly.

  12. Repairing iPhone Liquid Damage, Cleaning the LCD: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Wipe LCD with cloth moistened with isopropyl alcohol. Immersion isn't advised, as liquid may leave a mark behind the LCD.

    • This is the screen after cleaning. Water mark is no longer visible.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device refer to the iPhone repair guides for your particular phone.

After repeated cleaning, this example phone needed connectors 1, 2, and 3 replaced on the logic board, a new LCD, and digitizer. Corrosion on the cable ends and connectors could not be adequately removed. All other functions worked and this iPhone is now back in working order. Good luck. Hopefully this guide demonstrates that liquid damage to your iPhone isn't always obvious or visible and that disassembly and cleaning may benefit some phones exposed to liquid.

188 other people completed this guide.

pollytintop

Member since: 06/09/10

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56 Comments

Thanks!

I fixed my iPhone 3GS that got lots of water in!!!

thanks for a great guide!

Shai - Reply

you're welcome shai, hope all the other repairs go so well

pollytintop -

Good stuff :D

martin - Reply

Thank you so much! I fixed my iPhone 3G, 4 months after I put it in the washer!!

Ivan -

Hi, I have a quick question. Is 70% Isopropyl alcohol good enough to clean the logic board or does it HAVE to be either 90% or 99%? Thank you so much for your help.

Andrew Novotny - Reply

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