Database Users

My x10 Went For A Swim And SURVIVED!

Been reading this board for a few days since I got my x10 (last saturday). Major disaster today. I went out of town and I misplaced my x10. Doh.
No joke, the x10 was in a ditch UNDERWATER (at least 6 inches) for at least 30 minutes. I was calling it with another phone and I saw the x10's display in the ditch. It's definitely worth mentioning that I have the otter box case. There was definitely moisture that went in through the audio jack, but I think it protected the battery very well.
I was ****ting my pants the whole ride home. Finally when I got back, I logged on here and attempted to dry out the phone without opening it up.
After shaking all the water out the phone was buggy. The volume button kept resetting itself to zero, as if the down button was stuck. I decided I needed to open it up. I found this thread: (Thank God!!!)
hxxp://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=6368979
Anyways, MAJOR respectz to this board. You guys saved my ass big time! Props to Sony for putting out some respectable hardware and otter box - I'm glad I spent the 45 bucks now aren't I! LOL!
- S

Nice!
If you want to dry out components, leave them in a bowl of uncooked rice.... it will suck up the moisture. I've fixed several phones my mom dropped in her morning coffee that way.

well what ilead says is a perfect solution..
thats because just drying the board the will not dry the moisture that might have made way to the internal components... also try not using the phone and keep it in the uncookd rice for atleast a couple of days..
I suggest not to use because chances are that if moisture remains it will at a later stage kill some components..
cheers
chetan

Yes, when I read your post I immediately thought of "rice"!
You should put it in a big bown full of raw rice and cover the whole phone, after of course you have removed the battery and the back cover.
You have to leave it there for 1-2 days, even more if you are not anxious.
The more, the better!

Uhm... Beside the rice.
You should rip the phone apart and put the Mainboard for about 48hrs into a 99% isopropyl alcohol bath (Inside of a closed tupperware box, so that the isopropyl won't evaporate).
Most of the chips are UBGA soldered. Thanks to capillary forces, tiny amounts of moisture will stay underneath and begin to oxidize the soldered balls over a long period of time.
Isopropyl will also suck underneath the capillary way, mix up with the moist and will evaporate for about 100% after another 48hrs, without leaving any residues.

But dont spray it with wd40 lol
Sent from my X10i using XDA App

johndub71 said:
But dont spray it with wd40 lol
Sent from my X10i using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or contact spray / switch cleaner, like someone suggested in another thread

That's pretty interesting...Glad your phone made it.
All these suggestions are wrong though, and it's a lot easier to fix your phone. If it was underwater for 30 mins, just put it in a fire for 30 mins, and the effects counter each other

chris_knows said:
If it was underwater for 30 mins, just put it in a fire for 30 mins, and the effects counter each other
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Click to collapse
Haha lol...
Sent from my rooted X10i using tapatalk

Silicagel
I bought 5lbs of silica gel just in case this ever happens to me.

iead1 said:
Nice!
If you want to dry out components, leave them in a bowl of uncooked rice.... it will suck up the moisture. I've fixed several phones my mom dropped in her morning coffee that way.
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Click to collapse
LOL wow how does she manage to do that

sevryn said:
" I was ****ting my pants the whole ride home."
- S
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Click to collapse
ah ha ha... this just about made my day..
i am too scared [more of a noob] to root the my xperia as it is.... far less to have it lost at the bottom of a ditch...
I hope every thing works out for the best...

Just messed up my screen. (w/pic)

I was putting on a screen protector and the water got to the screen now the lower part of the screen is very white. Still very readable. What do ya'll recommend I do?
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

Is the liquid damage indicator normal? If so, swap it out with your provider. If it indicates liquid damage then see if there's an out-of-warranty replacement option and cross your fingers.

You could try drying it out with rice or silica dessicant. It might take a few days. Got any picts?

Anyone know how many liquid damage stickers are on the device? I know the one by the battery is still white. What the hell do i say. I just woke up and it was damaged.

That happened on my G1 and someone told me to pull the battery and set it on top of the refrigerator over night.
I know it sounds weird but the next morning it was dry. Something about the warm dry air coming from behind the fridge.

gee one said:
You could try drying it out with rice or silica dessicant. It might take a few days. Got any picts?
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Click to collapse
This guy is right.

Gravityrat said:
That happened on my G1 and someone told me to pull the battery and set it on top of the refrigerator over night.
I know it sounds weird but the next morning it was dry. Something about the warm dry air coming from behind the fridge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Put it on anything that radiates heat, nothing extreme but something that is somewhat warm to the touch. Refrigerator works well, also a PC, DVD player left running, etc.
Leave the battery out for 24-48 hours and see if it dries up the moisture...

Dry heat will help but be careful in case there's something that produces humidity nearby. I wouldn't leave mine on an appliance in the kitchen. I'd opt for an actual desiccant like silica. If you have a new jacket or pair of shoes you can find a packet in there. It's a long shot but rice also works in a pinch.
If that fails I'd send it to the OEM and play stupid. I don't think there are other LDIs in the device but if there are, I don't believe your provider would charge you a replacement fee because you checked the only one that's accessible. Just check it out with the respected technical department you talk to before sending it on, or ask a retail rep if your provider has a store or kiosk at a nearby mall. Just say you normally keep it in your pocket or in a protective case and boom, screen got messed up.

Same thing happened to mine, def the computer or fridge is a great way to get rid of the water. But only dry heat!
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Yeah, it doesn't seem that huge problem, just give it some time and warmth
Some people have heated the (electric) oven up to 40-50°C and put the phone there, but I would recommend that only if any other method doesn't help..

Dry rice or silica dessicant. Take out the battery and stick it in there for a few days and it will be good as new.
Don't heat it, it won't work any better than this method.

Well I let it dry on top if my cable box and I happy to report all but four very very little dots dried up. I've learned my lesson and will only be doing dry installs for now on.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

ddgarcia05 said:
I was putting on a screen protector and the water got to the screen now the lower part of the screen is very white. Still very readable. What do ya'll recommend I do?
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THE WATER? What water? Why on earth were you using water as part of this process?

Weaseal said:
THE WATER? What water? Why on earth were you using water as part of this process?
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Some of these clear body shields are wet-applicant. They come with a little thing of liquid adhesive that you apply first. I've been around phones long enough to know that they don't play well with water, so I've steered clear, but I know plenty of people who don't have issues with them.
For the record, every wet-applicant protection system I've ever seen explicitly states that you should only apply it with the battery out and leave it out to dry for ~48 hours (to prevent exactly this).

Yes but this is my only phone and there's no way I can not use the phone for that long.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

ddgarcia05 said:
Well I let it dry on top if my cable box and I happy to report all but four very very little dots dried up. I've learned my lesson and will only be doing dry installs for now on.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
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Click to collapse
Haha, very creative. I wouldn't even think to use a cable box as the heat source even though I've been running one of those laptop cooling fan bases upside down on top of mine to vent the heat that was killing hard drives.
ddgarcia05 said:
Yes but this is my only phone and there's no way I can not use the phone for that long.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
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When messing around with phones to the degree that most of us do, it's always a good idea to keep a cheapo backup around.

ddgarcia05 said:
Yes but this is my only phone and there's no way I can not use the phone for that long.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would highly recommend picking up a cheap backup - you never know when you'll need it. Typically you can just snag the cheapest prepaid phone that T-Mobile offers, they usually have something for $20 or less. Toss the SIM it comes with and just keep it around for an extra. That way, if something were to happen with your main phone, you've got *something* to keep you going until you can figure out a replacement.

the orange bandit said:
I would highly recommend picking up a cheap backup - you never know when you'll need it. Typically you can just snag the cheapest prepaid phone that T-Mobile offers, they usually have something for $20 or less. Toss the SIM it comes with and just keep it around for an extra. That way, if something were to happen with your main phone, you've got *something* to keep you going until you can figure out a replacement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, and if this is not your first T-mobile phone, you can just go back to the old phone for a day or two while you wait.

Mine had the same thing from a paper cup leak onto the table my G2 was sitting on. It didn't resolve with the rice/heat tricks but T-mo switched it out under warranty. No down time because they ship the replacement and you send the defective one back in the same box.

Get closet dehumidifier. It's at Walgreens in the hardware section. It comes in a plastic tub and you put it in your closet to remove moisture from your clothes. They're little white beads in a basket with a cup underneath to catch the moisture. Put your phone in an enclosed space with that.
If the water was clean it should leave no residue. If it was soapy then you will probably have marks left over afterwards
:-(
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Swam with my phone for 20 min

On my last day on holiday I forgot to take my phone out of my pocket before going to the swimming pool. Now it's soaked and looks bricked. Does anyone knows if there it's a chance of it working after it's dried up.

If the phone was off and the battery was removed as soon as possible. Another major factor is how pure the water is - sea water will kill your phone unless you wash it out with water with no (or as almost none) salts in it.
The phone was to be allowed suffient time to dry out. Placing it under a gentle heat (ie near a lamp) and with those silicon bags that it equipment comes with or with rice. You are normally talking about a week for drying out time.

I've heard of dripping wet phones drying out and being okay, so it's a possibility.
There's all the usual airing cupboard/bowl of rice/little crystal packs you get in your trainers/bag of salt suggestions, but I think the most prominent one is to be 100% sure that ALL moisture has gone before you try turning it on again.
Have a search through the forums, and not just this phone as this is obviously not a phone specific problem. There's plenty of advice out there.
Good luck mate - I hope you get it working again.

TA123 said:
On my last day on holiday I forgot to take my phone out of my pocket before going to the swimming pool. Now it's soaked and looks bricked. Does anyone knows if there it's a chance of it working after it's dried up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
open the back panel take evry thing out
dray it
dray the phone from back with an hair dryer with medium heat
for one hour
put it outside in the open for 4 hours
again one hour with hair dryer
and pray a lot
this is what save my nokia n95 ....so be optimistic
In my case I was saving a child from drowning ...so maybe it was an angel that thought it is not a good day to kill my phone
(try doing a good thing before the process)
good LUCK

20min is a long time for the phone to be in the water
It will also depend on if the phone was on or off when it went for a dip.
if it was off, there is a small chance it could be ok, leave it for a week to air and then cross your fingers.
if it was on, id take a guess that your goose is cooked.
sorry to hear bud.

Thanks a lot for all support! Well the phone was on :-( but the water was fresh. Anyway we have already checked out so no access to a hair dryer. Rice is not available until we're back to England this evening. Will report back if the phone survives.

Dissamble your phone completly (tutorial on youtube), place the mobo in a oven @ 100 degrees C for 5 a 10 min
Try first to dry your board with a hairdryer

I once fixed a friends (cough) iphone that was full of dirty water. Stripped it down, put the main components in clean water to wash it out, then put in a 50 degree oven for an hour. Left if over night then reassembled. Worked a treat afterwards, so there is hope. The secret is to give it plenty of time to dry out.

Use distilled water to rinse. Or even better, isopropanol; no baking needed.
Sent from my GT-I9100M using XDA App

it looks it's fried :-( I disassembled it and dried up but it does not show any signs of life. Will try to call my travel insurance company tomorrow to see if it's covered.

hahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahah
LMAO!
TRULY SORRY for loss, but your story cracks me up.

ops.. use rice for save it.

emeky said:
ops.. use rice for save it.
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Click to collapse
It was covered with rice for the whole night without any results

U need to cover it with rice and put it in an box u can close so no air would come in
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

just_nos said:
U need to cover it with rice and put it in an box u can close so no air would come in
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
it should be perfectly dry after everything that has been done to it.

I would be tempted to take it apart and leave it for a week it 2 to dry out. There's a good chance it will work again as long as you don't turn it on while its still wet. If it was salt water or water with chlorine wash the phone with clean water well while in pieces. It shouldn't cause any damage doing this. Its best to remove all salt & chlorine as to prevent long term damage.

Sorry to be the dictionary police but its kinda a habit of mine, swimmed with makes no sense, I think you were aiming for swam.
Sorry about your phone dude, I know its a pain when it happens. Good luck with it all.

yusuo said:
Sorry to be the dictionary police but its kinda a habit of mine, swimmed with makes no sense, I think you were aiming for swam.
Sorry about your phone dude, I know its a pain when it happens. Good luck with it all.
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Oh, I was so heart-broken to watch my grammar

TA123 said:
it should be perfectly dry after everything that has been done to it.
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Click to collapse
It takes a Minimum of 2 weeks to cure a water damaged phone. If it has salt in it, it wont work at all. IN such a case you should have rewashed it with clean water. You also need to keep it air tight with DRY rice inside a airtight box for 1 to 2 weeks. This will make sure all the fluids are extracted from the machine.
It can feel dry, but it does not mean it actually is. Also, DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT charge the phone with the battery in it after a water accident for the first time again.

Well, both of my insurance policies explicitly exclude mobile phones .
So it is now like either the phone will survive or I will have to use my old Hero for the next 12 months.
So I washed it again to make sure no chlorine left and put it in a tightly closed box with a lot of yummy rice
Anyway, I do not hold my breath. I think I fried it when I thought it is dry and was trying to switch it on.

my note fall in the toilet :-(

hi!
my note fall in toilet in friday morning before i went to work, i blow air from an hairdryer but it still acting like crazy. then i put it in a bag with rice, it become better. the only problem is that the screen is blincking like +- screen brightness, now i have it in a bag with 2 silica gel bags that come in example shoe package , is this good ? do you think my phone will be like before:-(

Should have put in rice immediately and left for at least 24 hours
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

Rice for 24 for sure, then up close to a light bulb for several hours to get some heat in it.
Sent from my ADR6300 using xda premium

I feel your pain
Most importantly, turn it off and don't turn it on until you are sure it's completely dry
Silica gel is good. I've used alcohol to save an android phone in the past (HTC Magic) after it fell into a toilet (with the added bonus of sterilizing it!) but YMMV with the Note. I filled a quarter of a ziplock bag with 99% alcohol, dropped in my phone and shook it up. In theory, the fluid alcohol should replace the water molecules along the circuit board, but will evaporate at a much faster rate. After a few minutes, I removed the phone, gave it a good wiping and let it air dry for about 12 hours, then to be safe put it in a bag of rice (same effect as silica gel) for another day and a half. The phone still works.
But I'd recommend this as a last resort - try the silica gel/rice treatment first.

DO NOT PUT IT IN RICE!!! THATS A WIVES TALE! THE DUST FROM THE RICE WILL CAUSE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS... I own a mobile device repair shop... turn it off first and foremost. Most electronics turn themselves off when they get wet... they don't get fried until you turn them back on. Take it apart as far as you can and sit it under a source of dry air (aka A/C) and leave it for ATLEAST 2 days (preferably a week). You need to take the back plate off. You can find tutorials on how to do it online.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

baaj said:
I feel your pain
Most importantly, turn it off and don't turn it on until you are sure it's completely dry
Silica gel is good. I've used alcohol to save an android phone in the past (HTC Magic) after it fell into a toilet (with the added bonus of sterilizing it!) but YMMV with the Note. I filled a quarter of a ziplock bag with 99% alcohol, dropped in my phone and shook it up. In theory, the fluid alcohol should replace the water molecules along the circuit board, but will evaporate at a much faster rate. After a few minutes, I removed the phone, gave it a good wiping and let it air dry for about 12 hours, then to be safe put it in a bag of rice (same effect as silica gel) for another day and a half. The phone still works.
But I'd recommend this as a last resort - try the silica gel/rice treatment first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything else here is dead on... just omit the rice.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

falluja said:
hi!
my note fall in toilet in friday morning before i went to work, i blow air from an hairdryer but it still acting like crazy. then i put it in a bag with rice, it become better. the only problem is that the screen is blincking like +- screen brightness, now i have it in a bag with 2 silica gel bags that come in example shoe package , is this good ? do you think my phone will be like before:-(
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stop watchingporn on the toilet.... jk
yup rice for 24 hours or bust

daddymatt said:
DO NOT PUT IT IN RICE!!! THATS A WIVES TALE! THE DUST FROM THE RICE WILL CAUSE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS... I own a mobile device repair shop... turn it off first and foremost. Most electronics turn themselves off when they get wet... they don't get fried until you turn them back on. Take it apart as far as you can and sit it under a source of dry air (aka A/C) and leave it for ATLEAST 2 days (preferably a week). You need to take the back plate off. You can find tutorials on how to do it online.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wives tail? I RESPECTFULLY disagree. Worked for me and my wife and countless others
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

i hope the silica gel will help. the phone was normal a while after the rice but then it started blinking then

What is the logic of using rice?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

JulyDerek said:
What is the logic of using rice?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Draws out all of the moisture
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

falluja said:
hi!
my note fall in toilet in friday morning before i went to work, i blow air from an hairdryer but it still acting like crazy. then i put it in a bag with rice, it become better. the only problem is that the screen is blincking like +- screen brightness, now i have it in a bag with 2 silica gel bags that come in example shoe package , is this good ? do you think my phone will be like before:-(
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
baaj said:
I feel your pain
Most importantly, turn it off and don't turn it on until you are sure it's completely dry
Silica gel is good. I've used alcohol to save an android phone in the past (HTC Magic) after it fell into a toilet (with the added bonus of sterilizing it!) but YMMV with the Note. I filled a quarter of a ziplock bag with 99% alcohol, dropped in my phone and shook it up. In theory, the fluid alcohol should replace the water molecules along the circuit board, but will evaporate at a much faster rate. After a few minutes, I removed the phone, gave it a good wiping and let it air dry for about 12 hours, then to be safe put it in a bag of rice (same effect as silica gel) for another day and a half. The phone still works.
But I'd recommend this as a last resort - try the silica gel/rice treatment first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good Lord! It's surprising how many people have dropped their phones in the toilet! Needless to say, I am never touching someone else's phone again.
This one time a colleague of mine dropped his iPhone pouch in his pants at the toilet at work. He thought he lost it. All this time it was stuck to his butt crack & he found it the next day! LOL. I have never touched his phone since.
Lesson learnt... Think twice before bringing somebody else's phone to your face.

You should close shop.
I've done the rice thing at least 20 times with friends and family. Worked everytime .
Most important thing Is to be patience. Take battery and leave it alone for a few days.
daddymatt said:
DO NOT PUT IT IN RICE!!! THATS A WIVES TALE! THE DUST FROM THE RICE WILL CAUSE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS... I own a mobile device repair shop... turn it off first and foremost. Most electronics turn themselves off when they get wet... they don't get fried until you turn them back on. Take it apart as far as you can and sit it under a source of dry air (aka A/C) and leave it for ATLEAST 2 days (preferably a week). You need to take the back plate off. You can find tutorials on how to do it online.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Galaxy Note using xda premium

Bucket of rock salt?

*Roleplaying CSI*
I guess this victim has mixed herself...
... with a ****ty kind of company.
YEEEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

There are plenty of desiccants out there that work MUCH better than rice. I think most people preaching the rice route have only done it that way. They don't know if they'd just placed it anywhere with a supply of warm, dry air and waited, it would've worked just as well. If you want to use a REAL desiccant, you can get a product called DampRid at most hardware or grocery stores. It's a plastic tub with anhydrous calcium chloride in the bottom, underneath a perforated plastic plate. Just pop the phone in and snap the lid on.
Personally, I'd just disassemble as far as you feel comfortable and place in a warm dry area for awhile. A rinse with 99% isopropyl alcohol wouldn't hurt, either. But step one is always remove the battery first!

falluja said:
hi!
my note fall in toilet in friday morning before i went to work, i blow air from an hairdryer but it still acting like crazy. then i put it in a bag with rice, it become better. the only problem is that the screen is blincking like +- screen brightness, now i have it in a bag with 2 silica gel bags that come in example shoe package , is this good ? do you think my phone will be like before:-(
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LoL...what were u really doing in toilet with d note???
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App

Put it in your dryer, on heavy duty. That always does the trick for me!

Yumunum said:
Put it in your dryer, on heavy duty. That always does the trick for me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are kidding right?Won't the heat destroy it?

Remove the battery
I think only one poster implied it... REMOVE THE BATTERY as well as drying it out.
Even if you turn it off there is still current being drawn from the battery - else the power button would never work.
Then follow the excellent advice here - esp the alcohol route - and hope.

App for systemcheck

Hey,
Last weekend my phone got wet (was completly sunk in water) but after drying everything seems fine. I still cannot believe it myself but yet i couldnt find any damage (except the waterseals).
Now i wanted to know if there is an app to test the sensors and anything possible? Couldnt find any on market.
Iam running cyanogenmod 7.2 stable, so there are also some developeroptions...but nothing that says 'yes okay the sensor responds and give me normal values' .
Does somebody know anything?
Thanks
knighToFdemonS

Make sure you backup everything. It'll probably die in a few weeks when corrosion starts inside...
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda app-developers app

I jumped on a pool with the phone in my pocket.. yeah stupid but anyways, I had my phone battery out, sim out and SD card and sunk it all in rice for about a day, your phone should turn out fine aside from stains on your screen which will eventually clear up a little. My phone is still running great.
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda app-developers app

Uh sure corrosion ... sounds bad...i hope it wont die... i gently dryed it with a fan and held it a long time bodywarm.
I was on a festival and at the stages when heavy rain starts and my tent got completly drowned (phone was off for batterysave).
As i pulled it out the water it vibrated 3 times as the water run out. I instantly took out the battery. One day later we got home and i used the fan.
After another hour cooling down, it booted up with some flickering lights but everything works. Flickering lights are
gone now, too.
I just wanted to ask if theres a developers or engeneers app for a healthcheck^^ perhaps some memory is damaged i dont know of yet or something like that.

Best bet is to open er up and properly clean and dry everything you can. To avoid corrosion and to be certain it's dry

a little offtopic but, is the Desire Z actually waterproof? there aren't any dump***es on youtube testing it

mazdarati2 said:
a little offtopic but, is the Desire Z actually waterproof? there aren't any dump***es on youtube testing it
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Click to collapse
Doubt it, but mine was literally submerged in water for maybe a minute, and my phone works the exact same. Rice man, works wonders.
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda app-developers app

Bowl of rice, nice idea...
Is there any tut how to open the G2? I tried myself but got stuck after 2 screws...couldnt find another and case wouldnt open^^'
And no, G2 is not waterproof...at least there is no commercial that says so^^
My one was at least half an hour fully under water (not a bit was out of the water), but it was switched off.
As I pulled it out of the little lake in my tent it vibrated 3 times (perhaps an automated protection of the electronic circuit? if too wet sensor switches off the whole circuit?) and i removed the battery in panic.
Then i didnt turn it on for 2 days. One day dried open air at the festival and the second day i gently used a hairdryer to get rid of the water under the display.
Its still like a miracle for me...never thought it would even turn on again.

not waterproof
there are three t5 torx screws, then you need a plastic pry tool or guitar pick to open the case. search youtube for a video like digitizer replacement and you'll see how to do it
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium