WET CELL phone--help!!!

[vtoodler]

<p>I did the stupidest thing the other day---I accidently got my cell phone wet. It happened when water spilled in my bookbag. Since, I also put my cell phone in my bookbag, the thing got drenched. Now, the screen won't show up, although the cell phone will still turn on. Is there any way to fix this problem, or is the situation irresolvable. (ie--can I buy any new parts, will time fix it....)</p>

[zantedeschia]

<p>best to take it to your dealer or some kind of professional. You probably can't fix it by youself.</p>

[athlonmj]

<p>I had almost the exact same problem this summer. We were hiking and then we all decided to jump into this nice clear pond. Problem was, my cell phone was still inside my pocket. I didn't notice it started vibrating in my pants (ok that sounded really wrong, haha). What you do is, take out the batteries and let it try for a little while. At first, the screen was all messed up when I tried to turn it on, and I could dial other people but they couldn't hear me. Then it wouldn't turn on at all. So, I just let it sit there for a week or so. I thought my cell phone died so I had my mom buy a new one and ship it to me ASAP.... but after I got my new cell phone, I was messing around with my old one and it worked perfectly again.</p>

[im_blue]

<p>If you get anything electronic wet, you should let it dry completely before turning it back on.</p>

[jenskate1]

<p>once i ran my cell phone through the washing machine! I just left it in my pocket...</p>

<p>yeah, i had to buy a new one. it stunk.</p>

[vtoodler]

<p>~~bump bump~~</p>

[Caro]

<p>Cell phone companies will not give you a new phone if you got it wet. But you could say you lost it/it was stolen and depending on the company they might give you a new one. This happened to my friend.</p>

[sepi111]

<p>I hate it when that happens! Happened to me, too!</p>

[vtoodler]

<p>bump please</p>

[CC_Admin]

<p>It sounds like the water permanently damaged the LCD (the screen). I don't think you can fix it (unless you're really good with a soldering iron)...you might as well get a new cell phone. Do you have an old cell phone sitting around the house (i.e. one of those ancient Nokias...I have a few of those lying around somewhere...)? You might be able to get one of those activated by your carrier. Christmas is coming up...might as well ask for a new phone then.</p>

[sophistry]

<p>Try putting it in a bag of rice. Hurry up! We might be able to still save this thing.</p>

[FunStuff]

<p>I don’t think she’d still want it anyway lol</p>

[sophistry]

<p>Are you kidding me? Flip razr phones are all the rage with today’s young whippersnappers.</p>

[swimcatsmom]

<p>I have also heard that the bag of rice thing can work. Put it in a bag of rice for several days. Supposedly the rice absorbs the moisture. Worth a try anyway.</p>

[FunStuff]

<p>I haven’t seen a razr in 2 years lol.</p>

[musicallylatin]

<p>Here ya go… Two different sites thoughts. </p>

<p>

When a cell phone gets wet, our first instinct is to toss it in the garbage, convinced that it will never work properly again. Before you give in to frustration, consider taking the following steps to help you save a wet cell phone and the expense of purchasing a new one.</p>

<p>Remove The Phone From The Water</p>

<p>The first step is to remove the phone from the water as soon as possible. The less time the phone spends submerged, the greater chance it has of being saved. The plastic covers that come with cell phones do provide some protection, but it takes a mere twenty seconds or less for water to get through these barriers and start causing damage to your phone.</p>

<p>Once you pull the phone from the water, remove the battery immediately. Cutting power is a crucial step when attempting to save a wet cell phone. There are many circuits inside cell phones that can survive getting wet, but only if they are not attached to a power source.</p>

<p>If your cell phone comes with a SIM card, remove it promptly. Do not heat the card, simply pat it dry with a soft towel, and put it aside until the rest of your phone is dry and back to working order. The good news is that SIM cards recover well from water damage. If for some reason, your phone doesn’t survive the accident but the SIM card does, there are plenty of places that sell unlocked cell phones. Simply place your SIM chip into the new phone and go.</p>

<p>Let Your Phone Dry</p>

<p>The next step you must take to save a wet cell phone is to allow the phone to dry. A great method in providing an optimum drying environment is to set the phone on the vent found on the back of a television set or cable box. The low heat emitted will gently dry your cell phone. Another trick to help speed drying is to place the phone in a bowl of dry rice. This will help draw out the moisture. You can also try placing the phone in a plastic baggie with a few silica packs that come in purchases such as shoes and electronics. Silica, like rice, absorbs moisture.</p>

<p>The important part of the drying process is to place the phone uncovered, in a warm, dry place and allow the moisture to evaporate completely. Another alternative is to place the phone on an air conditioner. The cold air will not damage the phone and the air from an air conditioner is very dry allowing the water to evaporate quickly.</p>

<p>Drying should take approximately three days at which time you can check to make sure the phone is clean and dry. It is at this time that you can re attach the battery and check if the phone works. If it doesn’t, wait a few more days and try again. If the phone still doesn’t work, take it to your local dealer, they may be able to repair it. Be prepared; getting a cell phone wet will void your warranty and most cell phones are equipped with a water damage indicator so the dealer will know the phone has been H2O compromised.</p>

<p>Alternative Drying Methods</p>

<p>There is an alternative way to save a wet cell phone that includes an alcohol soak. Alcohol is hygroscopic which means that it attracts water. Soaking your phone in denatured alcohol, or a 95% alcohol solution (regular rubbing alcohol is about 75%), soaks up all the water in the phone. When the liquid is dumped out, only alcohol, which will evaporate, remains. Make sure that the alcohol you use is denatured with only methanol as the chemicals found in other types can be damaging. This kind of alcohol can be purchased at your local hardware store. The alcohol soak may work best for phones that have been damaged by salt water or other liquids such as coffee.</p>

<p>Battery Caution</p>

<p>When attempting to save a wet cell phone, make sure you do not heat the battery as it could leak or even explode. Lithium-ion batteries are especially sensitive. In addition, many cell phones have plastic parts that can melt. Above all, do not try to save a wet cell phone by placing it in a microwave. You will destroy the electronic components and possibly the microwave in the process.</p>

<p>The above steps will help to save a wet cell phone, but be prepared. Often the phone will survive but the battery will not and the purchase of a new one may be in order. Good Luck!

</p>

<p>

Power off the device (if it’s not off already) and try to completely cover the iPod or iPhone in a bowl of rice. Rice being a natural desiccant will help absorb the excess moisture. Let it dry for at least 24 hours and DO NOT try to charge the device.</p>

<p>If your gadget has a removable battery, dry it separately to speed up the whole drying process…

</p>

[Alesteors]

<p>Lol do you guys realize you’re posting this more than 6 years later…?</p>

[anon67455021]

<p>take the battery out and put everything in rice to suck out the water</p>

<p>it might be too late though</p>

[musicallylatin]

<p>Damnit. I see the joke behind the resurrection, but I hate old threads being brought up again.</p>