Help Water Damage Strip on 2nd Evo

[viggs74]

Hi All,

So this morning, I put my phone on a little pile of clothes on my bathroom sink. I take my shower, get out and it's still sitting there.

I tool around for ten minutes, and of course, after sitting there perfectly for almost 25 minutes, I go to brush my teeth with the water running and doesn

 

[Vincent Law]

Yeah, it's very much possible that when you attempted to restart the phone you killed it. That was the worst possible move you could have made.

Start praying the rice fixes it. Generally the rule is to leave it in the rice bag for 24 hours straight.

 

[asaberan]

My water indicator strips are easily seen when taken the battery cover off. I'm on my second Evo, a refurb I got last week. The strips are in the same place as my launch day Evo I sent back.

 

[Never!?]

Electronics shouldnt be in the bathroom period. Maybe a hairdryer or curling iron after the humidity has left.

Chock this up as a life lesson. Probably time start looking for phone #3.

 

[sitlet]

Yeah, it's very much possible that when you attempted to restart the phone you killed it. That was the worst possible move you could have made.

Exactly, the STUPIDEST thing you can do is try to turn your phone on after it gets wet. If people just let it dry COMPLETELY for a few days, 90% of the time the phone will be fine. Because you tried to turn it on with water still in the phone, you likely shorted something out, and it will never work properly again.

As for the water strips, just because you cant see them doesnt mean they arent there. Dont try to scam sprint by telling them some bogus story. Call Asurion and pay the deductable, and lesson learned.

 

[viggs74]

I don't have insurance.

 

[nu2android]

I don't have insurance.

Why? Its only $7 a month if it protects against daily mishaps then I think its worth it.

 

[darkkterror]

As others have said, you shouldn't have tried to turn the phone on so soon. No matter how much water or exposure time was involved you should have pulled the battery immediately then placed the phone in a bag of uncooked rice for at least 24 hours if not longer.

I will also point out, for future reference: never bring your phone into the bathroom, especially if you're taking a shower. High humidity can trigger the liquid damage indicators.

 

[xtravbx]

After it dries out, it will most likely work. Don't worry too much.

 

[sitlet]

After it dries out, it will most likely work. Don't worry too much.

Probably not, again if there was water on any of the boards when he tried to turn it on, I guarantee you it shorted something out. Once something shorts out, there is no way to fix it.

 

[viggs74]

Hey guys, it works!!!!!

Everything seems to running normal this morning. I could only make it to 23 hours in the rice before I couldn't wait any longer.

It was the longest 2 seconds of my life when I hit the power button until the screen lite up.

I added the insurance yesterday and think I will just keep it just in case something like this happens again.

 

[xtravbx]

Probably not, again if there was water on any of the boards when he tried to turn it on, I guarantee you it shorted something out. Once something shorts out, there is no way to fix it.

Read his next post. It works. Told ya so.

 

[Vincent Law]

Read his next post. It works. Told ya so.

It's called statistics. Just because you're right once doesn't mean you're right every time, or even the majority of the time. If it were true, people could go swimming with their phones.

 

[xtravbx]

Actually I've been working with boards and electrics for years.

A small amount of moisture will rarely kill something.

You can fully submerge electrical devices in distilled water.

 

[Vincent Law]

Actually I've been working with boards and electrics for years.

A small amount of moisture will rarely kill something.

You can fully submerge electrical devices in distilled water.

A. It wasn't a "small amount of moisture". It had water running out, not just bits of condensation or something.
B. Yes, distilled water. Somehow, I don't think the OP's faucet that he/she uses to brush teeth dispenses distilled water.
C. Also, even distilled water can be dangerous, as contaminants can be picked up from the board/case/etc and allow it to start conducting electricity.

 

[xtravbx]

And you'll see from my very FIRST comment in this thread - it will most likely work. I never GUARANTEED that it would not, like sitlet did.

So don't get on my case that I was right. I never guaranteed I'd be right - like someone else did.

 

[damewolf13]

The lessons to be learned here are:
1) Never take your phone in the bathroom with you even when you are taking a shower. Water damage counts even if it comes from steam.
2) Always a really good idea to get insurance at the time of purchase of any expensive phone. You may not need it, but accidents do happen.
3) If you are caught in a rainstorm, or some idiot pushes you into a pool with your clothes on (phone in pocket), do not try to restart your phone until hours after the phone has dried out in rice, and you are pretty sure there is no moisture left in it.

 

[Thefoodman52]

I had to get my first Evo exchanged (wouldn't update PRL, had every single hardware issue to date compiled from everybody on here, etc.), and when they were checking it out, the water indicator strip was half-activated on the bottom half of it where it's right under the gap of the back cover. Funny really, it'd never been near moisture. I always throw it on the charger in my room when I take a shower, if it's raining outside, it's in my pocket or left in the car, at work it's always in my pocket, I've never spilled anything on it... and I'd generally never had it any closer than a foot from a source of water or moisture. Made me scratch my head really... I think they're half-indicative as to real damage; more useful for determining major things like being dunked full-on in water.

 

[SamuraiBigEd]

High humidity can trigger the liquid damage indicators.

Yeah, mine were triggered by ambient humidity outdoors, 90%+ in south central Texas!

 

[Palmetto Fellow]

I've seen pictures of other's EVOs with the battery cover off, and there is a moisture sensor in the bottom right corner. Mine does not have this sensor either...I wonder if it was getting triggered too often...

As a manufacturer, I would put them all over the phone...so I don't know why they would take that one away.

 

[Aleister]

I also have water damage, everything is working except the touch screen is not responding. And i swear it got like 2 or 3 drops of water on it. must of hit some where important, Do you guys think the rice trick would fix my screen????

 

[JohnIl]

What a resourceful article! I’ve also come across these iLoc Cases that help prevent water and sand damage. Their great for around the pool beach and for things like camping. I got a batch of five for my friends and family for just a couple bucks. Try it out at iLoc Cases

 

[xkristixo]

I also have water damage, everything is working except the touch screen is not responding. And i swear it got like 2 or 3 drops of water on it. must of hit some where important, Do you guys think the rice trick would fix my screen????

This just happened to me today, i dropped my phone into the toilet and it turns on with a yellow light on the top but the touch screen doesnt work so right now i have it in rice, does yours happen to work now or what happened? im probably gunna need to buy a new phone