FTM boot loop

[c0080900v]

So, after a minor water leak my ZTE has been constantly boot looping to FTM. I've already Googled around, but I believe the minor water damage(s) affected/borked my volume and power buttons, those buttons usually and sometimes work and don't function properly sometimes...

I've already tried volume down and power buttons together, as well as volume up and and power buttons together, and also just the power button, all during reboot attempts. It usually takes me a few tries to successfully boot instead of into FTM again like usual... Today it's taken me various countless reboot attempts since this morning up to this evening, it only booted once to the Metro PCS screen and it got stuck there, it's been countless FTM boot loop reboots after that..... Also, as I said, sometimes my buttons function properly, and sometimes they don't, so it's tricky for me to tell if my volume buttons are stuck or not when I reboot... Also, volume up and power buttons together just lead me to an empty black screen if that's supposed to boot me into recovery mode, I believe it's because of my badly cracked and damaged lcd/screen

Is there any way to fix/resolve it?

 

[5318008]

With water damage and a smashed-up screen, honestly it sounds to me like a new phone is going to be the easiest fix.

 

[c0080900v]

With water damage and a smashed-up screen, honestly it sounds to me like a new phone is going to be the easiest fix.

Oh, I know. As much as I want to, I'm almost all spent for the month already....

 

[COVFEFE]

If you're really against buying another phone, find some way to crack that rear cover off and bury it in a bag of rice. It sounds like water is shorting your hard keys somehow.

 

[c0080900v]

If you're really against buying another phone, find some way to crack that rear cover off and bury it in a bag of rice. It sounds like water is shorting your hard keys somehow.

The water damage happened like 2w ago or so... Would it be too late to leave it sitting in rice in hopes to try and save it?

 

[c0080900v]

Accidentally quoted myself...

 

[COVFEFE]

After two weeks its not looking good. When water dries up on a circuit board, it oxidizes (white powder looking stuff), spreads out and starts shorting out nearby components. I think your phone's vol up/down keys are shorting out.

It can possibly be fixed, but that involves cracking the phone open and using alcohol and cotton swabs to clean the oxidation. A bit involved....

 

[COVFEFE]

Forgot to mention that water damage destroys ribbon cables with thin gold plating rather quickly. Volume buttons are sometimes routed to the circuit board via ribbon cables, some are directly attached. I've fixed a lot of water damaged devices but unfortunately I've never opened up a Zmax. Opening the rear up and using rice will stop the damage from spreading, but will not fix what's already corroded from oxidation. So kinda will help, but won't.

Water in a warm dark environment, like a sealed phone will not dry up quickly in theory... So the rice *may* help.

If you have long fingernails, try wedging a thumbnail under the back cover starting on a corner. Guitar pick, butter knife will work too, but may nick the cover... Once under, slide thumbnail slowly around the perimeter of the case and see if it starts to open. DON'T completely remove the cover! You may damage fingerprint sensor. Just cracked open slightly is all you need for water vapor to escape. YouTube may also have a disassembly video that can help.

Your call lol... I'd say 50/50 chance it works, if you're brave enough

Good luck!

 

[COVFEFE]

If you do the rice thingy, please tell me if it works. Be sure to BURY completely in dry rice!

 

[messi2050]

Adb works just fine in ftm mode , just issue this command ( adb reboot system ) and it should take you back into system
Regards.

 

[c0080900v]

Adb works just fine in ftm mode , just issue this command ( adb reboot system ) and it should take you back into system
Regards.

My device still boots into FTM....

 

[Krlypumaa]

My device still boots into FTM....

do adb reboot recovery  then reboot into system

 

[c0080900v]

Actually, I didn't do any of the rest of above and the FTM boot loop eventually stopped and went away on its own

 

[loonycgb2]

Actually, I didn't do any of the rest of above and the FTM boot loop eventually stopped and went away on its own

Maybe because the volume buttons board has completely went out.

If it works for you great!

Hopefully you can fix or replace it soon when the money is good.

 

[c0080900v]

Maybe because the volume buttons board has completely went out.

If it works for you great!

Hopefully you can fix or replace it soon when the money is good.

I'm just going to go for a LG K20 next month and later relace the ZTE ZMax Pro's screen some other time

 

[allie66346]

Forgot to mention that water damage destroys ribbon cables with thin gold plating rather quickly. Volume buttons are sometimes routed to the circuit board via ribbon cables, some are directly attached. I've fixed a lot of water damaged devices but unfortunately I've never opened up a Zmax. Opening the rear up and using rice will stop the damage from spreading, but will not fix what's already corroded from oxidation. So kinda will help, but won't.

Water in a warm dark environment, like a sealed phone will not dry up quickly in theory... So the rice *may* help.

If you have long fingernails, try wedging a thumbnail under the back cover starting on a corner. Guitar pick, butter knife will work too, but may nick the cover... Once under, slide thumbnail slowly around the perimeter of the case and see if it starts to open. DON'T completely remove the cover! You may damage fingerprint sensor. Just cracked open slightly is all you need for water vapor to escape. YouTube may also have a disassembly video that can help.

Your call lol... I'd say 50/50 chance it works, if you're brave enough

Good luck!

Okay so I have the exact same problem but mine is rather new and not cracked at all. Like there has been no damage done to the phone except what happened today, like an hour ago. I had it in my pouch on my hoodie while I was hiking, and my water bottle had been in there as well. Like I said this was an hour ago, is there any thing that could help me? if I put it in rice would it not be water damaged? Like it seriously is just switching from the FTM screen, to the ZTE screen to the Metro PCS screen. Its annoying and I'm trying to send out e-vites for a party this weekend.