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My iPhone Water Damage - FYI Only

Yeah ok but...

As I just posted on another thread https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=7146798#post7146798 I NEVER directly exposed my phone to liquids beyond perhaps body sweat from my front pant leg. there were occasions when I pulled it out of my pocked and a small amount of moisture was condensated on the screen. But give me a break.
Having read the entire thread I would say that if you dropped any electronic device in the water: your fault, your problem. If you painted the indicator white, yeah we all pay for cheats. That said, I certianly would tell anyone who is having problems with their phone and the indicator is red and you have not submerged or otherwise even exposed the phone to what would be typical exposure (i.e. fog, sweat, humidity etc. I question rain, that seems a bit dangeruous to me) PAINT AWAY!!! the red (supposed to be white) spot is easily located in the main porton the back side.
 
water damage

Is it true if you have water damages to you Iphone and it is less than a year old the cost to replace it through the Apple store is $599.00!!!!!!! I was told there is no way to fix the phone.
 
A simple solution

Apple could easily fix this problem if they really wanted to. What is wrong with injecting the entire assembly with silicone sealant or epoxy to make all water sensitive components completely protected? Okay so you cannot repair or replace components after doing this but is that happening anyway? Water damage forces you to dispose of the iPhone in most cases so the ability to repair or replace parts is moot anyway. This would make the iPhone last longer and less prone to disposal because the number of iPhones to be replaced would be significantly reduced. This fix would likely provide additional protection from other damage such as dropping. Why doesn't Apple do this? It is simple, they would sell a lot less iPhones. If it is possible to do this perhaps someone could start to perform this service on new iPhones making them "protected". Another way to potentially protect the iPhone that is much stronger than a ziploc bag is to place a condom (unlubricated latex of course) over it and tie the end if you can get over the stares from other people. Condoms are extremely strong and resist punctures and tearing.

I have 2 iPhones. One is mine and one is my wife's. The AT&T sales person did not tell me at the time of the sale that iPhones cannot be insured. I called and got the insurance and was charged on my next bill but also received a credit because they cancelled the insurance.

There is a lot they don't tell you about iPhones which allows them to sucker in a lot of unsuspecting consumers and free such consumers of a lot of cash. Apple appears to be following the pattern of Microsoft and Wal-mart of becoming a huge and greedy entity with a never satisfied hunger for money no matter how big it gets. Look at how many things are becoming proprietary for Apple devices. The latest I read about was new products that come with earphones containing a chip that will only allow genuine Apple earphones to work with the device. If they break or become lost you are forced to pay a premium price for the replacement item. The message "this device is not designed to work with this accessory" will become the all to familiar statement of the decade. There really only one reason why Apple makes it this way; to bring in more cash.
 
Surely some enterprising person could come up with some removable rubber plugs/covers for the headphone and dock sockets.

I'd buy some!
 
gftx73 said:
According to Apple, and the piece of paper I have in my hand from them, and the hours spent on the phone trying every work around I can think of - there is no credit of any kind - quoting all the things I read on this forum about $199 deals, $250 credits, etc. - BELIEVE me - it may have existed a million phone sales ago, but there is nothing of any sort you will get from Apple if that indicator is red. They used to have a lot of different deals - each costing you more to replace - now they have NONE.

No, I did not contact RapidRepair.com. Why? I thought of taking photos and posting them on here - but why? That is a lot of effort - would it bring my phone back? I figured I would just post on here for fellow owners - take it for what it is - but with a new domain name and logo, they could be someone else tomorrow, right? If I can let it go - don't let it bother you - whether you have a 'sack' as so eloquently written above, or not ;)

Oh well. You live and learn - this is a great little device, but a little rubber gasket around the inside... Maybe in iPhone 2.0? Haha.
Click to expand...

FYI and other people, before sending your iphone/ipod to a repair center (I know it’s to late for you) make sure the website is a establish one. Fallow these steps to find out how long the company has been around. Note: if the company hasn’t been around for at lease a year, don’t bother sending out your iphone/ipod

1. Go to http://www.whois.net they are a registry that holds ALL the information on ALL domain names.
2. Enter the website’s domain name in the first row (WHOIS lookup). Click the GO! Button
3. Scroll to the line near the bottom that says creation date. That is the date the domain name was created.

Note: If it’s not at lease a year old, don’t trust them. I mean, I wouldn’t.
 
slplcsw said:
Is it true if you have water damages to you Iphone and it is less than a year old the cost to replace it through the Apple store is $599.00!!!!!!! I was told there is no way to fix the phone.
Click to expand...

FALSE. If you want to buy a brand new one, yes, that's the unsubsidized price. But apple will sell you an out of warranty replacement for $199, no matter the model. I've just been going through this myself. All the info is right there on Apple's website.
 
iphone soaked in oil

I don't like the love histories that I have read here, but this doesnt mean that I dont love my iphone :( I will be short and dry.
MY iphone is soaked in oil, any sujections? I was reading that maybe thinner or alcohol is good when any wierd stuff get inside your cellphone will clean it, but they didnt mention if is ok for the iphone, so please help! its been three days I suck it must of it with an small bacum , thanks
 
Michael7k said:
Sorry about the water damage. My accident was was dropping a Razr in the toilet. Didn't work after that one.

I read many have had luck with placing the phone in a bowl of dry rice after being in the water. Surprisingly it absorbs a lot of the moisture out of the phone.

Good Luck!
Michael
Click to expand...

Hey!! thats new advice that I have heard. I hope I never need to try this one out though!!!:)
 
Gin Gin said:
FALSE. If you want to buy a brand new one, yes, that's the unsubsidized price. But apple will sell you an out of warranty replacement for $199, no matter the model. I've just been going through this myself. All the info is right there on Apple's website.
Click to expand...

That's true now, but that policy wasn't in place in April when they posted that...
 
Problems

So I got my first iphone about 5 months ago. Its a 3g and it worked perfectly until a couple days ago. I got a new case for Christmas and started using that. Then I dropped the phone on concrete. Iv'e done so before but nothing ever happened. Immediatley after this I noticed the power button no longer worked. Basically my phone doesn't turn off. A little later the silent, and volume controls just stopped working. While researching I found this forum and learned about the water damage indicator so took a look and saw right away the inside was pink even though Iv'e never submerged it in water I have however left it near sinks and used it with damp hands before. Not the best idea, I know It's my fault. So maybe this all finally took its toll. I do vaguely remember noticing something pink on my iphone before and looking back this is probably what I saw. So now I'm not sure what to do are there any at home methods I should try? Or just take it into the apple store and see what they say? Oh I should also mention everything else works perfectly.
 
thesofiarose said:
So I got my first iphone about 5 months ago. Its a 3g and it worked perfectly until a couple days ago. I got a new case for Christmas and started using that. Then I dropped the phone on concrete. Iv'e done so before but nothing ever happened. Immediatley after this I noticed the power button no longer worked. Basically my phone doesn't turn off. A little later the silent, and volume controls just stopped working. While researching I found this forum and learned about the water damage indicator so took a look and saw right away the inside was pink even though Iv'e never submerged it in water I have however left it near sinks and used it with damp hands before. Not the best idea, I know It's my fault. So maybe this all finally took its toll. I do vaguely remember noticing something pink on my iphone before and looking back this is probably what I saw. So now I'm not sure what to do are there any at home methods I should try? Or just take it into the apple store and see what they say? Oh I should also mention everything else works perfectly.
Click to expand...

As others have stated..... take it to the Apple Store and pay $199 for a replacement.
 
I've used this method with both a blackberry and an iphone and it worked both times. Immediately after dropping the phone in water get a hair dryer and with it set to the higest hot setting blow it into any openings such as the earphone jack the charger jack etc. Do this on and off for at least an hour.
 
Desired feature for 4G iPhone: WATERPROOF

Now wouldn't that solve a lot of problems? :eek:
 
I have a couple of things to add to this thread.

Putting your phone in rice actually does work but I would say it probably doesn't work for all phones in all situations and I wouldn't count on it by any means.

If you have an iPhone I would highly recommend getting an Otter Case. After destroying not one but two iPhones, (both instances alcohol related, one dropping it in the rocks at the lake and one leaving it sitting face down and some ***** spilled beer and left it) I decided to get the best case I could find.

The otter case covers it in hard plastic and the screen protector is built in, and then there is a rubber cover that encases the plastic. It's supposed to be waterproof, and they have gone to great lengths to make it that way, but I don't think any case will make a phone submersible by any means.

It makes the phone a lot bigger, and the rubber makes it hard to get out of your jeans, but in my opinion it goes a long way to keeping it safe!

--

I highly recommend getting an insurance policy from Worth Ave Group. They cover water damage on iPhones and there is no delay before your policy goes into effect. They compare pretty favorably to the other big guys, and they are cheaper.

Here's an insurance coverage comparison to look at.
 
OK folks - from an iPhone user in Asia --> iPhone users of the world unite!

Here is my $0.02 regarding water damage as I managed to salvage my iPhone from a water bottle leak in my backpack with my poor 3GS taking an unscheduled bath.

Many points on this thread are helpful, this is what worked for me to revive my phone (and the screen was already dimmed out by the time I had time to react - which had me totally and utterly depressed btw).

1) DO NOT TURN ON ... or TURN OFF THE PHONE if it is on! This is probably the most critical point to remember. As mentioned before, electric currents running through the phone while there is water present is likely what fries a lot of components.

2) Take out your SIM card

3) Shake out excess water (depending on how submerged your phone was).

4) 5-10 minutes with hairdryer (on low setting) -- flipping over from top vent to bottom vent (i.e. open up the SIM card hole and through the bottom opening)

5) Rice. Thank God I have plenty of rice in the house (hey, I'm Asian! =). I stuck it in a bowl of uncooked rice (with tight cover) for about 10 hours or so.

6) Day + 1. Next day I realized that I could make use of my electronic drybox. I nuked the silica gel in the box and placed the phone (still inside a bowl of uncooked rice sans the bowl cover) inside the drybox for another day. Blew dry the phone for another 5-10 minutes before placing it back in the rice.

7) Day + 2. Took it out of the rice bowl which was in the drybox. Blew dry the phone for another 5-10 minutes. Held my breath.

Voila. Worked like a charm. Screen 100%. Sound 100%. Calling and video 100%. No apparent side effects.

I nervously went to my local provider as it was still under warranty to get it replaced. Call me lucky, but despite being called out on the pink/red water marker -- I got the dang thing replaced -- though I'm 99.99% sure that if it didn't, the phone was still good to go.

Good luck folks!
 
First, I just want to say that I've been there.

Last week I dropped my phone in my coffee.

Felt like an idiot.

Did all the research I could to somehow fix the phone. Put it in rice blah blah didn't work. I checked out some forums about putting chlorine on the water indicator make it white or put white out. I decided to put white nail polish to make it glossy like the actual indicator is.

Today, I went to the Apple store near my house and when the Apple Genius asked me what happened, I decided I couldn't go through with what I was planning and just told him that the phone dropped in a cup of coffee. He kind of just stared at me like I was joking but I nodded like an idiot. "Yea, I'm an idiot." and he just smiled and told me he would be right back. About five minutes later, he came back and told me that the repair would cost about $220 but because I was honest and didn't try to pull any shady business, he would replace it for free. I felt so guilty and grateful.

I officially will not pull any shady business EVER. I'm not saying that if you're honest that they will help you out, I'm just saying that sometimes it pays to be honest and karma HAS to exist. I'm just so grateful to have my 3gs back *cries* Best of luck to you though. It really sucks if this happens to you and I know how you feel. All I can say is best of luck really. Apple has good employees, they're not trying to screw you, and will do what is in their power to help you out.

Take care. :D
 
how weird, i use mine in the rain or after washing my hands and it's def gotten wet but it works fine and i used a magnifying light and didn't see any pink in the jack
 
I Love my iPhone!! Been very lucky.

I have had my 3g 8gig iPhone for around 2 years now. I have dropped it many times with and without a cover on it. It has got a small hairline crack in the screen from this but it does not effect use at all. The first time I had water damage I dropped it in a glass of water I had next to my bed in the wee hours of the morning. Woke up in a shot and dried it in a towel. The screen was flickering so I immediately turned it off. It took a few tries to turn it off but I was lucky. Then put it screen down on the heat register in my house and left it for 24is hours. Seemed to start up fine. No ill effects. The second time I had water damage I had it in my back pocket when I used to little girls room. Strait into the toilet as I sat. I fished it out. This time my reaction time was not as quick but I did the same thing. Dried it. Shut it off, left it on the heat register for 36ish hours. When I tried to start it it was a bit finicky. And there was a big water mark on the screen. Turned it off and gave it over night on the heat register again. Turned it on in the morning and it started up with no flickering and the water mark was smaller. So anyways, It has been around 3 months and the phone is working fine. Still charges and the water mark went completely away.

Like I said. Very lucky.

Good luck to you all.
 
water damage

My phone dried out and is working but the screen is dark-sometimes I have to hold a flashlight to the screen to see it. There is just one small water dot on the screen that won't dry out. Doesn't apple know that it's whiteout/paint, whatever? I would try this but I am scared they will find out and keep my phone.

FYI: For those of you who think this is stealing, get a life, Apple is the one who is robbing us blind. They won't repair the phone because it is bought within a year; however, they will sell me a new one for $550. I don't understand why Apple is so afraid of water damage. Kudos to the other person who wrote that Apple will fix all other problems, ie. cracked screen, etc.!!!
 
ssssnic900 said:
My phone dried out and is working but the screen is dark-sometimes I have to hold a flashlight to the screen to see it. There is just one small water dot on the screen that won't dry out. Doesn't apple know that it's whiteout/paint, whatever? I would try this but I am scared they will find out and keep my phone.

FYI: For those of you who think this is stealing, get a life, Apple is the one who is robbing us blind. They won't repair the phone because it is bought within a year; however, they will sell me a new one for $550. I don't understand why Apple is so afraid of water damage. Kudos to the other person who wrote that Apple will fix all other problems, ie. cracked screen, etc.!!!
Click to expand...

Im not sure on the need to bump a 2 year old thread. But do what ever you feel is right. If that means going to apple and trying to get a replacement fine that is your choice.

on a side note My friend Drunkenly stumbled in to a bucket of water saturday night and has successfully dried out her phone and it is back and working fine no. Luckily her sister took the phone off her before she tryed to turn it back on and put it in the house.
 
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