Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Dropped ip4 in sink full of water :(

SDAVE

SDAVE

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jun 16, 2007
3,620
668
Nowhere
So completely my idiotic fault, I'm on crutches right now and it slipped out of my hand and into a sink with full of water (no soap). :(

So immediately I wanted to turn it off and put it in a bag full rice. So I was able to turn it off after drying it and blowing the water out of the port and headphone jack. But then it turned on by itself and the screen started to flicker and turned off. Now the sides are getting really hot, even though I put it in the bag. I dare not to turn it on.

Anything else I should do?
 
Your best bet is to dunk it in a bowl of distilled water, then put it in a bag of rice to dry out. Hopefully that works. If it doesn't, you can get a refurb from apple reasonably cheaply to replace it (and potentially make a homeowners insurance claim for part of the cost).
 
Thanks guys.

It's still super hot, should I put it in non tap water?

Actually it's getting much hotter in the rice bag.
 
Leave it in the rice bag and put some silica packets in there from shoe boxes, they also help soak up moisture.

don't turn on your phone, leave it off for a week... everytime you turn it on your doing damage!
 
I would at least take the back off (only two screws). Put it in front of a fan. It will dry out much faster this way. Maybe even unplug the battery. :(
 
Don't have any screwdrivers that size :(

It's so hot right now I can't even touch it!
 
SDAVE said:
Don't have any screwdrivers that size :(

It's so hot right now I can't even touch it!
Click to expand...

cut your losses and pay Apple 200 bucks for another....it won't ever be the same...or if you can get it to work after about a week of drying I'd reccomend you take it to a RadioShack and sell it towards the purchase of another one...The Shack will buy it and most of their associates only know to look for cracked screens and physical damage when determining the condition...before selling it to them erase all data and settings so only the "connect to iTunes" screen shows
 
Distilled water is fine to use - they rinse circuit boards in distilled water at the factory. Tap water is no good - it's conductive.

My iP4 went through a load of laundry, so I put it in front of a hairdryer for 2 hours, and it started up. Screen dried out a day later and the only permanent damage is that my front camera doesn't work, and the phone won't shut off unless plugged into power (weird).

good luck.
 
COMtnBiker said:
Distilled water is fine to use - they rinse circuit boards in distilled water at the factory. Tap water is no good - it's conductive.

My iP4 went through a load of laundry, so I put it in front of a hairdryer for 2 hours, and it started up. Screen dried out a day later and the only permanent damage is that my front camera doesn't work, and the phone won't shut off unless plugged into power (weird).

good luck.
Click to expand...

I might like to point out that power is running threw them in the factory. Also distilled water that has been exposed to the air for a little while becomes conductive because it starts absorbing CO2 from the air and start containing carbonic acid so it contains ions that conducts electricity. Biggest thing about distilled water is it lacks any minerals that can be deposited when the water evaporates.
 
SAD*FACED*CLOWN said:
cut your losses and pay Apple 200 bucks for another....it won't ever be the same...or if you can get it to work after about a week of drying I'd reccomend you take it to a RadioShack and sell it towards the purchase of another one...The Shack will buy it and most of their associates only know to look for cracked screens and physical damage when determining the condition...before selling it to them erase all data and settings so only the "connect to iTunes" screen shows
Click to expand...

I'll probably do that..I will try taking it apart and seeing if I can dry it quicker.

If I go the radioshack route, won't they extend my 2 year agreement and I won't be able to get an iP5?

I probably shouldn't have blown air into the dock connector area, I was trying to dry it when it was off. :(
It turned on by itself and the screen started to flicker and then it shut off and started getting really hot.

One other thing I'm worried about is privacy. The phone is JB'd and I have a lot of personal info on the phone (notes, email accounts, passwords, etc). I'm worried that they might have access to it even if Apple takes it and refurbs it.
 
Sorry your phone is gone. The reason it's getting really hot is that the battery is short circuited. It will probably damage the circuits inside. Your best bet was to take it apart and remove the battery within the first few minutes when you noticed it was getting hot. Even if you manage to get it to work after all this your phone will slowly fail over few weeks one thing at a time as rust build up inside. Take it back to apple and pay for a replacement or just buy another off ebay or kijiji.
 
COMtnBiker said:
Distilled water is fine to use - they rinse circuit boards in distilled water at the factory. Tap water is no good - it's conductive.

My iP4 went through a load of laundry, so I put it in front of a hairdryer for 2 hours, and it started up. Screen dried out a day later and the only permanent damage is that my front camera doesn't work, and the phone won't shut off unless plugged into power (weird).

good luck.
Click to expand...

Ahh, this is the secret to longer battery life. :D
 
Sorry about your phone but if it was on when it hit the water, no matter how long you leave it off and put it in a bag of rice or water the phone is done.. It most likely shorted right when it hit the water.. Pay the $200 and get another..

Like I said, sorry about the phone but why people bring these devices around liquid in the first place is beyond me..


James
 
JForestZ34 said:
Sorry about your phone but if it was on when it hit the water, no matter how long you leave it off and put it in a bag of rice or water the phone is done.. It most likely shorted right when it hit the water.. Pay the $200 and get another..

Like I said, sorry about the phone but why people bring these devices around liquid in the first place is beyond me..


James
Click to expand...

I usually don't carry it around, but I'm on the crutches (fractured ankle) and got a call I was expecting, put it up so I could answer it, and it slipped :(

I just took everything apart, used air in a can, hair dryer and put it back together. Connected it to my MBP and it won't turn off.

Off to Apple :\

I just hope the person that gets it doesn't look through my stuff. I do have a password on it, thankfully, so hope they just restore it if it's the battery and give it to another person through their refurb program.
 
Update:

Just ordered an OEM battery, will wait to see if replacing the battery will help me at least boot it off so I can get the data off of it.

I will take it to the Apple store after that.

By the way, would an iPhone start without the battery in there? Just want to know.
 
Last edited:
SDAVE said:
Update:

Just ordered an OEM battery, will wait to see if replacing the battery will help me at least boot it off so I can get the data off of it.

I will take it to the Apple store after that.

By the way, would an iPhone start without the battery in there? Just want to know.
Click to expand...

How would the phone start or turn on with no battery in it?
 
I think he's talking about having it plugged in with no battery.

I don't know the answer.

It could be possible, if you're going to replace the battery yourself just go ahead and try it. Worst case it's going to cost you $200 plus the cost of the battery you bought.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back