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Dropped iphone in green tea, trying to change battery

D

dubina

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 17, 2012
74
0
My wife dropped her iphone in a glass of green tea. Now, it doesn't power on. I got a new battery and am ready to swap it in, but I have a problem.

Model is the iphone 4 model A 1387.

I have taken out the two star screws, no problem. I have tried to release the back panel per several video how tos. It should release up about 2 mm and then I should be able to lift off the back panel. Have tried, but no dice. The panel does not release. I tried to pry with a knife edge, but not too hard. No dice there, either, couldn't find much of a crack to get in.

Any ideas how to release the back panel in this situation?
 
Why are you trying this repair yourself? You should take it to an authorized Apple technician. iPhones are a PITA to take apart/put back together. If you're adamant about this self-repair I'd look for some how-to videos online.
 
@ \-\/-/

Why are you trying this repair yourself? You should take it to an authorized Apple technician. iPhones are a PITA to take apart/put back together.

If you're adamant about this self-repair I'd look for some how-to videos online.

I looked at some online videos and the battery swap looked like it would be easy to do. The only problem is that the rear panel doesn't pop up when I do the rear panel pop-up thing.

Re Ifixit.com video for iphone battery replacement.
 
@aggie

-aggie- said:
You're making a big assumption it's just the battery.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am.

It will cost me 30 bucks to fix the phone if the battery is the problem. The video shows the battery replaced in about ten minutes. I can easily follow those steps if I can get the back panel off.

I looked up a werb site that had hundreds of anectdotal cases of people dropping iphones in toilets, coke, tea, taking them swimming, all kinds of dumb stuff. Statistically, the repair that seemed to be most recommended and seemed to work most often was replacing the battery (with some clean-up inside the case for good measure). The pitch is that every iphone battery will eventually degrade in, say 18 months to two years...beyond its warranty period, so replacing the battery is no big deal. Same holds true for water damage, of course. No warranty after that. So my determination is to try to replace the battery.

But first, the back panel.

I am open to suggestions, of course. Use a hammer? Ha ha...but I was not amused.
 
dubina said:
My wife dropped her iphone in a glass of green tea. Now, it doesn't power on. I got a new battery and am ready to swap it in, but I have a problem.

Model is the iphone 4 model A 1387.

I have taken out the two star screws, no problem. I have tried to release the back panel per several video how tos. It should release up about 2 mm and then I should be able to lift off the back panel. Have tried, but no dice. The panel does not release. I tried to pry with a knife edge, but not too hard. No dice there, either, couldn't find much of a crack to get in.

Any ideas how to release the back panel in this situation?
Click to expand...

you need those tiny screw drivers, which you can probably get from ebay if you buy a fake back plate.
 
dubina said:
Nevermind,

I got the back panel off.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you're not using iFixit or one of the other tutorials to do this. Anyway, if you're not, it may be too late, since you risk damaging other parts when you take it apart (most notably stripping ribbon #3). Good luck.

BTW, an out of warranty replacement is $199. Keep that in mind, if you find the battery didn't fix it.
 
For submersion damage I'd pay Apple to have it swapped vs throwing away good money on half assed DIY repairs that have little chance of working plus possible long term reliability issues.
 
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