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

iPhone 3GS water-damage backlight problem!

L

lawlotovcocktai

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 13, 2009
14
0
When I was in Canada, I dropped my iPhone 3GS in a water drain, and it essentially got drenched. After submerging it in rice for seven hours and letting it sit for three weeks, it works absolutely fine - albeit one small problem.
The backlight is completely non-functional. It won't react to anything at all, I've restored, everything.
Now, all that's left is asking you guys for help. HELP! How can I get my backlight to work again? Is it fixable?
 
Would that work? You're a Demi, so you probably know a million times more than I do, but I thought that the backlight wasn't in the screen? Now I'm confused.
 
so stupid of me

iphone fell in water for few seconds last night.. managed to fish it out.. everything seems to be fine.. only at times it will blinks and speaker is not working.. went home.. and did the stupidest thing ever!! i've plugged it in to my laptop hoping the speaker will work???

this morning, screen is very dim.. like almost black.. but then, still able to text and all the apps seems to work.. speaker too! (wonder why)

just read the posts regarding leaving it in sealed tupperware with rice.. (should have read it yesterday! :( ) trying it now..

wondering is there any other thing that i should do? anyone could comfort the stupidity of me? (i'm so depressed right now..as it's a gift from my dad)
 
just putting it in rice will not solve anything. you need to take the phone completely apart if you know how. the individual parts need to be placed in rice that way. then clean them real well with rubbing alcohol. they need to sit in the rice for a few days not 7 hours!
 
Iphone 3gs back light problem, help please.

Hi,

I accidentally put my Iphone 3gs into a damp pocket and now the screen is very dark. I dried the phone out and everything now works normally except the screen which is still very dark. I tried adjusting the brightness settings and this has no effect. I did some research and found that the problem was probably the back light and bought a new 6R8 coil and IC109b chip.

I replaced the 6R8 coil and the IC109b chip but it hasn't worked. The terminal fell off the coil when soldering but i managed to attach it to the coil wire instead. When i did a continuity test afterwards it indicated that the coil was working fine. Unfortunately this hasn't made any difference though and the screen is still dark. I would appreciate some advice on what to do next. Would you replace the coil again or could it be the actual LCD screen? If i can fix it without spending too much i will, otherwise i will wait for the Iphone 5 which i believe comes out soon.

Thanks in advance

Jack
 
Rice is a TEMP fix
Here’s what you need to do.

Completely disassemble the phone.
Remove the main board
Remove the metal covers and clean up the main board.
Use either an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, or just a toothbrush and alcohol.
Use a magnifying glass to see where there is corrosion.
Pay attention to the LCD connector area, pins should be nice and shinny.
Check around the coil area, and the components next to it.
Like the 109b ic, it’s the small black square next to the coil.
There’s three solder points on both sides. The side closest to the outside gets corrosion between them and that can cause the backlight to not work.
Just because the water indicators are still white means nothing.
Look on the backside of the board too.
Water gets between the batters and the board, so clean the underside too.
Try cleaning it real good first. If no backlight, check the LCD.
Try your LCD assy. in another 3gs and vise versa. It could just be the LCD.
But clean the board no matter what.
If you need any other help contact me.
I sell the coils and the 109b ic’s if you need them.

tinner105@roadrunner.com
 
please help

. Would you replace the coil again or could it be the actual LCD screen? If i can fix it without spending too much i will, otherwise i will wait for the Iphone 5 which i believe comes out soon.

Thanks in advance

Jack

hey Jack as you see already the IPhone5 didn't came out as many people (including myself lol) want to.
Here is my question, did you solved the problem with the iphone black light, i saw you in another website (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3262932?start=0&tstart=0) that u replaced the LCD already, and said it didn't work, i just want to know if you make the iphone work as normal again?? cause im in that situation right now and i dont know what to do, i was thinking in replace the LCD screen but i want to be sure it will work again :confused:
 
iPhone 3GS dropped into water

My 3GS was dropped in water, managed to turn it off/ and after cleaning the motherboard transistors beneath the metal plates with alcohol and brush/ let it dry / assembled it / everything was ok except the backlight which was not. I could work on it under good light conditions, So:
I had the same question, to either change the coil 6r8 (eventually 109b) or the display; fortunately I had someone's display to try and ..surprise!

I bought the DISPLAY and after replacement everything is back to normal. It was not the coil.
 
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