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Iphone 4 Water Sensor - UPDATED

I had a case of misdiagnosis with the sensor on my iPhone 3G, went to Regent Street to see a Genius because my Wifi wasn't working, Said it was Liquid Damaged, and they couldn't do anything about it. Went home extremely angry and upset because I didn't expose it near Water, don't take it to the Bathroom etc.

Got home, called up Applecare who linked me to the Liquid Damage page as above, I checked the sensors myself are they were both White as can be. Went back another day and spoke to another Genius who replaced my iPhone and the other 'Genius' doesn't work there anymore.

Anyway, as countless others have pointed out - Apple's sensors are shocking and their policy should be nothing like this, although others have reported that it will go back to White after a few days sometimes (Moisture?).

Anyway Good Luck and let us know what they say, speak to a Manager if the Genius refuses to offer you a replacement. Don't be angry with them, as it's Apple's policy and they don't make the rules, if you talk calmly with them they will probably offer you a replacement.
 
As ive said, hopefully apple will take into consideration the fact i reported it when my phone was only 2 days old, i will ask them to check the internal sensors as the earphone jack one is still white (as far as i can see, plus there is no reason for it to be red), there is no way, unless it was delivered faulty that the internal ones can be tripped.

I would send it back to orange but have been told there stocks are very limited.

I will update on friday afternoon what has happened
 
The sensor is centered in the middle of the dock, and is almost impossible to see even with the Apple thingamajig (my technical term) that they use to look at the sensors. I happened to be in line at Apple when someone had water damage, and I asked to use the thingamajig to view his sensors. So, from what I saw and unless they've moved the sensor, that doesn't look like the sensor. The one I saw was about a half-inch wide and centered in the dock. Can you post a pic looking slightly downwards with the iPhone centered and not at an angle like you have in the pic.
 
Must have been the angle they were taken as it is dead centre, here is the best i can do looking straight down, holding it facing the light

4767982850_47b717de1d_b.jpg
 
just an update, been to the genius bar, they accepted it could be faulty and issued me a new phone.
 
Same thing happened to me as well when I received my 3G....the dock connector was spotty at best...couldn't figure out why. After a couple of weeks went in to Genius and they showed me corrosion on the dock connector in the phone (was actually green).

He scrubbed it with a tiny brush and said there was nothing he could do about it since it was water damage....I carefully explained that the phone was only two weeks old and never went anywhere except in my pocket and on my desk at work and was NEVER exposed to water. And since the problem existed from day one, it must have been exposed to high humidity or water when packed or during shipment.

Genius guy acted like he didn't believe me, but in the end he did replace the phone right there.

Now I always check the contacts at the connection point periodically for damage/corrosion.
 
Tripped Sensor

The cup holder in my car with a starbucks Ice Tea tripped my sensor, I have a replacement coming from apple since I dont want to deal with the genius bar in CT. What is likely hood they will only charge me 199.00. Everything else works perfect and the headphone sensor is fine.
 
Glad you got a replacement!

That sensor was most definitely red. To contrast, here's a non-tripped sensor:

iP4_sensor_white.jpg


This is spite of the phone cycling a lot last week between air conditioned enviornments indoors, and record temps and humidity outdoors.
 
Just pissed

I just had my sensor tripped by an IDIOT who thinks he knows what he is doing. Went to a kiosk at the mall and had Ghost Armor installed. They spray a solution to activate the glue on the armor and sprayed inside my dock. So now I have a pink sensor. I told the guy at the kiosk that he just voided my warranty and he said it had nothing to do with my warranty. I went straight to Apple and was told I was screwed. I'm going to call Ghost Armor main office and if I don't get nowhere i will file a small claim lawsuit.
 
lrbello said:
I just had my sensor tripped by an IDIOT who thinks he knows what he is doing. Went to a kiosk at the mall and had Ghost Armor installed. They spray a solution to activate the glue on the armor and sprayed inside my dock. So now I have a pink sensor. I told the guy at the kiosk that he just voided my warranty and he said it had nothing to do with my warranty. I went straight to Apple and was told I was screwed. I'm going to call Ghost Armor main office and if I don't get nowhere i will file a small claim lawsuit.
Click to expand...

At the mall with my Apple store there's a kiosk like that virtually across the hall from Apple. I'd never take one of my devices to them - I see them spraying whole iPads with solution.
 
lrbello said:
I just had my sensor tripped by an IDIOT who thinks he knows what he is doing. Went to a kiosk at the mall and had Ghost Armor installed. They spray a solution to activate the glue on the armor and sprayed inside my dock. So now I have a pink sensor. I told the guy at the kiosk that he just voided my warranty and he said it had nothing to do with my warranty. I went straight to Apple and was told I was screwed. I'm going to call Ghost Armor main office and if I don't get nowhere i will file a small claim lawsuit.
Click to expand...
Consider class action -- the lawyer can look for others.... but first call or write them...

https://ghost-armor.com/contactUs.php

If you don't get satisfaction from them, post here and elsewhere warning other GA customers to check for pink sensors and warn others to avoid these products. Put together a web page and a list of people who this has happened to and bring that to a lawyer.
 
Just another post about the warranty and sensors..

Went in with a broken dock, and dock sensor was completely tripped. (Phone wouldn't sync right, gave errors, etc. etc)

Never dropped in water or anything.. they said they'd look inside and they did, all other sensors were clean.

Since it was the bottom and tripped and directly related (broken dock) they said they shouldn't replace it, but wouldn't be hard on me, and they did.

Second time something like that has happened, had my 3gs replaced twice to dock related, and only the dock sensors have been tripped.

They will open it up and check the internal sensors, and most likely replace it.. based on my experience.
 
I don't know if someone already stated this but there are also sensors INSIDE the iPhone 4 on top of the headphone/connector sensors. Was told this by a Genius himself. So they can tell the difference between a slightly tripped sensor and a full emersion.
 
Chupa Chupa said:
The water sensors are a scam. It's been reported that you do not need to get the phone wet to trigger them. Just being in humid environ will work fine. Even rain mist when your phone is in your pocket does the trick. Best part is if you paid for AppleCare you would have been better off buying your pals a round of 7n7s.

Good luck w/ the Genius telling you anything other than "ha ha."
Click to expand...

The problem with water sensors is companies like Apple use them incorrectly. They see them trip and that is it. Void warrenty.

The correct way and the way the manufactures of the sensors even state is the if they sensor is tripped it means that it is possible that their could be water damage and they should look more closely at the parts for signs of water damage. The sensor manufacturers even state tripped does not equal contact with water.

it should be used see sensor tripped look for other more confirming signs of water damage.
 
8CoreWhore said:
Consider class action -- the lawyer can look for others.... but first call or write them...

https://ghost-armor.com/contactUs.php

If you don't get satisfaction from them, post here and elsewhere warning other GA customers to check for pink sensors and warn others to avoid these products. Put together a web page and a list of people who this has happened to and bring that to a lawyer.
Click to expand...

I emailed before I posted yesterday and was contacted by Ghost Armor. They said they will make it right. I will update on Tuesday. I believe with the proper training it is a worth while product. As far as senor inside the Iphone4, there is only 2. None inside as per Genius guy. Thanks for the help 8corewhore
 
made whole

Here is the update.
After getting our schedule right, We met up at an apple store. The Ghost Armor rep made an appointment. Had the phone tested and confirmed water damaged. Apple offered a replacement for $199 plus tax. GA rep paid for it. I signed a paper stating that I was made whole. Overall I was very impressed. I thought it was going to be an uphill battle. So, should I put it back on??
 
Chrisland said:
Hi Guys,

I to experienced this and another all to common problem with my headphone jack. Apart from liquid damage triggering the environmental sensor i also got fluff or lint in the headphone jack which tricks the phone into thinking its activated the hands free function. No-body could hear me talking on blue tooth!

Apple have/had no products to stop this happening which is why I invented the "icatchi plug".

I also didn't want to buy a $30 phone cover with 2 little plugs that go missing in the first few days!

If your looking for a cheap insurance policy for under $7AUD this is pretty good value.

:apple:Check out icatchi.com:apple:
Click to expand...

you invented plugs? wow. I actually got 2 of them free with the cheap case I got from switcheasy.
 
br0adband said:
That poster is meaning perhaps if you used some White-Out on the sensor... like painting it white, somewhat. Bad idea but it's not surprising someone would offer such a ridiculous suggestion, really.
Click to expand...

what's so ridiculous about it. It's red, you want it to be white. Paint it. problem solved.
 
Yep, a little white-out does wonders. I used it with my 1st gen ipod touch and was able to get a replacement because it didn't turn "red" :p
 
Same sensor problem

I just recently started having issues with my battery not holding a charge and when I took it into verizon they said the iPhone 4 had gotten wet - pink sensor. I know it's never gotten wet so they recommended I go to Apple and talk to them. They were great and they gave me a new phone at no charge. Thank you Apple!! But now I'm at a loss as to making sure this doesn't happen again because I have no idea how it got tripped barring humidity. Can't do much about that. BTW - apple contends humidity will absolutely not cause it to trip. I don't agree IMHO. Any ideas??
 
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