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franzik7

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 2, 2015
18
0
Hello,

My iPhone 5s fell into water. After that I put it into a bag filled with dry, white rice and closed the bag. Unfortunately, this procedure didn't help much – I still can't switch the iPhone on. If I connect the iPhone with iTunes, the Apple logo appears but the status bar underneath the logo doesn't proceed (see image). If the iPhone is not connected nothing happens if I try to switch it on.

Is it possible that the problem is that the battery doesn't work anymore? Does it make sense to invest in a new battery?

Does anybody have another idea what I could try?

Thank you very much!

Best regards

Franzik
 

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AFDoc

Suspended
Jun 29, 2012
2,864
629
Colorado Springs USA for now
How long was it in the rice? What made you decide it was time to take it out and turn it on?

Should be in the rice a minimum of a few days. Put it back in the rice and let it stay......Maybe it works in the end maybe not. OOW replacement is probably in your future.
 

franzik7

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 2, 2015
18
0
It has been in rice for more than three weeks and it is still in rice.
 

nox5

macrumors 6502
Oct 16, 2013
415
49
3 weeks is enough for water to permanently corrode motherboard. Instead of rice you should've opened iPhone asap and remove motherboard, disperse water with alcohol so it could evaporate faster using hairdryer.
 

franzik7

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 2, 2015
18
0
Okay, thank you very much!
Do you guys think that the battery might be still okay?
 

nox5

macrumors 6502
Oct 16, 2013
415
49
Okay, thank you very much!
Do you guys think that the battery might be still okay?

I had few water damaged iPhones and battery was never an issue but motherboard. Usually iPhone is stuck on Apple logo or charging battery logo but that battery is fine when transfered to a working iPhone.
When the iPhone is completely dead you might try new battery but not in this case.
Also 70% water damaged iPhones are not fixable and those that boot up have all kinds of issues like overheat,battery drain, camera flash issues etc.
 
Last edited:

franzik7

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 2, 2015
18
0
Okay, thank you! I wouldn't worry about any kinds of issues as long as I would get the data from my iPhone which hasn't been part of the last backup. Therefore I would like to find out if it's worth investing money (for example in a new battery).
 

nox5

macrumors 6502
Oct 16, 2013
415
49
Okay, thank you! I wouldn't worry about any kinds of issues as long as I would get the data from my iPhone which hasn't been part of the last backup. Therefore I would like to find out if it's worth investing money (for example in a new battery).

Forget about battery take motherboard out remove metal shields and stickers that cover chips on motherboard then clean the motherboard with toothbrush and isopropyl alcohol. Dry it put it back together and see if it boots up.
 

franzik7

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 2, 2015
18
0
You will void any warranty. If you fix your own phone apple will never service the phone.

Okay, thank you!
What if I don't have warranty/Apple Care anymore? Can I open the iPhone and send it to Apple later to get i replaced/repaired for ~280 Euro?
 

bigdaddy223

macrumors regular
Jul 15, 2014
125
2
Okay, thank you!
What if I don't have warranty/Apple Care anymore? Can I open the iPhone and send it to Apple later to get i replaced/repaired for ~280 Euro?

I don't think they will service the phone... I'd take it to a apple store for repair. IMO
 

IpadSC400

macrumors 6502a
Feb 7, 2013
641
6
A mile high
It's not dropping it in water that ruins the phone, it's USING the phone when it is wet (or the phone being on while wet). The connections will need to be cleaned in the least with isopropyl alcohol. Water is electronics worst enemy.
 

nox5

macrumors 6502
Oct 16, 2013
415
49
You will void any warranty. If you fix your own phone apple will never service the phone.

Lol there is no warrany anymore if the water indicators are pink

----------

Okay, thank you!
What if I don't have warranty/Apple Care anymore? Can I open the iPhone and send it to Apple later to get i replaced/repaired for ~280 Euro?

Yes they will replace it for the fee as long as they can read serial number on the motherboard and imei on outside case and find my iPhone is off regardless the condition of the iPhone. But if you plan the replacement don't remove shields and use compressed air instead after soaking it in alcohol.

https://www.apple.com/contact/
 
Last edited:

Vanilla Face

macrumors 6502
Aug 11, 2013
471
150
Lol there is no warrany anymore if the water indicators are pink

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Yes they will replace it for the fee as long as they can read serial number on the motherboard and imei on outside case and find my iPhone is off regardless the condition of the iPhone. But if you plan the replacement don't remove shields and use compressed air instead after soaking it in alcohol.

https://www.apple.com/contact/

Whether it is in warranty or not, Apple will not service a phone that has been opened by anyone other than Apple or an AASP. OP could have his phone replaced by Apple for the OOW cost, but Apple will not replace it if it has been opened by the customer or a third party. A 5s is still valuable enough that the OOW cost is a better bet than potentially having a junk phone by trying to salvage it. At this point the phone is probably toast anyway.

----------

Okay, thank you!
What if I don't have warranty/Apple Care anymore? Can I open the iPhone and send it to Apple later to get i replaced/repaired for ~280 Euro?

No, you can't. Apple will not service a phone that has been opened by a customer or a third party. "Not servicing" includes not replacing it out of warranty for the OOW price. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT IF YOU OPEN IT.
 

franzik7

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 2, 2015
18
0
Hm.... thanks, again! :confused:

If I send them my iPhone I will definitely loose my data on it, right?
 
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