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Pretty sure I just ruined my iPhone 4S.

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BSsBrolly

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I spilt some water on myself, while my phone was in my pocket and it didn't seem like I got any on my phone. Then I plugged it in to charge about 20 or so minutes later. I came back to my phone and saw that it wasn't charging. Also Siri kept opening on its own. I unplugged my phone and took the case off to find a bit of moisture between the case and the phone.

Long story short, I believe water got into the charging dock and then ruined my phone when I tried charging it. I can't shut it off because it just restarts on its own shortly after. No warranty and I bought it about a year and a half ago.

Couple questions; First, any known fixes? Second, will I be eligible for an upgrade even though it haven't been 2 years since I bought the phone?
 
I think the water sensor is still in the headphone jack. Shine a light down there and see if there's a white dot or pink. Pink means the warranty is void because of water.

Gunloc said:
Remove the battery and put it in a bowl of uncooked rice for 24 hours. It will wick away the moisture.
Click to expand...

uh....
 
Gunloc said:
Remove the battery and put it in a bowl of uncooked rice for 24 hours. It will wick away the moisture.
Click to expand...

this works so much.

my buddy once dropped his phone in the toilet(I didn't ask) and he put it in rice for a day and it worked fine afterwards.

minus the battery removal. He had an iphone also.
 
BSsBrolly said:
I spilt some water on myself, while my phone was in my pocket and it didn't seem like I got any on my phone. Then I plugged it in to charge about 20 or so minutes later. I came back to my phone and saw that it wasn't charging. Also Siri kept opening on its own. I unplugged my phone and took the case off to find a bit of moisture between the case and the phone.

Long story short, I believe water got into the charging dock and then ruined my phone when I tried charging it. I can't shut it off because it just restarts on its own shortly after. No warranty and I bought it about a year and a half ago.

Couple questions; First, any known fixes? Second, will I be eligible for an upgrade even though it haven't been 2 years since I bought the phone?
Click to expand...



Shit, all of that sucks ass.

As to your last question, believe it or not attempt to hit your local Apple store. Depending on the fates, they may just up and replace your home outright. I had them replace my iPad 2 after 9 months with a badly scratched screen (my nephew accidentally skated on the fucker across my tiled floor). They didn't have to do anything, and yet I got a brand spanking new tab out of it. These stories are not uncommon. I was just there to check on possible front glass replacement. :D
 
BSsBrolly said:
Couple questions; First, any known fixes? Second, will I be eligible for an upgrade even though it haven't been 2 years since I bought the phone?
Click to expand...

Try the previously mentioned rice thing first, for sure, since it may save the phone. You have to check with your carrier to see if you're eligible for an upgrade or not, since various things can play in to how many months they require before you can upgrade (my primary line can upgrade a few months before the secondaries, for example.)

Worst-case, Apple will usually just replace the phone with a refurb for $200 as an out-of-warranty repair. Which sucks in that it costs $200, but is an option if you want your phone back and can't upgrade.
 
Stick a fork in it, it's done. I heard the rice method only works if you haven't tried turning it on after exposure to water. But I'm no expert.
 
Gunloc said:
^ I'm not even sure how fake toilet spiders relate to what I said.
Click to expand...
I think it was a lame joke that you "failed" in your advice giving.

Because come on, everyone had carried out an in depth teardown of an iPhone 4S.

*seriously, it's just sad nerds, laughing at you for not pouring over teardown videos of iPhone's. Believe me, you're on the less embarrassing side of the fence*
 
NinjaBoiX said:
I think it was a lame joke that you "failed" in your advice giving.

Because come on, everyone had carried out an in depth teardown of an iPhone 4S.

*seriously, it's just sad nerds, laughing at you for not pouring over teardown videos of iPhone's. Believe me, you're on the less embarrassing side of the fence*
Click to expand...
How strange.
 
Isn't it quite cheap to get an out-of-warranty replacement from Apple?

If you own an iPhone that is ineligible for warranty service but is eligible for Out-of-Warranty (OOW) Service, Apple will service your iPhone for the Out-of-Warranty Service Fee listed below.
iPhone Model Out-of-Warranty Service
iPhone 5 £ 186.44
iPhone 4S £ 146.44
iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS,
iPhone 3G, Original iPhone £ 126.44
Click to expand...
Not that bad, better than any other manufacturer.

Second, will I be eligible for an upgrade even though it haven't been 2 years since I bought the phone?
Click to expand...
Phone up your network.
 
Just make sure it's long grain wild rice and not that Minute Rice shit.

It will really draw out the subtle, earthy flavors of your iPhone's battery.
 
Trouble said:
I think the water sensor is still in the headphone jack. Shine a light down there and see if there's a white dot or pink. Pink means the warranty is void because of water.



uh....
Click to expand...

There's also a water damage indicator in the charging dock, and there's one on the main board.
 
I fully submerged in iPhone for a few seconds. It acted trippy, but was fine maybe a day and half later.

Give it a couple of days and see if it doesn't go back to normal.
 
I'll echo Krypto's sentiment about just taking it to the Apple Store. I took my 4S there earlier this week because my sleep button had gotten jammed. The process was anything but extensive, haha. Basically, the dude tried pressing the sleep button a couple times, said, "Yeah, it's jammed" and went to get me a replacement phone. No twenty-questions, no opening it to see if I'd removed the battery or anything like that.

Maybe you'll get lucky? Apple's swamped this week with the post-Christmas return/purchase boom, so odds are they won't double-check all of the details. Just tell them what's acting screwy (maybe don't mention the bit about spilling water on it) and see what happens. Worst case scenario, they tell you they won't replace it for free and you're in the same exact situation you're in now.

I stuck my whole phone in rice over night. It's starting to take a charge! I can't believe that worked...
Click to expand...

Whoops, didn't see this! Congrats on the save. That's always a huge relief when you can fix your busted electronics without spending a bunch of cash.
 
Gunloc said:
Remove the battery (if you can/are allowed to) and put the phone in a bowl of uncooked rice for 24 hours. It will wick away the moisture.

eHow article
Click to expand...

I've never found the rice to be necessary. It's always the batteries that seem to need drying out.

Heck, one time I even fell in the pool while trying to acquire the signal on a GPS. Even though it was lying in the deep end for a couple minutes, was good as new once the battery dried.
 
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