emergency Help, my Samsung A30 wont reboot after I cleaned the screen with a damp cloth?

[Android Central Question]

As per above. I dont understand. I didnt even submerge the phone, it simply wont turn on. It is meant to be ip68 rated !!!!

 

[CellyPhoner]

Im wondering maybe the Sim adapter tray has moisture, would that brick the phone?

I see these tests where the guy is submersing the a30 and no issues. Mine not so lucky. I honestly think a lot of people probably feel the phone is water resistant due to such tests.

 

[B. Diddy]

Rule of thumb -- keep any kind of water, even if it's a damp cloth, away from electronics. Only clean with alcohol-based products.

Try pressing and holding Power for about 30 seconds to see if anything happens. If not, you can try this method: [GUIDE] Oh, no! My Phone got Wet! - Android Forums at AndroidCentral.com

If the phone still doesn't work, then you'll either have to pay for the repair, or just buy a new phone. If there's any sign of damage or water exposure, Samsung won't honor the warranty and tell you you'll have to pay for the repair.

 

[CellyPhoner]

If the phone still doesn't work, then you'll either have to pay for the repair, or just buy a new phone. If there's any sign of damage or water exposure, Samsung won't honor the warranty and tell you you'll have to pay for the repair.

Thanks Diddy, you are the diddy alright.

Will they tell me I have to pay the repair or anything BEFORE they do any work, or after?

Is there any chance of repairing myself? I have seen how to get it apart with a glue gun.

RE Moisture, it seems you only need a tiny amount to have a phone circuit break, right?

I wish I had gone the V30 now its getting android 9.

Really learnt to only listen to the actual manufacturer not reviewers. When you are broke like me and really physically damaged, it hurts even more.

I was getting ready to see it and go for the Huawei 20x with the new 5x OIS Zoom. And I love big phones that have a stylus, I can do lightroom work on the go and even hook it up to a monitor. But the money I have been given for my birthday will now be on another crappy phone :-(

 

[B. Diddy]

I think they'll notify you first that if the repairs will cost you money, and give you the option to accept the cost or just have them return it to you unrepaired.

I doubt you'd be able to repair it yourself, since it's not really clear what's damaged. If there truly is water damage, that can be fairly random or widespread, so replacing one component might not be enough.

Electronics hate moisture. So yes, if any moisture got into what's supposed to be a sealed electronic environment, it wouldn't take much to cause problems.

You don't always have to spend money on a brand new phone. If you look on places like eBay or deal sites like Dailysteals.com or Woot.com, you can often find refurbished (or sometimes brand new) flagship phones from 1-2 years ago at significant discounts.

 

[CellyPhoner]

You don't always have to spend money on a brand new phone. If you look on places like eBay or deal sites like Dailysteals.com or Woot.com, you can often find refurbished (or sometimes brand new) flagship phones from 1-2 years ago at significant discounts.

This is what I was going to do when I bought the A30. I really wanted an OLED screen. But now Ive experienced how slow the A30 is, I think Id put speed above screen, within reason. I was looking at the v30 or a refurbished S8 originally.

If they find its water damage, will they be able to fix it, and do you think it will cost less than the originally price of the phone?

I was thinking if I got it back, I could try bathing it in alcohol as per your link. And or replacing the entire motherboard.

But maybe the motherboard isnt the issue.

So, I will have 2 options

1. Have a technician repair the phone

2. Get the phone back and try to fix via the alcohol solution as per the link

It will come down to cost, if it costs close to what I paid for it, then trying to fix it myself and buying another phone makes more sense.

 

[CellyPhoner]

My main concern with the v30 or S8 is they will only have 1 update, to 9, which only has 7 months or so left......

 

[CellyPhoner]

Looking around at other phones. Feel very gutted that I have lost $350AU in one move, when I wanted to seel it and upgrade anyway.

Will the technician charge the same amount as the phone is worth?

 

[CellyPhoner]

like Dailysteals.com or Woot.com

I wish, Im not in the US.

So interesting, when I blow dry the top area around the ear piece which has a camera directly under it, the camera loses its foggy ness. This must be where the water got in.
Now the question is, how do I dry it if its fogging up so quickly after the heat clears the lens up?

 

[CellyPhoner]

I got the back off and yep. water up the top

 

[Mike Dee]

I got the back off and yep. water up the top

Based on your description of how you wiped the phone I don't see how that much water could have entered it. Possibly just a coincidence that your problems started happening after wiping and the water was there from a prior event.

 

[CellyPhoner]

Based on your description of how you wiped the phone I don't see how that much water could have entered it. Possibly just a coincidence that your problems started happening after wiping and the water was there from a prior event.

It is odd. The only water I noticed was on top of the middle frame and was one micro drop.

I have taken both the mother board and the bottom board off the body.

There was no water on the mother board, but I am going to keep the pieces in a box for 24 hours, then put it back together and see what I get.

If know joy I feel I am owed an explanation from Samsung technician. ??

 

[CellyPhoner]

So Ive had the cellphone stripped down for over 24 hours now, i really only noticed one drop of what up near the earphone and selfie cam, but nothing around the motherboard or the bottom board etc.

Should I put it back together now and test it?

If it still has issues I think this cant be water damage..... should I take it to samsung ?

 

[B. Diddy]

You can't rule out water damage by simple visual inspection. The fact that water was inside means that it could have affected any number of components. Circuits that have shorted out don't necessarily look burnt.

 

[CellyPhoner]

Yes but I didnt see any water at the circuit level only on the cover above the selfied camera.

The Liquid Damage Indicator (LDI) is showing all X's, no pink which is what it turns once it has water damage. It is on the mid case about an inch above the battery underneath where the SIM card slot is.

 

[CellyPhoner]

OK, the SUB board has an LDI too, this one is pink, which means water has gotten through to the sub board some how, maybe through a crack in the power socket, its actually brilliant how they build these to protect against water even not ip68. So I have dried the sub board thoroughly. If it does not work I will bath it in alcohol to dry it etc. if that doesnt work buying sub boards at least are cheap enough.

 

[CellyPhoner]

Well I fixed it. I dont know why by the mid frame would not go on properly on one side, so I took it off again but bent and snapped the frame, ugggh. well you cant see it in its soft gel case. but not sure how I could sell it and explain why the mid case has cracks that you cant feel but yeah, its not perfect.

now i wish i had just waited 24 hours before turning it on. you live and learn.