S5 Water Damage - Phone won't power on, what can I do?

[AC Question]

S5 Water Damage - Phone wont power on

I have a S5. The charging port cover broke several months ago and I did not have it fixed. Recently, I did laundry and did not realize the phone was on the bed so it went through the washer. When loading the dryer I found the phone and it was dead.

Prior to sending it in the washer, the phone was on, so it clearly stayed on until it died in the washing machine.

When the phone was recovered, I could see water droplets inside the camera lenses. After a bit of research, I removed the battery and placed the phone in a sealed plastic bag with rice. After 3 days all of the water droplets were gone. I tried the following:

1. Powering on the phone. It was dead, no lights or anything.
2. Plugging in the phone. It was still dead. No lights at all.
3. I placed a friend's battery in my phone. The phone was still dead.
4. I placed my battery in a friend's phone. I was surprised to see the battery still worked. I charged it to 100% and my friend's phone works fine with that battery.
5. Next, I moved that battery back to my phone but it was still dead. Plugging the phone in did not help.

At this point I found a helpful video and opened the phone removing the glass display and separating the frame. I took a 91% alcohol solution to everything then re-assembled the phone. It is still dead.

The only other note is while separating the glass display the cables for the back button and multi-windows was cut. I can order that part and replace it and would be happy to do such if the phone otherwise worked.

What would be the most logical step? Would replacing the charging port help? Or since the phone does not power on with a full battery is the charging port irrelevant?

 

[Detectionable]

Re: S5 Water Damage - Phone wont power on

Take the battery out, put the phone in a bag of uncooked rice and silca gel packets if you have any, stick it in a warm dry place for a week

Try again after a week

 

[can3gxw]

Re: S5 Water Damage - Phone wont power on

Your phone is probably completely dead at this point. Water and the minerals in them tend to cause electronics to short out and get cooked. Add to that your comment about a cable getting cut when you opened it, I'm fearing the worst. What else may have gotten disconnected or broken when you took it apart?

Start with this guide:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/ambassador-guides-tips-how-s/477140-guide-oh-no-my-phone-got-wet.html

Chances are, it's too late for that and you'll either need to buy a brand new phone or send that one away for repair.

Even if the charging port cover was in place, the S5 is NOT waterproof. It's water resistant. It'll take raindrops and splashes from the kitchen sink, but not a run through the washing machine.

 

[RyanKent]

Take the battery out, put the phone in a bag of uncooked rice ...

As stated in the original post, this has already been done.

...Add to that your comment about a cable getting cut when you opened it, I'm fearing the worst. What else may have gotten disconnected or broken when you took it apart?

The part to replace the cables is $10. Easily done. Nothing else was damaged when taking the phone apart. I used a plastic card to separate the display adhesive without realizing those cables were located so close.

Even if the charging port cover was in place, the S5 is NOT waterproof. It's water resistant. It'll take raindrops and splashes from the kitchen sink, but not a run through the washing machine.

Not helpful. I am already aware of this information and never thought otherwise.

I do appreciate help but as the original post shared, I am seeking factual information, not "probably" and "chances are". I intend to do whatever it takes to have this phone work. The question is what part or parts should be replaced to make that happen.

Thank you.

 

[Detectionable]

As stated in the original post, this has already been done.

A few differences,
3 days, to my 1 week suggestion
Silca gel not mentioned
Warm and dry place not mentioned either

 

[can3gxw]

If you followed all of the advice and steps in the post I referenced, that would help to make sure that your phone was as clean on the inside as possible. It's not the water that does damage - it's what is IN the water.

As for your question about "what will it take to make my phone work again" - that is an answer that NOBODY will be able to answer definitely. You can replace the charging door very cheaply. If you say you can replace the cable that got cut on the cheap, go for it. Once you get it all back together will be the true test. It may work or it may not. The water, detergent and heat from the washer/dryer may have cooked other things on the motherboard, meaning that it may never work again.

I do wish you luck...

Oh - and if your phone is apart, do NOT NOT NOT put the parts in rice. It will become more contaminated with the particles and may cause more damage.