Samsung S4 not working properly after a visit to the toilet

[joydivision]

I stupidly left my S4 on top of the cistern while in the bathroom as I was washing my hands (the area above the sink was wet) and then forgot I had done so.

My mother then goes into the use the bathroom, didn't see it and knocks it into the toilet.

I immediately took it out of the toilet, and put it in rice and put it in a warm airing cupboard for 30 hours. All seemed perfectly fine and the phone worked perfectly and charged ok etc. However late last night I noticed the signal was patchy. This morning I have the same problem and have noticed that if the phone is the normal upright usage position I get one bar, if I lay the phone flat often all full bars return.

The WIFI and Bluetooh seem to work perfectly.

I have put the phone back in the airing cupboard and will keep it there for a few more hours in case the antenna circuit has moisture in it but I thinking this is more corrosion damage.

What are the chances of the phone ever working properly again? Is it time to stick it on ebay, and paying it off one of my other contracts (expires in April) so I can get a new contract with a new phone?

 

[Moltuae]

It's unlikely that corrosion would have set in so soon.

RF circuitry is very sensitive to moisture, especially at the higher frequencies used in mobile phones. I'd suspect there's probably still some moisture in there, changing the circuit characteristics.

It may dry out eventually, left long enough, but the moisture may be trapped. I think I'd take it apart and dry it out thoroughly.

If you get a new phone, I'd recommend an S4 Active ... practically toilet proof!

 

[ArtemusComputerTechnology]

Hopefully, you have insurance on your phone for an easy replacement. Sucks to be without one especially for a Galaxy S4. I have the same phone and made sure that my phone is covered in case of any accidents.

 

[joydivision]

Just tried it again, if anything it is slightly worse, when I boot it has full signal then after a few minutes it goes down to 1 bar, then if I move it about it does come back to full signal.

I tried to take it apart but I wasn't confident enough,I don't want to snap those plastics. I did take the low part of near the charge circuit, there doesn't appear to be any damage on that PCB, the contacts are still nice and gold.

Put it back in rice and back into the airing cupboard. I reckon I would get a good £100 on ebay for it, and I have a phone that expires in April, so i can pay that contract off and get an S5 or M8.

 

[HFultzjr]

Me thinks it may have "crapped" out on you!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Good luck.

Harold

 

[Paul Rodgers]

If you feel brave you could probably take it apart and try spraying it down with contact cleaner.

 

[cypress]

Thought it would have to be in rice a little while longer. Anywho I would just chalk it up and get a new phone.

I don't bring my phone with me in the bathroom much at all, just because I would dread if that ever happened to me.

 

[HFultzjr]

On a more serious note.......

I have heard of people using a hair dryer on LOW HEAT and gently shaking every few minutes. Takes a fair amount of time (1/2 hour)?

Use at your own risk, but might help.

Harold

 

[nlinecomputers]

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Samsung+Galaxy+S4+Teardown/13947

If you get water in a phone it is best to tear it down ASAP. Waiting and then powering it up can short out systems if it is not fully dried out.

 

[joydivision]

I think I have been lucky with that regard, if it was a short I can't see how it reception sometimes works as the damage would already be done, I am hoping it is moisture or maybe a bad connection which is causing the issue.

I am just leaving it a lot longer to dry, and see if it makes an improvement.

 

[altrenda]

The best first thing is pull the battery and then blow air through the inside with compressed air to get as much water out as possible. Any parts you can take off to open it up for airflow helps a lot.

It's a good idea to save all those little packets of desiccant that come packed with new electronics and even in some clothes. When you get enough they come in handy for things like this. Works much better than rice.

I read somewhere that instant rice works better than regular rice for some reason.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Another trick to try if you have vacuum food sealer. Place the phone in a bag full of rice and then use the vacuum sealer to remove the air. The lower pressure will help the water evaporate better and then get absorbed into the rice.

 

[Markverhyden]

I doubt it's corrosion unless someone forgot to flush or the water has a lot of minerals, what we call hard water around here.

 

[joydivision]

We have soft water here, and the toilet should have been very clean, I only fitted the new cistern a few weeks ago so it is still a bit of a novelty

The flush is extremely powerful but don't tell the water board that

 

[Moltuae]

someone forgot to flush or the water has a lot of minerals, what we call hard water around here.

That's what it's called around here too. Well, just the latter that is. The former is just pooey/pissy water.

 

[joydivision]

Tried it again, signal is still fluctuating but was able to make calls, the problem seems to be when it switches to 4GB that is when I only get one bar. Leaving in rice for longer.

Seems to be working better than it did yesterday, is the 3g and 4g on the same circuit? I assume the both use the same antenna and power amp IC.

 

[Markverhyden]

That's what it's called around here too. Well, just the latter that is. The former is just pooey/pissy water.

LOL!!! Years ago when I was a kid in Brazil we had to conserve water at times. So our parents taught us "if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down"

 

[Moltuae]

LOL!!! Years ago when I was a kid in Brazil we had to conserve water at times. So our parents taught us "if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down"

lol

What about if it's red? .... soon be dead?