Dropped iPhone 3GS in water, need advice.

len0475 · Jul 13, 2009

Just as the title states. I dropped it this weekend in water. I immediately turned it off and let it sit. The phone works overall with the exception of my camera and the backlight.

Is this something I can repair? If so, what needs to be replaced?

I'm tempted to just put it up for sale. It's a white 32gb, how much would it be worth with the damages? No other physical damages to the phone other than the water damage. It's mint!

Eric559 · Jul 14, 2009

I would just sale it. You can probably get a good amount for it on eBay even if it is water damaged. Search eBay for prices on recently sold items.

Jaygray · Jul 14, 2009

My 3GS unexpectedly died 7 days after I bought it. I took it back to the Apple store. I figured they would at least check it for water damage or attempt to see if it had been jailbroken/unlocked. But they didn't. When they saw it wasn't working properly, they exchanged it no questions asked. If it doesn't show any evidence of physical damage, I'd take it back to the Apple store and play dumb. They may replace it without asking any questions.

len0475 · Jul 14, 2009

Jaygray said:
My 3GS unexpectedly died 7 days after I bought it. I took it back to the Apple store. I figured they would at least check it for water damage or attempt to see if it had been jailbroken/unlocked. But they didn't. When they saw it wasn't working properly, they exchanged it no questions asked. If it doesn't show any evidence of physical damage, I'd take it back to the Apple store and play dumb. They may replace it without asking any questions.

There is a water indicator at the bottom and inside the headphone jack. It turns pink when there are water damage. They'll shine a flashlight down in there to see if there are any damages.

That doesn't mean I won't try it. LoL. I'm waiting a couple more days for it to dry completely.

Eric559 · Jul 14, 2009

Yeah it's always nice to scam them out for a new phone.

bargsbeer · Jul 15, 2009

Sell it, you will be ahead of the game. There are people on ebay who are always looking for broken iPhones,Especially the 3GS.

MC² · Jul 16, 2009

len0475 said:
There is a water indicator at the bottom and inside the headphone jack. It turns pink when there are water damage. They'll shine a flashlight down in there to see if there are any damages.

That doesn't mean I won't try it. LoL. I'm waiting a couple more days for it to dry completely.

Yes and there are two on the logic board that turn pink if the look hard they can tell. Put the phone in a ziplock with silica for a few days and you will probably be fine. If the LCD is hazy you can replace it if you have questions email or pm me. I have a iPhone repair company and we have had good luck with water damage I can give you some tips. The camera and LCD are relatively cheap to replace.

len0475 · Jul 16, 2009

Well, I went to the Apple Store today and spoke with a Genius named Brian. Told him what happened and he checked to make sure and yup, both indicators went off. Anywho, he ordered me a new phone. I have to turn in my phone and then pay $199.00 for a new one under the replacement plan. Keep my existing warranty and I'm happy. If I went the Ebay route, it would've easily been in the neighborhood of $350 out of pocket.

tacsniper · Jul 17, 2009

^ good for you for being honest. Hope you have better luck with your new iPhone

Cedric_91 · Jul 19, 2009

the same thing happened to me, and i have a question. when you took it to the Apple store and they replaced it, did they give you a new 3GS, or a refurbished one? i ask because they normally give refurbished ones. either way works for me when they replace mine, its just something i was wondering.

len0475 · Jul 19, 2009

Cedric_91 said:
the same thing happened to me, and i have a question. when you took it to the Apple store and they replaced it, did they give you a new 3GS, or a refurbished one? i ask because they normally give refurbished ones. either way works for me when they replace mine, its just something i was wondering.

When you pay the $199 replacement, I was "told" that it is a brand new unit. I must have sat up there for another 30 minutes examining the new unit to make sure it's new and not a refurbished one and I really can't tell the difference. Screen and case looks perfectly new to me.

Noxian · Jul 20, 2009

len0475 said:
When you pay the $199 replacement, I was "told" that it is a brand new unit. I must have sat up there for another 30 minutes examining the new unit to make sure it's new and not a refurbished one and I really can't tell the difference. Screen and case looks perfectly new to me.

Often refurb doesnt mean it ever made it to a consumers hand it just may not have passed Q/A when being built and was put in a bin where they later address the problem attempt to fix it.

Cedric_91 · Jul 21, 2009

alright, thanks guys.