Samsung Galaxy S3 Chlorinated Pool / Water damage: Repair and replace parts, or buy new phone?

ankor on 01/12/2014 - 19:17

I went for a dip in a chlorinated pool, not realising my s3 was in the pocket. Just about everything still works,however the speaker is degrading:

  • treble in calls and in music is distorting
  • loudspeaker mode in calls seems to work fine

So effectively the phone is forcing me into loudspeaker mode, or headphones mode anytime anyone calls me if I want to comprehend what they say. It's only my mum and wife who call me anyway, but I can see it getting frustrating later on. The mum, who enjoys shopping has offered to help purchase a phone in hong kong or taiwan. I have said no since I have some sentimental attachment to the s3. I have not cleaned the phone or board with alcohol or distilled water, since neither were anywhere nearby when I went for the dip (at a hotel in penang). Should I just buy a new phone, or just let nature run its course and wait till the phone dies and get a new one in say, Feb/Mar?

Mobile

Comments

  • figarow on 01/12/2014 - 19:22

    rice

  • scrimshaw on 01/12/2014 - 19:48
    +1

    Even if you do dry out the phone completely, its possible some components may be damaged and corrosion will set in. Cleaning with alcohol would be recommended.

    The first few components to go will be your speaker, microphone and USB charging port, and once the charging port is Kaput the phone will keep going into dock mode repeatedly and then charging will be impossible.

    You can:

    1. Attempt to self repair. Take the phone apart yourself, see what is damaged, then fix it with parts bought from ebay or AlieXpress.

    2. Sell the phone as faulty on eBay or gumtree if you cannot repair it.

    3. Buy a new or used Samsung Galaxy to replace it and then use your current phone as a media player (e.g using bluetooth)

  • Cheeper on 01/12/2014 - 22:40

    Pop it into a bag with some rice with the case off and leave for a couple of days.
    Don't try to test the speaker while it is still damp.
    Good luck.

  • ankor on 02/12/2014 - 00:33

    Thanks guys, in my drunk state, I took it all apart and had a hairdryer on it (not much 99% alcohol in a muslim state). It's still working at the moment, but I have a feeling that it may deteriorate further. Btw, this happened a week ago. :(

    Probably will get that s4 or s5 overseas after all.

    • djones145 on 02/12/2014 - 08:08

      prollybest to get a new phone
      or at least a new battery

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