Update at Bottom: Water Damage to Cell Phone - Touch Screen Not Working

My son's sippy cup exploded in my bag yesterday morning, and my fairly new Droid Charge got completely soaked. I took it apart and put it in a bowl of rice for most of yesterday then put it in front of a fan overnight. I plugged in a new battery just now and the phone turns on. However, the touch screen is not working.

I took it apart again, and right now it's on top of a cable box drying out. It's been 30 hours since I started drying the phone.

Any advice to get the touch screen working? Do I need to let it keep drying out? How long and where should I put it? Thanks!


UPDATE at bottom.

Message edited 8/15/2011 1:42:01 PM.

Re: Water Damage to Cell Phone - Touch Screen Not Working

No advice except to keep letting it dry out. My phone also suffered water damage a few months back. Most of the touch screen functions would not work though. Thankfully I had insurance on the phone since I did end up having to replace it.

Good luck.

Re: Water Damage to Cell Phone - Touch Screen Not Working

My droid fell in water and I immediately took it apart and put in rice for 2 full days when I finally took it out, there was still water in the screen because you could see it, so I put it in the rice again for 24 hrs and everything dried up and it's working fine. I never turned it on until the 3 rd day because I heard that if can fry the stuff inside if it was still wet.

Re: Water Damage to Cell Phone - Touch Screen Not Working

the rice works wonders!!!! put it all apart in the rice and let it stay 2-3 days.

Re: Water Damage to Cell Phone - Touch Screen Not Working

DS took my blackberry storm (touch screen) in the kiddie pool on Sunday. I put it in rice Sunday night. I tried it yesterday morning and it would turn on but go right off. I put it back in the rice and finally, last night, it worked!!! I've been using it all day today and it's fine.

I read online that you need at least 72 hours in the rice and that's about right.

Re: Water Damage to Cell Phone - Touch Screen Not Working

I guess I'm too impatient! I put it back in a bowl of rice and will try not to touch it until Saturday or Sunday. The only good thing about going back to my BB is that the battery lasts forever between charges!

Re: Water Damage to Cell Phone - Touch Screen Not Working

It sounds like you were doing the right thing for it. I would keep the battery out for a while longer and see what happens. Unfortunately, it could be that the water just got too deep into the phone and damaged the touchscreen permanently.

Hopefully you have insurance on the phone in case it doesn't start working for you. Sorry about that.

Re: Water Damage to Cell Phone - Touch Screen Not Working

I did what all the other posters did. My phone fell in a deep puddle after a major rain. I took the whole phone apart and soaked all the parts and battery completely in rice for 2 days. It worked a little funny at first, but after that it started to get back to normal. It's fine now.

Re: Water Damage to Cell Phone - Touch Screen Not Working

UPDATE:

So the rice trick didn't work and I took my phone to a repair shop. They were able to fix all the damage except a corroded ear piece. Basically, I can use my speakerphone or a hands-free set to make/receive calls, but I can't hold the phone up to my ear. The shop told me Samsung will release the part eventually (phone is too new), and when they do they'll repair it for $10.

I'm just glad the phone and touchscreen is functional, and I don't have to shell out money for a new one. I make calls hands-free most of the time anyway.

If anyone ever needs a cell phone repair shop, I know a good one with nice people in Baldwin!