HTC Desire fault, any suggestions

catflea

Hi guys, exactly one week ago my HTC desire went for a short swim, it was underwater for less than 10 seconds. I split it open as far as possible and took the memory card, sim card, battery etc out and towelled off before placing in a warm place for approx 6 hours (seeing as I was in the office, I couldn't leave it any longer) and it functioned perfectly, and has done until Saturday.

On Saturday I took it out with me (and it went in my bra as I couldn't keep a hold of my bag) and I managed to run the battery down within about 4 hours, high brightness on screen, lots of photos etc. I ran the battery down to the point where it wouldn't even try to turn on and when plugged in it was coming up with a "boot selection" type screen when I tried to turn it on. I left it charging and an hour or so later by removing the battery and replacing I got it to boot normally.

However since then the on/off button isn't working (so I need to plug it in/unplug it to get it off screen shutdown and remove the battery to turn it off) and there seems to be a fault with the volume buttons on the side as every few minutes it changes itself to vibrate mode and continues vibrating until you use volume up to change it.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any ideas of how I can fix this, I'm currently leaving it with the battery out for a day (will put it all back together when I get home tonight, took it apart yesterday afternoon) or what my best course of action is. The phone is still within warranty, but I suspect its dunk might have invalidated it....

grumbler

There have to be two water damage indicators: on and under the battery. If they still are white you can try to have the phone repaired under the warranty.

Will your bra take Desire HD?

catflea

I've no idea if my Bra is desire HD compatible :rotfl:

I'll have to have a look and see if I can see these "indicators" when I get home. A quick google makes it seem that there might be one by the USB socket too...

mightyroyals

sounds like you may need to go into the boot menu and system restore the phone and try that. to get to the boot menu turn your phone off then press and hold volume down and push the power button that should bring up the system options

macman

The circuit board has probably started shorting out due to oxidisation-you did all the right things, except 6 hours was probably not long enough. 2 or 3 days in an airing cupboard in a bowl of rice might have got rid of more moisture.
Unfortunately they do often 'work perfectly' quite soon afterwards, and this makes people think it's OK to use them again-the damage then occurs over the next few days.
If the water indicators have gone red, no chance of a warranty claim.

catflea

mightyroyals wrote: »

sounds like you may need to go into the boot menu and system restore the phone and try that. to get to the boot menu turn your phone off then press and hold volume down and push the power button that should bring up the system options

I tried that, but no hope when the power button and volume button aren't working

catflea

macman wrote: »

The circuit board has probably started shorting out due to oxidisation-you did all the right things, except 6 hours was probably not long enough. 2 or 3 days in an airing cupboard in a bowl of rice might have got rid of more moisture.
Unfortunately they do often 'work perfectly' quite soon afterwards, and this makes people think it's OK to use them again-the damage then occurs over the next few days.
If the water indicators have gone red, no chance of a warranty claim.

Cheers for that, any idea if I could sort it if it is that? Assuming the indicators have gone red and I can't badger them for warranty? I'm not afraid of cracking it open if need be....

Otherwise, I guess I'm digging out the old HTC magic - if I can find it.

macman

Not DIY repairable unless you have the skills and the equipment-get a quote from a local independent maybe.
Have you checked to see if it's covered under your home contents insurance?

catflea

Are the moisure indicators the little white squares? One on the battery next to the terminals, the one on the phone under the battery terminals?

If so they are white :j

MissKeith

Water indicators aren't the only sign of moisture damage. Copper parts turning green are a dead giveaway, they start to corrode over time also. There will be one sticker on the battery that should be white, another one under the battery and one down the headphone jack. If any of those are red you won't have a chance.

catflea

Definitely none down the headphone jack. Just shone a torch down there. Shiney copper & black plastic only.