Phone · Apple · iPhone 4
Apple iPhone 4 Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Apple iPhone 4
Before you begin
Tools
- Phillips #000 screwdriver
- Pentalobe P2 screwdriver
- Plastic spudger
- Tweezers
- SIM eject tool
- Soft bristle brush
Parts / materials
- 99% Isopropyl alcohol
- Compressed air duster
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
Safety
- Disconnect the battery immediately to prevent short circuits on wet circuit traces.
- Work in a well-ventilated area when using high-concentration isopropyl alcohol.
- Wear protective eyewear when using compressed air near loose fluid or debris.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Remove Rear Screws
2 minUse a Pentalobe P2 or Phillips #000 screwdriver to remove the two screws located on either side of the 30-pin dock connector.
- 2
Slide Rear Panel
1 minPush the glass rear cover firmly upward toward the top edge of the phone by approximately 2 millimeters.
- 3
Lift Off Rear Cover
1 minLift the rear panel away from the inner frame and set it aside safely.
- 4
Unscrew Battery Connector
2 minRemove the single Phillips #000 screw securing the battery connector bracket to the logic board.
- 5
Disconnect Battery Connector
2 minUse a plastic spudger to gently lever the battery connector straight up off its socket on the logic board.
- 6
Remove Battery
3 minPull the clear plastic pull-tab upward to break the adhesive bond beneath the battery, then lift it out.
- 7
Remove SIM Tray
1 minInsert a SIM eject tool or straightened paperclip into the SIM tray hole to eject the tray and SIM card.
- 8
Unscrew Top EMI Shield
3 minRemove the five Phillips screws holding the top metal bracket over the display and sensor connectors.
- 9
Remove Top EMI Shield
2 minGently lift the top metal EMI shield off the logic board using precision tweezers.
- 10
Disconnect Display Connectors
4 minUse the flat end of a spudger to detach the display, digitizer, audio jack, and power button flex cables from the board.
- 11
Remove Rear Camera
2 minUnplug the camera press-fit connector and pull the rear camera module out of the assembly.
- 12
Unscrew Logic Board Fasteners
4 minRemove the logic board mounting screws, including the standoff screw located near the center of the chassis.
- 13
Lift Out Logic Board
3 minCarefully pivot the logic board up from the bottom edge and lift it out of the metal chassis.
- 14
Clean Liquid Corrosion
10 minSubmerge the logic board in a shallow tray of 99% isopropyl alcohol and gently scrub all visible corrosion using a soft brush.
- 15
Dry Logic Board
15 minUse compressed air to blow out liquid from beneath the shield cans, then let the board dry completely for 2 hours.
- 16
Reassemble Logic Board
10 minPlace the dried logic board back into the chassis and reconnect all ribbon cables, screws, and the rear panel in reverse order.
After your Apple iPhone 4 water damage repair
Power the iPhone 4 back on and test the water damage repair function before you put every screw away. Check touch/display response, charging, cameras, buttons, and wireless as relevant to this repair. If something fails after closing the device, reopen carefully and reseat the connectors for this Apple iPhone 4 job before assuming the part is defective. Keep leftover adhesive and screws labeled in case you need a second pass.
Keep learning
Explore more Apple iPhone 4 repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
