Phone · Apple · iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 5 Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Apple iPhone 5
Before you begin
Tools
- P2 Pentalobe screwdriver
- Phillips #000 screwdriver
- Suction cup tool
- Plastic opening tool
- Spudger tool
- Soft bristle brush
- SIM card eject tool
- Tweezers
Parts / materials
- 99% Isopropyl alcohol
- Lint-free microfiber cloth
- Compressed air canister
Safety
- Wear safety glasses when handling compressed air and isopropyl alcohol.
- Ensure the battery is completely disconnected before cleaning internal circuits.
- Work in a well-ventilated area away from open flames when using isopropyl alcohol.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power Off Device
1 minTurn off the iPhone 5 immediately to prevent short circuits on wet components.
- 2
Remove Pentalobe Screws
2 minUnscrew the two 3.6 mm P2 Pentalobe screws located on either side of the Lightning charging port.
- 3
Attach Suction Cup
1 minPress a suction cup firmly onto the screen glass just above the home button to create a strong seal.
- 4
Pry Up Front Panel
3 minPull up on the suction cup while prying the metal lip of the display assembly up using a plastic opening tool.
- 5
Unscrew Battery Bracket
2 minRemove the two Phillips #000 screws securing the metal battery connector bracket to the logic board.
- 6
Disconnect Battery Cable
2 minUse the flat end of a spudger to gently pry the battery connector straight up from its logic board socket.
- 7
Remove Display Cable Bracket
2 minRemove the three Phillips #000 screws securing the display cable bracket at the top right of the logic board.
- 8
Disconnect Display Cables
3 minDisconnect the front camera, digitizer, and LCD flex cables using a spudger to separate the screen from the rear case.
- 9
Eject SIM Card Tray
1 minInsert a SIM eject tool or thin paperclip into the pinhole on the right side of the device to eject the SIM tray.
- 10
Disconnect Logic Board Connectors
4 minPry up the dock connector cable, power button flex cable, and antenna cable connected to the logic board.
- 11
Unscrew Logic Board
4 minRemove the five Phillips #000 screws and standoff screws holding the logic board inside the rear housing.
- 12
Remove Logic Board
3 minCarefully lift the logic board from the rear case, taking care not to snag any lingering cables.
- 13
Scrub Board with Isopropyl Alcohol
10 minSubmerge the logic board in 99% isopropyl alcohol and scrub away liquid residue and corrosion using a soft brush.
- 14
Blow-Dry Logic Board
3 minUse short bursts of compressed air to blast remaining liquid out from beneath chips and connector ports.
- 15
Reassemble Device Components
10 minReinstall the dried logic board into the frame, reconnect all internal flex cables, and reattach the front panel assembly.
After your Apple iPhone 5 water damage repair
Power the iPhone 5 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 5 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 5 repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
