Phone · Motorola · G15
Motorola G15 Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Motorola G15
Before you begin
Tools
- Precision screwdriver set
- Plastic opening tools
- Anti-static wrist strap
- Tweezers
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Suction handle
- Soft-bristled brush
Parts / materials
- 99% Isopropyl alcohol
- Lint-free microfiber wipes
- Replacement back cover adhesive strips
Safety
- Do not power on or plug in a water-damaged device until all components are fully cleaned and dried.
- Wear protective eyewear when working with high-concentration isopropyl alcohol and heating tools.
- Use non-conductive plastic tools near the battery to avoid accidental short circuits.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power off the device
1 minTurn off the phone immediately and do not connect a charger. Hold the power button to shut down completely if the screen still functions.
- 2
Remove the SIM tray
1 minInsert a SIM eject tool into the hole next to the SIM tray on the left edge. Push firmly to eject the tray and remove it.
- 3
Heat the rear cover
2 minUse a heat gun or hairdryer on low heat to warm the outer edges of the back cover for two minutes to soften the adhesive.
- 4
Slice the back adhesive
4 minApply a suction handle near the bottom edge and insert a plastic opening pick into the seam. Slide the pick around all four edges to release the back panel.
- 5
Lift off the back cover
2 minCarefully lift the rear panel off the frame. Set it aside on a clean, dry surface.
- 6
Unscrew the mainboard bracket
3 minUse a precision Phillips screwdriver to remove all screws securing the plastic upper motherboard shield.
- 7
Detach the motherboard cover
2 minUse a plastic spudger or tweezers to pry up and remove the plastic motherboard shield.
- 8
Disconnect the battery cable
1 minPry up the battery press-connector from the motherboard immediately using a plastic opening tool to cut off all electrical power.
- 9
Unbolt the speaker housing
3 minRemove the Phillips screws securing the bottom loudspeaker cover over the sub-board.
- 10
Remove the speaker housing
2 minPry up the lower speaker housing with a plastic opening pick and lift it out of the frame.
- 11
Disconnect ribbon cables
2 minUnplug the display flex cable, main interconnect cable, and antenna cables from the motherboard using a plastic spudger.
- 12
Extract the motherboard
2 minGently pry up the motherboard from its housing and lift it clear of the frame.
- 13
Scrub corrosion off circuit boards
10 minDip a soft brush in 99% isopropyl alcohol and gently scrub away liquid residue and white corrosion from the motherboard and sub-board.
- 14
Dry all internal components
15 minWipe away excess alcohol with lint-free wipes and allow the components to dry completely in a warm area for 15 minutes.
- 15
Reinstall boards and connectors
5 minPlace the motherboard and sub-board back into the chassis and reconnect all flex cables, attaching the battery connector last.
- 16
Reseal the back cover
4 minApply new adhesive strips along the perimeter of the phone frame and press the back cover firmly into place.
After your Motorola G15 water damage repair
Power the G15 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 Motorola G15 job before assuming the part is defective. Keep leftover adhesive and screws labeled in case you need a second pass.
Keep learning
Explore more Motorola G15 repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
