Phone · Motorola · Moto G Original
Motorola Moto G Original Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Motorola Moto G Original
Before you begin
Tools
- T3 Torx screwdriver
- Plastic spudger
- Plastic opening picks
- Precision tweezers
- Soft-bristle nylon brush
- Anti-static wrist strap
Parts / materials
- 99% Isopropyl alcohol
- Lint-free cotton swabs
- Microfiber cloth
Safety
- Disconnect the battery immediately to prevent electrical shorts on liquid-damaged circuitry.
- Work in a well-ventilated space when using high-concentration isopropyl alcohol.
- Wear an anti-static wrist strap to protect sensitive IC chips from ESD.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power off the phone
1 minPress and hold the power button, then select Power Off. If the touch screen is non-responsive, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force shutdown.
- 2
Remove the outer back cover
2 minInsert a plastic opening pick into the USB port seam at the bottom and pop the shell away from the chassis.
- 3
Eject the Micro-SIM card
1 minPress down slightly on the SIM card in its tray until it clicks, then pull it out of the slot.
- 4
Remove the midframe Torx screws
5 minUse a T3 Torx driver to remove all 14 screws holding down the inner plastic midframe assembly.
- 5
Pry off the plastic midframe
3 minInsert a spudger around the perimeter seam of the midframe and lift it off to expose the motherboard.
- 6
Disconnect the battery cable
2 minUse a plastic spudger to gently pry the battery flex cable connector straight up off the motherboard.
- 7
Remove the battery
3 minSlide a plastic opening tool beneath the battery cell to break the mild adhesive and lift it out.
- 8
Disconnect the display and digitizer flexes
2 minFlip up the small locking retaining flaps on the ZIF sockets and slide out both screen flex cables using tweezers.
- 9
Lift out the motherboard
3 minGently pry the motherboard up from the bottom edge and lift it out of the phone body.
- 10
Inspect the motherboard for corrosion
3 minExamine the board under bright light, looking for white, green, or dark residue on components and connectors.
- 11
Scrub the motherboard with isopropyl alcohol
8 minSubmerge the motherboard in 99% isopropyl alcohol and gently brush away corrosion using a soft nylon brush.
- 12
Clean the screen connectors and chassis
4 minDip a cotton swab in high-purity alcohol and wipe clean any corrosion inside the phone frame and sockets.
- 13
Dry all components thoroughly
15 minLeave the cleaned motherboard and open components in a warm, dry area for at least 12 to 24 hours.
- 14
Reinstall the motherboard
4 minSeat the motherboard back into the main chassis and reconnect the display and digitizer ZIF flex cables.
- 15
Reinstall battery and midframe
5 minPlace the battery back into position, reattach its flex cable, and secure the plastic midframe with the 14 T3 Torx screws.
- 16
Snap on the rear shell and test device
2 minAlign the plastic back cover, press along the edges until it snaps tight, and turn on the phone to test functionality.
After your Motorola Moto G Original water damage repair
Power the Moto G Original 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 Moto G Original 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 Moto G Original repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
