Phone · Motorola · Moto G3
Motorola Moto G3 Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Motorola Moto G3
Before you begin
Tools
- Torx T4 screwdriver
- Plastic opening tool
- Spudger
- Tweezers
- Magnifying glass
- Shallow plastic container
Parts / materials
- 90%+ Isopropyl alcohol
- Soft-bristled toothbrush
- Lint-free microfiber cloth
Safety
- Disconnect the battery immediately to prevent permanent short circuit damage.
- Perform alcohol cleaning in a well-ventilated area away from open flames.
- Wear safety glasses to protect eyes from accidental alcohol splatters.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power off device
1 minTurn off your Motorola Moto G3 immediately to prevent short circuits from water contact.
- 2
Remove rear cover
2 minInsert a plastic opening tool into the notch at the bottom edge to pry off the back cover.
- 3
Remove SIM and MicroSD cards
1 minSlide out the SIM card and MicroSD card from their respective slots to prevent water trapping.
- 4
Unscrew midframe
5 minUse a Torx T4 screwdriver to remove the 14 screws securing the inner midframe assembly.
- 5
Separate midframe
3 minInsert a plastic opening tool along the seam to unclip and lift away the inner midframe.
- 6
Disconnect battery flex cable
2 minUse a nylon spudger to carefully lift the battery connector straight up off the motherboard.
- 7
Disconnect display flex cable
2 minPry up the retaining flap on the display ZIF connector and slide the flex cable out.
- 8
Lift out motherboard
3 minGently pry underneath the edges of the motherboard with a spudger and remove it from the housing.
- 9
Remove camera modules
3 minDisconnect and remove both the front and rear cameras from the motherboard using tweezers.
- 10
Soak motherboard in alcohol
10 minSubmerge the naked motherboard in a shallow container filled with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol for 10 minutes.
- 11
Scrub off corrosion
5 minGently brush away white or green liquid residue from the board using a soft toothbrush soaked in alcohol.
- 12
Inspect board under magnification
4 minExamine all small surface-mount components with a magnifying glass to verify clean, corrosion-free contacts.
- 13
Dry all components
15 minPlace the cleaned motherboard and components on a lint-free towel to dry completely for at least two hours.
- 14
Reattach camera modules
2 minPress the front and rear camera press-fit connectors firmly back onto their motherboard sockets.
- 15
Reinstall motherboard
3 minPosition the motherboard into the display assembly and reinsert the display flex cable into its ZIF connector.
- 16
Reconnect battery
2 minSnap the battery connector straight down onto its motherboard socket until it clicks.
- 17
Reattach midframe
5 minAlign the inner midframe over the phone and press down firm snaps before reinstalling the 14 Torx T4 screws.
- 18
Snap on rear cover
2 minPress the plastic back cover onto the phone body until all outer clips snap securely shut.
After your Motorola Moto G3 water damage repair
Power the Moto G3 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 G3 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 G3 repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
