Phone · Motorola · Moto G4 Plus
Motorola Moto G4 Plus Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Motorola Moto G4 Plus
Before you begin
Tools
- Torx T3 screwdriver
- Plastic spudger
- Plastic opening pick
- Tweezers
- Soft bristle brush
Parts / materials
- 99% Isopropyl alcohol
- Compressed air can
- Lint-free microfiber cloth
Safety
- Wear protective safety glasses when using compressed air or isopropyl alcohol.
- Disconnect the battery immediately to prevent electrical short circuits on wet components.
- Perform liquid cleaning in a well-ventilated area away from open flames.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power off the phone
1 minPress and hold the power button, then select Power Off. Ensure the device is fully shut down before proceeding.
- 2
Remove the rear cover
2 minInsert a plastic opening pick into the small notch near the USB port. Pry upward to release the clips and pull off the back cover.
- 3
Remove SIM and MicroSD cards
1 minSlide out any installed SIM card and MicroSD card from their respective slots.
- 4
Unscrew the midframe
5 minUse a Torx T3 screwdriver to remove the 19 screws securing the inner plastic midframe cover.
- 5
Unclip the midframe
2 minInsert a spudger around the perimeter of the midframe to disengage the clips, but do not fully pull it away yet.
- 6
Disconnect the fingerprint sensor flex
2 minUse tweezers to flip up the locking tab on the ZIF connector, then slide the fingerprint sensor ribbon cable out.
- 7
Disconnect the battery flex cable
1 minPry the battery connector straight up from the motherboard using the flat end of a plastic spudger.
- 8
Remove the battery
3 minGently pry beneath the battery with a plastic card to break the adhesive and lift it out of the housing.
- 9
Disconnect camera modules
2 minUnplug the rear and front camera ribbon connectors from the motherboard and lift both cameras out.
- 10
Lift out the motherboard
2 minPry gently under the top edge of the motherboard with a spudger and lift it free from the chassis.
- 11
Submerge motherboard in isopropyl alcohol
10 minPlace the motherboard into a shallow container filled with 99% isopropyl alcohol for 5 to 10 minutes to displace water.
- 12
Scrub corrosion from motherboard
5 minGently scrub all board components, chips, and connector pins using a soft bristle brush soaked in isopropyl alcohol.
- 13
Dry board with compressed air
5 minBlow short bursts of compressed air over the motherboard to remove dislodged debris and liquid, then allow it to dry completely.
- 14
Clean frame and cable contacts
4 minDip a soft brush or swab in isopropyl alcohol and wipe down all exposed connectors and frame contacts.
- 15
Reinstall the motherboard
2 minAlign the dry motherboard back into the frame and press it gently into position.
- 16
Reconnect cameras and battery
3 minPress the front camera, rear camera, and battery press connectors firmly onto their motherboard sockets.
- 17
Attach fingerprint flex cable
2 minSlide the fingerprint sensor ribbon cable into its ZIF connector and push the locking lever down to secure it.
- 18
Reattach midframe and back cover
5 minReinstall the 19 Torx T3 midframe screws and press the rear plastic cover back onto the phone until it snaps into place.
After your Motorola Moto G4 Plus water damage repair
Power the Moto G4 Plus 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 G4 Plus 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 G4 Plus repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
