Phone · Motorola · Moto G7 Plus
Motorola Moto G7 Plus Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Motorola Moto G7 Plus
Before you begin
Tools
- Heat gun or iOpener
- Suction handle
- Plastic opening picks
- Spudger
- Phillips #00 screwdriver
- Tweezers
- Soft-bristled toothbrush
- SIM eject tool
Parts / materials
- 99% Isopropyl alcohol
- Pre-cut back cover adhesive strips
- Lint-free microfiber cloth
Safety
- Disconnect the battery immediately to prevent short circuits while moisture is inside.
- Work in a well-ventilated space when using high-concentration isopropyl alcohol.
- Wear safety glasses when scrubbing circuit boards to prevent alcohol splashing into eyes.
- Do not heat the lithium-ion battery directly to avoid thermal runaway or explosion hazards.
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 opening it.
- 2
Eject the SIM tray
1 minInsert a SIM eject tool into the small hole on the top edge of the phone. Push inward firmly to pop the tray out and remove it.
- 3
Heat the rear glass cover
3 minApply a heat gun or iOpener around the perimeter of the back cover for 2 to 3 minutes. This softens the internal adhesive gasket.
- 4
Slice the back glass adhesive
5 minAttach a suction cup near the bottom edge, pull upward, and insert a plastic pick into the gap. Slide the pick along all sides to detach the rear glass.
- 5
Disconnect the fingerprint sensor cable
2 minSlightly tilt the back cover open without pulling hard on the flex cable. Use a spudger to gently pop the fingerprint reader connector off the board.
- 6
Unscrew the motherboard bracket
3 minRemove the Phillips #00 screws securing the plastic motherboard frame. Lift the frame off to expose the main circuit board.
- 7
Disconnect the battery cable
1 minUse a plastic spudger to pry the battery connector straight up off the motherboard. Disconnecting power prevents short circuits from standing water.
- 8
Disconnect the ribbon cables
3 minPry up the display connector, interconnect flex cable, and camera connectors from the motherboard using your spudger.
- 9
Remove the motherboard
2 minCarefully pry the motherboard up from the frame housing using a plastic opening tool. Gently lift it out and set it on an anti-static surface.
- 10
Remove the bottom speaker and daughterboard
4 minUnscrew the speaker housing at the bottom, remove it, and detach the USB daughterboard connector to lift out the lower charging assembly.
- 11
Soak circuit boards in isopropyl alcohol
10 minSubmerge the motherboard and daughterboard completely in a container of 90%+ isopropyl alcohol for 5 to 10 minutes to displace trapped water.
- 12
Scrub corrosion off components
5 minUse a soft-bristled toothbrush dipped in isopropyl alcohol to scrub away liquid residues, mineral deposits, and corrosion from both boards.
- 13
Dry the components completely
15 minPlace the cleaned boards in a well-ventilated area on a microfiber towel and allow them to air dry for at least 30 minutes until fully evaporated.
- 14
Reinstall internal components
5 minReinsert the dry motherboard and daughterboard, reattach all ribbon connectors, secure the speaker and top bracket screws, and plug in the battery.
- 15
Seal the rear cover
5 minPlug in the fingerprint flex cable, apply new pre-cut adhesive around the back frame rim, and press the rear glass firmly back into place.
After your Motorola Moto G7 Plus water damage repair
Power the Moto G7 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 G7 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 G7 Plus repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
