[LiveBrianD]

A friend accidentily dumped his iPod Touch into a puddle a few weeks ago. About a week or so later, he told me about it and gave it to me to fix. Since then, around 2 weeks or so, it's been sitting in a bag of rice, right-side-up, with no improvements. When plugged into a computer, the computer detects it and the ipod lights up as usual, but the touchscreen doesn't respond and the home button doesn't respond. Do you guys have any ideas on fixing this? I'm not comfortable with opening it because I'll probably break it (that happened when I tried to open a 3rd gen ipod nano).

[smax013]

LiveBrianD, on 22 May 2011 - 04:56 PM, said:

A friend accidentily dumped his iPod Touch into a puddle a few weeks ago. About a week or so later, he told me about it and gave it to me to fix. Since then, around 2 weeks or so, it's been sitting in a bag of rice, right-side-up, with no improvements. When plugged into a computer, the computer detects it and the ipod lights up as usual, but the touchscreen doesn't respond and the home button doesn't respond. Do you guys have any ideas on fixing this? I'm not comfortable with opening it because I'll probably break it (that happened when I tried to open a 3rd gen ipod nano).

It is likely partially toast. Was the iPod Touch being used when he dumped it in the puddle? Even if it was not actively being used, iPod Touches are generally never turned off strictly speaking (you can, but you generally only do it to "re-boot" it). It is possible that the screen and the home button where shorted out by the water, but that other stuff still works. If so, then in theory, it might be possible to replace the screen and home button and get it back working...assuming that it is just the screen and button.

Which generation of the iPod Touch is it? 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th (current)?

There are services (besides Apple) that can do this. There are also sites to get parts if you want to do it yourself. I will note that monkeying with the iPod Touch requires soldering for most things, including replacing the battery...thus, there is a high chance of completely bricking it.

Here is one such site:

http://www.ifixit.co...arts/iPod-Touch

They also have instructions for doing the repairs typically.

[LiveBrianD]

It's a 2nd gen 32GB. Oh, I forgot to mention - the home button works occasionally if I was holding it in a different position, which leads me to think there's water inside it that's shorting things. I don't know if it was being used or not when the incident occurred. I really suspect a short though, as when it responds it does so normally, and it looks normal and the PC detects it fine. It's ONLY the screen and often home button that don't work.

[myloginname]

Well, your best bet would be to probably go to a certified store and have some guys look at it for you (preferably the Apple store). Considering it is only the screen and home button, getting it replaced will probably only cost $50. However, make sure that they check it to make sure that water didn't leak into any other parts. If there is too much trouble, the only thing that you could do would be to buy new iPod.

My friend recently fell on his iPod (he had it in his pocket), and cracked the screen. Luckily, the touch screen still worked, along with everything else. He brought it to the Apple Store and got it fixed for $50.

[mjd420nova]

LBD: Short of totally immersing it in alcohol, cleaning with an acid brush and some de-greaser (simple green), spraying down with a non-residue electronic cleaner may restore it back to operation. These things are so compact that dirt and dust can washed under some chips and short things out. I'm not to enthused over the oven routine, air dry is the best.

[Evildave]

You need super pure alcohol for that. Flammably pure. 190 proof Everclear is the best. A lot of the 'rubbing alcohol' is adulterated with chemicals to make people who 'imbibe' get sick, and some of those leave residue behind. Soaking an 'almost working' device in alcohol might make matters much worse.

A standard option to 'dry out' electronics is to warm an oven (not anywhere near BAKING hot) and put it in there. The hot, dry air will do wonders. If you have a sneaker rack for your clothes drier, that would work better. Ideally your friend would have popped the battery out instantly after dropping it in the water, but that's not going to work with a built-in battery.

The important bit is not to 'cook' the gadget. Just keep the warm, dry air moving around/through it to get the rest of the water out. A hair dryer on low taped to a counter, and a foot or two away from the device might work, too, as long as it's blocked up off the table. Anything to encourage the water to steam out and evaporate.

The 'big problem' might be the mineral contaminants dissolved in the puddle and left behind inside. They will be tough (or impossible) to remove.

[LiveBrianD]

If I air dry it (with a hair dryer I presume), how long should I do it for and on what setting? What angle should I be blowing at?

[Evildave]

Just anything that will blow warm (NOT HOT) dry air. Portable heater (though probably not enough air flow). Whatever. Blow right at it. Most affected controls nearest source (or 'dock' nearest source, since that's the closest thing to an entrance). Initially check it frequently to make sure the phone isn't getting too hot, and move it further away, if it starts to. It should get warm, but not toasty. Once you're satisfied it won't cook, leave it go a couple of hours, and check it again. Repeat until success... or you give up.

If you live in a hot, arid place, just outdoors will do, but not where it will bake in direct sunlight, and face the display down.

If this doesn't work, it'll have to be taken apart and hand cleaned with q tips and (preferably pure, not denatured) alcohol. Though relatively 'high octane' rubbing alcohol from the pharmacy/drug store will work OK in a pinch. Not the stuff you find in bulk at the hardware store, or anything below 80% alcohol.