vB Easy Archive - RAZR issue after getting a little wet

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RAZR issue after getting a little wet
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Posted by: arnold_jackson

I recently left my phone out in the rain and since then the only button on the phone that works is the power button. It will power up, the screen will come on, but you can't dial #'s, use the camera, use the up & down arrows, etc. I've let it dry for a week and have taken the phone apart and left it sit in the sun. Still nothing. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Posted by: beglee

not sure if itll help at all, but as i said here , i dropped my RAZR V3X in a toilet. i dried it out, opened it up and cleaned out some gunk, but it didnt fully work until i took out the micro sd card, which had obviously been damaged. doubt this helps you though but thought id mention it, sounds more like the keypad or its connections have been damaged on yours

Posted by: arnold_jackson

I was able to use the denatured alcohol trick and that worked. cell phone now working.

thanks.

Posted by: mooingrhinocero

Hi,

Could you (or anyone else) elaborate on the "denatured alcohol trick?"

Posted by: Ligushka

I have the same exact problem, although I did not get the cell phone wet, AND I've tried the alcohol trick (where you clean the contacts of all of the connections in the phone with isopropyl or rubbing alcohol). I've cleaned all contacts (except for the camera ribbon cable) at least twice, still nothing. I've flashed the firmware to a MonsterPack (and tried the keypad fix) and still nothing. I've also tried two different batteries, and two different SIM cards, and left it off with no battery connected for 24 hours. Still broken.

Although when I press a key, it shows "Ring Volume" and I can't do anything else (except press the power button to turn the menu off). Pressing the same key again does nothing, and nor does any other key.

I have connected it via USB cable and used Motorola Phone Tools to dial a number. Everything works but the keypad itself.

I *can* get to the bootloader menu (pressing #, *, and power when the phone is turning on) with no difficulty. This leads me to believe that the keypad actually works fine.

The phone in question is a T-Mobile RAZR V3.

Can I still save this phone, or is it useless? Is swapping the PCB boards possible, and would it help? If so, where could I obtain the necessary PCB boards?

EDIT: I tried the Motorola Service Tools software to test the phone. Everything works except the keypad doesn't light up when the test is performed, and the phone appears to be off during the keypad test. Also, when I press any key (tested them all), there is no input, and the keys don't light up on the keypad test. What does this indicate? Should I check the keypad connection? Should I try to clean it once more?

The keypad lights up when the phone is turning on, however. Doesn't make much sense why it doesn't work with the testing software. I'll run another batch of tests.

EDIT2: After further testing, the keypad works. I disconnected the screen flex cable, and tested the keypad using Motofunctional (Motorola Service Tools) and it works fine. But, I need to replace the flex cable, correct? If that's true, where could I obtain the correct cable? Although before purchasing anything, I will clean the cable once more with isopropyl alcohol.

EDIT3: Cleaned it more thoroughly this time, and it didn't change anything. But now there's a dark spot on the screen where I cleaned it with isopropyl alcohol. It probably leaked on to the other side.

EDIT4: I'm assuming this is what I need? How difficult would it be to replace it? Remove the old one, clean any adhesive residue, stick the new one on?