Moisture Damage to iPad after only a few drops of liquid? Options?

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CNapple1981 Author

Level 1

8 points

Moisture Damage to iPad after only a few drops of liquid? Options?

I bought my iPad on Sunday and on Monday the touch screen wasn't working too well. On Tuesday I brought it to work and had a bottle of cranberry juice in my bag with the iPad. When I pulled my iPad out of my work bag, I noticed litterally 2 DROPS of juice on the seam around the rubber seal. I wiped it away with my hand and no worries...until the device started going haywire: apps opening on their own, emails spontaneously deleting, etc. The Genius at my store told me that since there was "subjection to liquid" and the moisture sensor was activated, I have no options other than just to throw it away. I bought it only 4 days ago! I agree that I was in the wrong for putting a bottle of liquid in my bag with my device, but how can it be that sensitive? There was also a sale paper from Ulta in the bottom of my bag and it was moistened but only on the back page; not even enough moisture to damage 2 pages of a magazine! Does anyone have any ideas on how to dry out this device? I can't bear to say I've lost $600 after only 4 days of use.

iPad

Posted on Jun 4, 2010 9:03 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 4, 2010 9:17 AM in response to CNapple1981

The fact that it was juice is particularly bad due to the sugar content, which can cause long term issues. I had a customer who spilled water all over their Macbook. They dried it as best they could, and then stored it in a big bag of rice for several days. The rice absorbed all of the moisture, and they are back up and running.

You have nothing to lose by trying to dry it out and see if it starts working.

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Answer 2

StevePug2

Level 2

376 points

Jun 4, 2010 12:27 PM in response to CNapple1981

If the Genius told you that the moisture sensors had activated enough to void the warranty, I would think that more than a couple of drops hit the thing. The iPad screen is fairly well sealed. There is a moisture sensor in the headphone jack, like on the iPhone (as well as in other places). But it needs quite a bit of moisture, I've heard, in order to turn completely red (the indication). But I'm surprised that he told you that all you could do was throw it away! You mentioned that the screen had not been working well before this. What, exactly, was not working well about it? Did you tell that to the rep?

If indeed you managed to void your warranty, look around for iPad repairers who work independently (there are quite a few fixing iPhones, so maybe start with them). Maybe they can repair it and if so it would cost a lot less than the out of warranty repair from Apple.

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Answer 3

Jun 4, 2010 2:19 PM in response to CNapple1981

I suggest hurrying up with repair or service!

iPad has a powerful battery and a large part of internal circuit is permanently energised. If there is any moisture inside it is now corroding the tracks on the PCB and ICs pins. Discharging won't help because the the battery retains large residual charge even when fully depleted.

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Answer 4

CNapple1981 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 4, 2010 3:16 PM in response to Tamara

Definitely could have, but it's not like I went swimming with it. I read another reply on a different thread where an IT guy said you'd have to literally submerge the iPad in water to cause a reaction. Who knows?
Though I compulsively measure my liquid intake with these reusable water bottles, and it was not even empty enough below the fill line to make a difference.

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Answer 5

CNapple1981 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 4, 2010 3:18 PM in response to StevePug2

I mentioned that it wasn't working properly even before the "juice incident" but his reply was basically, "There's no way to prove it now." I would feel the same way if a customer said that to me, probably.

By "not working" I mean that it was not responding to touch. I would tap an icon over and over with no response. I was showing it to my family and my dad even commented, "Is it programmed only to respond to your particular fingerprints?" (I should invent that App, right? Ha ha)

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Answer 6

CNapple1981 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 4, 2010 3:19 PM in response to Craig Brady

I'm trying the rice now. Thanks for the advice! Someone on another thread also said you can place it onto a warm surface (90 degrees or so) for about a week. I'm not sure how I'd accomplish that other than maybe sticking it in my hot garage for a week.

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Answer 7

Triple22

Level 1

15 points

Jun 4, 2010 4:35 PM in response to CNapple1981

i don't know if this is the same as a phone but i left my phone in washing machine before i remembered 10mins after putting it in. i got it out finally and took back and front off (not saying to do this with your iPad). I then left it for 30mins, the water had gone a bit but not majourly. The next thing i did at my own risk was use a hair dryer on it but used the coolest possible not the hottest or hot. eventually you could see the water starting to go and by then end of the night say 1hour later is was fine. i hair dryed it for like 5mins left it came back did another 5mins etc untill it starts going. i did this at my own risk mind its an idea

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Answer 8

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Jun 4, 2010 10:09 AM in response to CNapple1981

There may have been 2 drops on the screen but more than that could have seeped inside.

http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/service/faq/#warranty7 lists the out of warranty replacement prices.

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Answer 9

CNapple1981 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 4, 2010 3:15 PM in response to Leo Bodnar

Well, the Genius told me there is absolutely no repair whatsoever that can be done. So I'm at a loss. How can that be?

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Answer 10

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Jun 4, 2010 3:39 PM in response to CNapple1981

Call your credit card company. Many credit card companies will cover accidental damage for 90 days or so.

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