# Can my cell phone be saved **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 21, 2002, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-cell-phone-be-saved/128979 "2002-09-21T11:44:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-cell-phone-be-saved/128979/1 "2002-09-21T11:44:24Z")
I was drinking a glass of Lynchburg Lemonade last night, didn’t finish it and went to bed. When I awoke my cell phone vibrated itself off the UPS I had it on into the glass. It had to have been in it for at least 6 hours. My model is a Nokia 3390 ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-cell-phone-be-saved/128979/2 "2002-09-21T13:36:08Z")
try opening it up and drying it. see if that helps. in any case, your warranty doesn’t cover water damage, so you might as well open it up and try to mess around. leave the parts out to dry for a few hours. avoid direct sunlight. put it back together and see if it powers on normally. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-cell-phone-be-saved/128979/3 "2002-09-21T18:06:31Z")
Xash, well I can’t find a screwdriver that fits the screws to get to the guts so I decided to find out how much another phone is. They told me if I renew my contract for one year (would have expired in Oct) they would send me a free phone. I found out the SIM card was not damaged (it works in my fathers phone) so I’ll be phoneness for a few days ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-cell-phone-be-saved/128979/4 "2002-09-21T18:11:02Z")
I’d try this, but it probably won’t work: Take the battery out. Let it soak overnight in distilled water (the idea is to re-dissolve the suger and whatever other crap may have dried across on the circuitry). Then rinse it, or shake it, or try to induce the water to flow over the circuitry (to try and get the various re-dissolved crap out of the phone). Then let it dry out again. Then put the battery back in, and try again. Like I say, it probably won’t work, but whaddaya gotta lose? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-cell-phone-be-saved/128979/5 "2002-09-21T20:21:57Z")
**yojimboguy** ’s method worked for my co-worker when he dropped his cell phone in sea water. The theory is solid, so why not try it? Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-cell-phone-be-saved/128979/6 "2002-09-21T20:59:13Z")
**ypjimboguy** agrees with the help provided at [www.repairfaq.org](http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_audiofaqb.html#AUDIOFAQB_008) (see also the adjacent sections). The FAQ assumes disassembly, would help a lot if you know how to.