Water damage indicator - Page 11

Ramesh · 06-28-2009, 02:40 AM

Originally Posted by cattyski

re: "Get a flashlight and look into the headphone jack. If it's not white, then something triggered it."

Yeah - they showed me that it was no longer white, but I honestly have NO recollection of it EVER being exposed to liquid. Not even a little bit!

That sucks. Maybe call Apple? It may be too late though. They may have input your IMEI in thier system to note a voided warranty.

Redon · 06-28-2009, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by Kev1000000

This is BS.

The white thing you're seeing is part of the headphone jack assembly. All headphone jacks have this.

Next time you go post about info you think you know, look it up. Dont guess.

The OP is right, moron. Mine is red because it was raining and i was holding my phone in my hand, i guess one drop got in there and made it red.

Bitewound · 06-28-2009, 09:31 AM

I always have a zip lock bag with me and if it even looks like rain-the phone goes in it. I do not ever want to hear your warranty is voided because of water damage.

Luckykelleyk · 06-28-2009, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by Redon

The OP is right, moron. Mine is red because it was raining and i was holding my phone in my hand, i guess one drop got in there and made it red.

Haha, you might be a little late getting through to this guy. This thread was started A LONG time ago.

Tashana Saurus · 06-29-2009, 12:56 AM

Originally Posted by CaptainCarl

my iphone was returned to an apple store because of the silent toggle breaking off. another common problem with the design.

the genius took out his little micro light thing and peeked down into the headphone jack. without even looking at the broken toggle, he handed me back my phone and said; "sorry man, your phone has water damage, so the warrantee is void". excuse me sir? there is nothing wrong with my phone, besides the broken toggle i said. he replies, "this is the part of my job that i hate the most. ive had to turn away lots of pissed off customers because of water damage". i asked him what could be done to keep water from entering (my phone has never been exposed to water directly, only walking down the street in rainy Oregon and maybe while sitting on the shelf in the bathroom while i shower). he says to me, "well, what i do, is keep a finger over the headphone socket in order to keep any moisture from entering".

absolutely brilliant! nice job Apple! very clever way to void the warrantee just as the customer leaves the controlled environment of the Apple Store.

count me in for a class action if it ever gets filed.

o..m..g..
This **** happened to me today
but its been since I updated to 3.0..
My batt life has been ****
so I brought it in..
cant do anything cuz I have water damage.. they wont even think about it being anythign to do with 3.0
ive never gotten any water on it.. and i told the guy the most is txting in the rain or talking on it while walking.. and he said the same thing.. holing the headphone jack lol.. and another girl.. at the 'genius bar' also just flashed her light and said im sorry water damage... warranty voided... bye!'
ugh fml.

cpatterson · 07-02-2009, 12:39 AM

I've been reading some of the posts and the same thing happened to me with a so called water damage. I have never placed my phone near water. I may have sweat on it while I was talking on it, but that is rediculous if this sets off any sensor. My phone just quit. By quitting I mean I just had the apple symbol come on and that is it. I sent the phone in and they said it had been exposed to water. BULL SH&$T!!! I argued and argued but could not win my case.

cpatterson · 07-02-2009, 12:42 AM

How do we get to Apple and say this isn't our fault? I updated to 3GS and it quit the next morning. Can we file a complaint? This is just Apple making big bucks again off the small people.

pacman77 · 07-02-2009, 02:10 AM

HI thanks for that I was wondering what that was for I had a look in the manual now I know,will have to get a waterproof cover for it...cheers

Cecil · 07-24-2009, 02:33 PM

My first real customer service experience with Apple today went...um...well, HORRIBLE! Two days ago my iPhone stopped connecting to wi-fi networks. The phone sees all of the networks in its range. However it is unable to connect to any of them. It gives the message, "unable to join network (SSID)". It wouldn't even connect to the unsecured network in the Apple store.

I am perplexed by this behavior because the phone hasn't had any recent traumatic events like drops or anything. And every other function of the phone works like a dream. There's nothing wrong with it beyond this wi-fi connectivity issue.

So I made the mistake of assuming I could simply drive to the Apple store and get some help. Spoke with a concierge when I got there who really didn't inspire confidence. She didn't seem to understand the difference between my 3G connection and a wi-fi connection. She diagnosed the phone as working perfectly fine when she was able to get to Google from the browser. I had to press the issue a little bit before she made me an appointment with a Genius. Why? Because the Genius Bar was booked for the day already with tons of other people having issues with their Apple products!!!!

I made the appointment and took my second 45 minute drive to the Apple Store. After being introduced to my "Genius" he examined my iPhone and literally shocked me with his diagnosis! "Oh, btw your warranty is void because this phone shows signs of water exposure." I was like, "Wha What What???!!!" My phone has NEVER been exposed to water.

I quickly started racing through the scenarios that could have possibly caused the positive pregnancy test reading on my iPhone. I came up with nothing. I asked if it could be triggered by sweat. I jog with it. The Genius said it was not likely. What about spray cleaners? I've cleaned it once or twice with a spray cleaner. Not likely again. Rain? Condensation? What could it possibly be? The Genius told me it had to be a significant amount of water. The plain and simple truth is that my iPhone has never been exposed to a significant amount of water ever.

The Genius reset my phone and did a restore on it. The problem persisted and he then told me there was nothing he could do. He offered to let me purchase a new phone for $199. I simply stood there at the Genius Bar, watching the other folks at the bar describe their multitude of problems with their products. The guy immediately next to me ended up with a new iPhone because of the goofy way his phone was storing pictures. This was his third visit to the Genius bar for a new device. My perception of Apple as the producer of over priced but "infallible" products went crashing into the ground like a rocket propelled lawn dart.

During the drive home, thoroughly frustrated, I recalled that I had accidentally set the phone down on my father's out door bar top 2 weeks earlier. For a split second I had set the phone on top of the remnants of a small melted ice cube. A paper thin layer of water may have touched the phone perhaps. Even so, I thought it amazing that the phone would break from this. It would make the Apple iPhone the most fragile electronic device I've ever owned.

Again, the phone is fully functional except for this annoying wi-fi issue. I find it hard to believe the problem has anything at all to do with water exposure. If it were truly a hardware problem then why does the NIC detect networks within range? How is it doing that if the NIC is water damaged? In fact, when he looked at my problem, the Genius was certain it was software related at first. Because he said that very thing, "if it were hardware you wouldn't see any networks." He conveniently reversed his position when the "restore" didn't work. Yeah...must be water damage.

I of course researched the water exposure indicator on Apple's website. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3302 On that web page one can see the wide red mark that indicates water exposure on an iPhone. I wish I could take a hi-res pic of my phone's power jack for all to see. But there aren't enough megapixels in the world that would capture the SPEC of red that is located on my phone. I never did see it in the Apple store when the Genius was shining a light on it. I had to come home and put a shop light up to it to finally notice the thing. It's not even as wide as one of the pins on the connector. A house fly's urine would make a larger mark in the phone!

So what next? I set up another appointment with The Little Einsteins and attached the following message:

"I was turned away for warranty work at the Genius Bar today and I'd be very appreciative of a second opinion. The Genius I dealt with informed me that my phone is showing signs of water exposure due to a red mark under the power supply dock. I researched the mark here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3302

My iPhone does NOT remotely resemble the examples pictured on the support page. Keeping the device on my person practically 24/7, I can assure you that it has not been exposed to water beyond normal condensation or perhaps sweat from when I jog. I concede that there does appear to be a "spec" of this indicator showing. When I say "spec" I mean it may not even be the width of one of the pins in the power connector. Practically microscopic!

The indicator at the top of the phone is clean. The indicator at the bottom has a mark smaller than a proton. Being completely up front because I'm not trying to get a freebie here, several weeks ago the phone may have briefly been sat upon the remnants of a tiny round melted ice cube. I sweat more than the amount of water it "might" have possibly been exposed to.

The phone has worked great since that incident up until 2 days ago when it would no longer connect to networks (even though it can see them)! And it still works great. The Wi-fi issue I'm having seems to have nothing to do with water. I've used a spray cleaner on it once or twice. I sweat when running with it. I've walked to my car with it in the rain. Beyond that it's never so much as been set down near a sink. It's never been exposed to water! Never submersed, partially submersed, or even had a corner dipped.

Can I please speak with a manger to have my situation evaluated? If my warranty is void and the wi-fi problem I'm having is actually related to water, Apple has created the most fragile electronic device of all time. I'm not perfect, but I have taken majorly good care of this device. I was in love with the thing and now I am completely distraught over the situation. I could not believe I was refused service and advised to spend $199 for the replacement of a device that's less than 1 year old. I feel rail roaded. I have no confidence in Apple at the moment.

A spec folks! A spec!"

If I could find a link or phone number I'd make a formal complaint to Apple corporate. But they hide that contact information very well. I'm nothing short of gutted by what I thought was the most revolutionary device I've ever purchased. I would overlook it's short comings and praise it's advantages. But when you get down to it. It's a stupidly over priced cell phone sold by a company with an excellent marketing department. Mac's are not more reliable than PC's as evidenced by the existence of the "Genius Bar". What PC company offers free tech support and service by appointment? Why would they need to? It's marketing. It's fluff. And the only thing that could possibly separate Apple from the rest is customer service. Which in my opinion, they are failing at miserably.

If you own AAPL I recommend selling it within the next few months. If this is how they treat new customers, their hot streak will eventually come to an end. I view Mac purists as nothing more than suckers. I'll NEVER own one. And iPhone fanboys, I counted myself among you until 4 hours ago, check out this site. I think this guy speaks the truth:

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone

Unless of course someone fixes my freakin phone!

Cecil · 07-24-2009, 02:39 PM

Yes, hello Mr. Top Tier customer service representative. Two days ago my iPhone that I purchased at Christmas this year has a problem. The wi-fi stopped working. Well, it works as it can detect all wi-fi networks within its range. However, it fails to connect to any of them. I receive the message "unable to join network (ssid)".

I met with a Genius from the Genius Bar at the Apple store yesterday and he informed me that my phone's moisture indicator was tripped. I was shocked by this because I have no knowledge of this phone ever having been exposed to moisture. This voids the warranty on the phone and I have no recourse outside purchasing a refurbished device for $199.

(now the guy on the phone was very nice and polite. But the conversation went like this)

Q: The moisture indicator is the size of a pin hole on the bottom of my phone. It does not at all resemble the long line shown on Apple's website as being a tripped indicator. Is it common for such as small portion of it to be tripped? It's literally smaller than a pin hole.

A: Oh yes, that's very common. All it takes to trip the indicator is 95% humidity.

Q: Okay, so what sorts of activities could trip the indicator? Could jogging do it since you sweat? Could spray cleaners? Or what about the spray that EVERY iPhone screen protector comes with to remove dust and air bubbles?

A: Oh yes, all of those things could trip the indicator. Again, anything that generates 95% humidity. I tripped mine once by sticking it in my pocket after jogging while I was still sweating and hot. A spray cleaner could definitely do it as well.

Q: I understand but it doesn't make sense to me that an amount of liquid so small that the tripped part of the indicator is the size of a pin head would cause the wi-fi to stop working. Is the phone that fragile?

A: (Silence)

Q: Is it really water damage that is the culprit? I mean if the wi-fi hardware is damaged, how is it able to read networks within range?

A: Well, you know how when a person hits their head and they can still walk around but they aren't 100%? That's the same thing that's happening to your phone.

Q: (Blood pressure sky rocketing) So, if liquid exposure is the reason the wi-fi is damaged how come it worked up until 2 days ago and the only incidents I can think of that could have "potentially" exposed it to moisture occurred over 2 weeks ago?

A: You know how after Hurricane Katrina some people went back their homes, cleaned them up, and started living in them again? Only to discover a few weeks later that they had a huge mold problem? That's similar to what's happening to your phone

(At this point I nearly thew said phone through a wall. But that would have disconnected the call and I simply needed to hear more.)

Q: So is there no other action I can take to have my situation looked at on a one on one basis? Perhaps give my problem it's due diligence? Maybe open it up and determine whether or not moisture is actually the cause of this malfunction?

A: Unfortunately there's nothing we can do for you. Once that moisture sensor is tripped the warranty is void. We can't replace the phone or service it.

Q: Is there a manager or a higher level that I can file a complaint with?

A: Actually sir, I am the highest level of phone support there is. I can certainly file a complaint for you and here is your tracking number: xxxxxxxx. I do apologize for the inconvenience. But you can purchase another phone for $199.

If I were you, because this does sound somewhat software related, I'd wait for the next release of the OS. Install it and see if the wi-fi starts working again. Maybe purchase an arm strap for jogging instead of holding it in your hand. Again, 95% humidity will trigger the sensor and there are many ways to achieve 95% humidity.

And that's pretty much it for Apple support of the iPhone. I've seen two people in person and spoken with 4 others on the telephone. The very telephone that operates great except that it's so water damaged Apple won't service it. Apparently this happens with Blackberries too. They have moisture indicators on them.

What bugs me the most is the lack of an intermediate process. It's apparently too costly for Apple to crack a device open and look at it or fix it. Yet it's too costly to give away devices when something goes wrong...which is what they do. So they come up with super easy ways of voiding the warranty so you can't have a new device unless you pay $199 for one. For a "refurbished" one at that. Hmmm... refurbished eh? You mean the phones you're taking off people's hands after they pay you $199, fixing them, and then selling them to the next poor bastard who has a minor issue and a voided warranty?

They don't offer a repair of any kind. Just buy a new phone! No wait, I mean an old phone. Crapple sucks. I'm going to try a few other avenues I guess. But it shouldn't be this difficult.

I get more infuriated when I think that the most popular iPhone screen protectors come with spray bottles you need to use in order to properly apply them. The numerous jogging, workout, and fitness apps for the iPhone. Never once have I read a warning label or been sufficiently made aware of how easy it is to set off a moisture indicator.

And really, shouldn't they relate the problem to moisture before refusing service for a moisture indicator? If you sneeze on the wrong side of your phone everything that goes wrong with it from that point forward is the result of moisture damage?

I understand why this policy is in place. I really do. But there must be many more customers out there just like me who have no idea how or when the moisture indicator was tripped or the ramifications of that happening. I'm thoroughly disgusted with Crapple. And now I'm sad because I really liked the product and thought I'd own one forever. As soon as my contract is up I'm going a different route.

For anyone with an iPhone...beware:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/04/14/s...ggy/index.html

http://www3.whdh.com/features/articl...eport/BO113028