HTC Heroic Dive

[Guest scubadoobpm]

Has anyone ever had to have an out of warranty repair on their Hero?

Yesterday my Orange Hero took a swim after I took an impromptu paddle in the sea to retrieve an excitable child who was just going for it. Safely back on shore I realised that the phone was no longeri in my pocket and I found it rolling in the surf. I quickly stripped it down (it had a flexishield cover - recommended!) whipped the battery out and memory card and wrapped it in some tissue back at the car. Having been underwater for almost five minutes I didn't expect much and so I turned it on later that evening after drying in the sun for several hours and then some hair drying. If it hadn't been salt water I would have waited longer but I'd really written it off already.

Surprisingly the phone turned on. The headphones were being detected so no sound, and the trackball light was permanently lit. The touch screen worked and was responsive, only the volume buttons seemed stuck and the menu key did nothing. I turned it off and decided to see what an overnight dry out would do. Today the trackball light has gone off but the button press feels dead and the ball doesn't work too well (but works). Sadly the touch screen has stopped working, but the buttons all work as they should including the menu key, and the sound and volume keys are working again.

The battery charges on charger and usb, but the phone is not detected by usb pc connection and no indicator shows up in the status bar when connected.

So all in, I'm simultaneously stunned that the Hero could survive such an experience as well as it has and gutted that it will surely never be the same again. It is only just over one month into a 24 month contract. Does anyone know if there is anyway orange will do anything for me, or HTC? The sticker has turned pink under the battery to indicate water damage. Otherwise,can anyone recommend a good out of warranty HTC repair centre based on these symptoms?

Thanks in advance if anyone can suggest something useful.

Edited October 19, 2009 by scubadoobpm

[Guest Paul]

HTC will give you a quote for repair - you can call them on 0845 890 0079 - it isn't gonna be cheap tho! :)

P

[Guest qpop]

the salt will steadily corrode the components on the mainboard. So it will degrade over time. Find out (subtley) from your bank if they'll cover it insurance wise, or if its covered by your house insurance. "It fell in the bath" would do.

Alternatively go for Orange Care. Take it out, wait 28 days, and report it. They won't let you use the insurance before 29 days and minimum you have to keep the insurance for is four months. £24 quid in total at six pounds per month.

So, you'll have to get it covered somehow, a bit of economy with the truth will help you out.

Honestly, nobody in their right mind would seriously tell you they could fix a phone that has been submerged in salt water for five minutes. It'll need every electronic component replacing just about!

[Guest scubadoobpm]

Cheers for your comments, both of you. Very helpful. I'm thinking of just opening it up and flushing it with contact spray. This sounds ludicrous given how long it was submerged, but I actually think that a lot of the phone never got wet. There's no moisture around the screen, and the battery compartment didn't even seem damp. I think with the tight flexishield the only water that really got in was through the usb port and the front buttons and trackball. Fingers crossed, I know its fairly futile but I have to at least try and save my Hero.

If anyone can still recommend a non-HTC service centre I'd be grateful. HTCs website says they wont even look at it.

[Guest rhedgehog]

If anyone can still recommend a non-HTC service centre I'd be grateful. HTCs website says they wont even look at it.

HTC Will fix it, but they'll charge you the best part of £400 to rebuild the phone....