Am I dead?

[Mary]

Dropped my 3DS XL in water. It shut off almost immediately. It did not have a game card in it, so I believe water got in the slot. I pulled it out of the water as fast as I could, towel-dried it off, and it's now sitting in a bag of rice. It won't turn on. Is there anything I can do, or is this the end?


-Mary

 

[Scribbler397]

You should also try putting it in a ziploc bag with the silica gel packet that come in backpacks, purses, shoes, jacket pockets, etc. Put that on top of your clothes dryer (not in it) while it is running. The packets absorb water better than the rice.

It might not work, but it is worth a shot. I did this after my pokewalker (remember those?) took a trip through the washing machine, and it turned back on after that.

 

[tigereyes86]

Not necessarily dead! Merely drying the device isn't enough as the minerals in water that remain after drying are what causes the damage. I found this on a forum for you (I'd heard about the process but never looked into it as I haven't been in that position), the first few posts are quite good in dealing with water damaged devices. Good luck. As water damage voids warranties anyway, it's worth a shot at least as there's nothing to lose.
I'd probably dry it out in rice first myself though, before the isopropyl alcohol!

 

[XTheLancerX]

Well trying to turn it on after it gets wet is the worst thing you can do I have heard. It completes the circuit and shorts out because of the water or something and it screws everything up..

 

[chillv]

I don't believe water does anything to your system.

 

[Squeaky]

Don't test it, just leave it to dry at least 2 days. But if it shut off when it hit water, it's probably fried. Sorry.

A few months ago, I spilled an entire glass of Coke into a fan vent of my PC and all over my DSLR. Fortunately I kicked the power bar off within a few seconds. Took the PC apart, wiped down the hardware with rubbing alcohol, dried it with a hair drier on low, and then left it in the bathroom with the fan running for a day. It was fine and I'm using it right now. Camera got the rice treatment - though the first time I tested it the screen wouldn't come on, another day in rice and it's been working fine ever since. Could've fried $1,500+ of electronics right there. I now keep my drinks on the other side of the desk.

Bad times! Be careful around water!

 

[beffa]

D: I hope it's okay… Sounds kinda bad since it turned off when it hit the water though. What were you doing?!

 

[Fearthecuteness]

Well trying to turn it on after it gets wet is the worst thing you can do I have heard. It completes the circuit and shorts out because of the water or something and it screws everything up..

Exactly. So many people try and stupidly turn electrical devices on while it's still wet. -_-

 

[Trent the Paladin]

I don't believe water does anything to your system.

Besides kill it anyways. Any update Mary?

 

[Mary]

Yup. Dead as a doornail. It was showing signs of improvement until my mother plugged it in to charge. Zap.

 

[DJStarstryker]

Since it was on when you dropped it in the water, you're probably not going to be able to fix it. It probably got fried. If it had been off at the time, it probably would've been fixable.