Water damage can be a nightmare for any smartphone owner, especially when the phone fails to boot afterward. The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra is no exception. When faced with a hefty repair quote from the official service center, it’s worth exploring more affordable alternatives. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of diagnosing and repairing a Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra water damage, focusing on addressing corrosion on key components to restore functionality. Whether you’re a professional technician or a DIY enthusiast, this step-by-step guide will help you bring your device back to life.
Phone Details:
Model: Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra
Announced: 2020, August 11
Defect Phenomenon
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra suffered water damage and cannot start up. After an assessment by the official service center, it was determined that both the motherboard and the screen were damaged and needed replacement. However, the high replacement cost led the owner to seek out a more cost-effective repair option with us.
Troubleshooting to Repair Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra Water Damage
1: Initial Assessment
- Start by placing the phone on a heating pad for a few minutes to soften any adhesives, making it easier to disassemble.
- Carefully disassemble the phone. Although it appears that the official repair center may have already cleaned the device, inspect it thoroughly for any remaining signs of water damage.
2: Protect and Remove the Motherboard
- Protect the camera module before proceeding.
- Carefully remove the motherboard, being mindful of its thin and fragile structure to avoid any damage.
Inspect the motherboard under a microscope to identify any areas affected by corrosion.
3: Identify Corrosion
- Display Connector: The display connector is heavily corroded.
- Fingerprint Connector: Similarly, the fingerprint connector shows significant corrosion.
- Other Components: There are also minor signs of corrosion on other parts of the phone, including the flex cables.
Repair Process
1: Repairing the Display Connector
- Clean the corroded display connector using a PCB cleaner.
- Gently scratch off the corroded electrolyte with a blade knife.
- Apply a small amount of tin paste and carefully “refresh” the connector pins using a soldering iron.
2: Addressing the Touch Connector Corrosion
The touch connector on the motherboard also shows corrosion. Follow the same cleaning and soldering steps as with the display connector.
3: Missing Resistor Repair
During the inspection, you might notice a missing resistor on the motherboard. To fix this, jump a wire across the missing resistor’s location.
4: Fixing the Screen Flex and Fingerprint Flex Cables
- The display flex connector has two corroded pins, which can be repaired by soldering with tin paste.
- Apply solder paste flux on the fingerprint flex cable connector and resolder it with the soldering iron.
5: Final Cleaning and Assembly
- After the repairs are complete, allow the components to cool down before cleaning the motherboard and connectors with a PCB cleaner.
- Reassemble the phone and test it.
Results: Upon testing, the phone displays normally, and all functions are working correctly. The issues were successfully resolved through careful connector resoldering and jumping a wire to replace the missing resistor.
Conclusion
Repairing a Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra water damage is a complex process that requires meticulous attention to detail, especially when dealing with corrosion. By addressing the damage on the motherboard and connectors, you can often avoid costly replacements and restore your device to full functionality. If you encounter similar issues, consider trying these repair steps before opting for more expensive solutions.
