Help! Zune went for a swim in the ocean...

H

HavocXphere

Honorary Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Messages
33,153
Reaction score
1,297
Location
Europe
My sisters Zune HD (the latest & greatest) is dead & she is very upset about it. It was submerged in salt water for a couple of seconds.

I told her I'll try to fix it but its a long shot. So now I'm planning what to do & would appreciate any input.

Sending it back is out of the question because it was bought in the US & water damage isn't covered anyway.

So the plan is to open it, remove the battery, rinse it with distilled water (since it was salt water) and then dry it via the rice method.

Couple of issues/questions:
1) The screws are sort-of like a Phillips screw, but only 3 pointed not 4. Anybody know what that thing is called & where I can get one?

2) Are there any components in there that I shouldn't get wet (again), or can I submerged it completely?

3) A quick google suggests that I should be using some alcohol product to remove residue, but its all very vague. Is this necessary?

4) If this fails, is it worthwhile to take it to a 3rd party repair service? Which one?

Any pointers would be appreciated.
Thanks
 
I'm not sure what type of screw it is, so I suggest don't unscrew it.

It already got wet, so asking whether you can submerge it again is a bit dof bru :p

Submerge it in distilled water after taking out the battery and wish wash it around a bit, simulating the ocean :D
Do the rice dry method for a day and plug the battery in and test.

If it fails you can take it to a 3rd party repair service, I suggest seeing who the Zune suppliers in S.A are and taking it from there.
 
Last edited:
teraside said:
It already got wet, so asking whether you can submerge it again is a bit dof bru :p
Click to expand...
I'm a bit....uhm...out of my depth here. Or perhaps I should say I'm floundering a bit.

I will need to open it though...battery is built in.

kDEc6.jpg

o5xTv.jpg


Some more googling reveals I need a tri-wing screwdriver, T-4 Star Driver Torx Tool and a T-6 Star Driver Torx Tool. This is going to be a mission...
 
HavocXphere said:
I'm a bit....uhm...out of my depth here. Or perhaps I should say I'm floundering a bit.

I will need to open it though...battery is built in.

kDEc6.jpg

o5xTv.jpg


Some more googling reveals I need a tri-wing screwdriver, T-4 Star Driver Torx Tool and a T-6 Star Driver Torx Tool. This is going to be a mission...
Click to expand...
Eish. Seems like a real mission man. I wouldn't submerge it now, since the battery is still in, but you know this.

You have to weigh the pros and cons and see if a repair service won't be best. I'm leaning towards it here...
 
Opportunity for a new gift? Zunes are so not the latest and greatest, time to move on.

Okay, maybe it's a torx head?

Remove battery before doing anything else (but you'd need the 'driver ;))
 
kayvee said:
Zunes are so not the latest and greatest, time to move on.
Click to expand...
Its roughly the equivalent to the top of the range ipod atm, so its pretty close to "latest & greatest". Matters little though...she prefers the Zunes over the ipods which kinda sinks all rational arguments right there.

kayvee said:
Opportunity for a new gift?
Click to expand...
I wish. Amazon want 5k for a replacement. Wantitall wants 7k. Point is...its a bit out of my reach as a gift.

Part of the problem is that is was a gift from the parents & she doesn't want to admit that she killed the couple months old gift.

kayvee said:
Okay, maybe it's a torx head?
Click to expand...
That looks like what I need. Does anybody know who stocks these, ideally brick & mortar style? Hardware stores maybe?
 
however, i used distilled water on my brother-in-law's phone afyer it went in their pool. improved it a lot. give that a try. distilled water doesn't conduct electricity, so use that to get the salt water out.
 
Easter Bunny said:
you could always add it as an item on your insurance, then a month or two from now it swims.
Click to expand...
Thinking outside the box. Nice. :) I'd prefer to keep it straight and narrow though...helping is important...but not like that.

Easter Bunny said:
however, i used distilled water on my brother-in-law's phone afyer it went in their pool. improved it a lot. give that a try. distilled water doesn't conduct electricity, so use that to get the salt water out.
Click to expand...
Sure hope so. Really sucks to see her upset like this. :(

Thanks for all the suggestions guys...I'll hunt down these screwdrivers somehow.
 
HavocXphere said:
Thinking outside the box. Nice. :) I'd prefer to keep it straight and narrow though...helping is important...but not like that.


Sure hope so. Really sucks to see her upset like this. :(

Thanks for all the suggestions guys...I'll hunt down these screwdrivers somehow.
Click to expand...

Try your local hardware store or chinese shop! Or one of these sets should have all 3 bits you need tri-wing(case screws and the T4 and T6) T4 and T6 are common these days the tri-wing not so much
http://za.rs-online.com/web/p/tool-kits-or-sets/3611776/ --> Great place to get electrical components you can't find else where

never shopped from here or heard of them... but here you go
http://www.secureonlineshopping.co....x+Tri-wing+Phillips+Slot+Screwdriver+Bit.html

Otherwise search for a Wii screwdriver... same thing


EDIT:- This thread is about where to find a tri-wing screwdriver maybe pm one of them
 
Last edited:
Instead of distilled water, try getting hold of CorrosionX.
In many cases CorrosionX can revive equipment even after saltwater immersion.
Click to expand...

This stuff works wonders which is probably why it's more expensive. It's also used by the US Navy and Airforce so it's a trusted product.
I completely soaked my pc motherboard and graphics card in it; it keeps corrosion at bay here in humid Durban.
 
Update

Looks like I managed to resurrect the Zune. Still early days though so it might still turn out to be flakey.

Highlights:
  • The tri-wing screwdriver wasn't available anywhere so a friend ended up making one from scratch.
  • On the inside of the cover it says "For our Princess"
  • Large amounts of salt deposits despite being submerged only 2 sec
  • The screen (visual) and touch screen (tactile) are two separate layers & come apart easily.
  • The battery looks like a cell battery except its squishy & bends. Sort like putty wrapped in alu foil.
  • Ended up with one extra screw left over...didn't fit for some reason despite trying all combinations. sigh
 
there are various places where you can buy the screwdrivers.

Rather use meths as it's non-conductive & dries quicker than water....
 
Meths will attack some plastics, though...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X