Wet 3ds

[autumn solar]

My 3ds just got dunked in water because my water bottle suddenly spilled in my backpack and when i opened it the top screen was flickering and i was trying to shake all the water and dry it out and i turned it off but now there's weird spots on the top screen I'm really worried since I've had this 3ds for more than 10 years now please help me asap thanks

I forgot to say it's a 3ds xl

Wait here's a picture

I don’t have a screwdriver right now and I’m at my friends house I need help please

[hoary zephyr]

For now do not turn it on

Once you get a screwdriver you should take out the battery and sd card and make sure they're dry. Then you should disassemble the 3ds and dry everything with a microfibre cloth. Then leave it disassembled for at least 2 days, up to around 5 in an area that isn't humid. You may want to put something over it like tissue or a microfibre cloth so that the water can evaporate but dust wont collect on the components. Clean the components with some ipa just to be certain there's no dust then reassemble and turn it on

The most important thing is that you do not turn it on until it has completely dried

[autumn solar]

I think i accidentally turned it off and on once but then i kept it off

Thanks

I'll do those things once i get back home

Is there anything i can do right now?

The outside is dry rn

[hoary zephyr]

Not really, just leave it off

[hoary zephyr]

Take out the sd card if it's still inserted

Gently dry it if it's wet

[autumn solar]

Okay tysm

I did what you said earlier

Sorry for the late reply

[autumn solar]

do i have to completely disassemble the 3ds or can i just take apart the backplate

[hoary zephyr]

It looks like the water has mainly gotten on the top screen so you should take that out. Doing so requires disassembling most of the console

[autumn solar]

do i need to use anything else besides a screwdriver and if i did turn it on while it was wet would it still be possible to repair it or is it just ruined

[hoary zephyr]

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+3DS+XL+Upper+LCD+Display+Replacement/25070

[hoary zephyr]

The fact that you turned it on shouldn't be a major issue considering the 3ds didn't turn itself off

Turning it on doesn't guarantee damage, it's just that turning on means any components that have water on them are at risk of damage

It's difficult to say now, you'll just have to see after it dries, but from what I can tell at worst it'll need the top screen replaced.

[autumn solar]

tysm that cleared up alot of things

[autumn solar]

sorry for the ping but i just finished disassembling the bottom and now im trying to fix the top but when iwas getting the rubber pieces off it only shows metal behind it

maybe i shouldve just went to a repair shop this is way too hard im very bad at this type of stuff

nevermind i just foiuind out the metal was supposed to be a part of that

[autumn solar]

Should i take out the screen or leave it like this

[hoary zephyr]

Take it out

[autumn solar]

okay i just did all of those things on the website you sent but i think i just lost the tiny fabric used for the speakers i might have to order some new ones

hopefully besides the screen and that everything else is fine

i didnt really see any corrosion on the motherboard which is good

[hoary zephyr]

Considering the water spill was recent, you shouldn't see any corrosion at all

If you did it wouldn't be from the water you just spilt

[autumn solar]

sorry for the late reply but is there any guides to reassemble the 3ds? i have no self confidence and i feel like im gonna mess up if i just use the guide you gave me but backwards

[hoary zephyr]

Also this one, which is a shell swap but should still be useful. This has no commentary and a much better view of what's being done https://youtu.be/ulwjPQ_Ntro?si=z9YcEXoVO_xSw79N

[autumn solar]

thank you so much

ive dried it for about 3 weeks now so hopefully the top screen isnt glitchy anymore

[hoary zephyr]

Have you already reassembled?

If not this video is better than the first one I sent, lots of close ups of what's being done. It's a top LCD replacement but the reassembly should be the same. https://youtu.be/fzK6Q74dVt4?si=KXHvHY_DIMIu7hW6

[autumn solar]

no not yet everytime i plan on doing it when i have free time i change my mind since its pretty scary

thanks i'll use this instead

[hoary zephyr]

That's fine, you may want to do it a bit at a time rather than the entire reassembly at once if you're nervous

[autumn solar]

one last question, since i've left it out for a while it's collected some dust should it still work fine when there's a bit of dust inside once i finish reassembling?

[hoary zephyr]

Blow it off with compressed air. You could also wipe it off with a dry microfibre cloth, and clean any stubborn parts with some ipa

[autumn solar]

alright i'll try it out, thank you so much for all the help you've given

hopefully it turns out okay

even if i don't clean it fully, a tiny bit of dust should probably be fine i think

maybe