My Pixel 6a got wet—touchscreen issues, need urgent advice
crwdns2934249:0crwdne2934249:0:
Hello. My aging Pixel 6a has been through a lot—drops, spills, you name it. This morning, while doing laundry, it got splashed with water. I immediately wiped it down, sucked water out of the speakers, mics (top and bottom), and the charging port with my mouth. Everything seemed fine at first, but after 30 minutes, the touchscreen started lagging—like someone was holding down the top part. This has happened before in similar situations and usually went away, so I didn’t worry.
An hour later, it got worse. The touchscreen became almost completely unresponsive—only a small area in the center worked, and the volume slider barely moved between max and slightly lower. I turned it off, put it in rice, and left for an exam. When I came back, things had deteriorated further. The touchscreen now barely responds at all—just a tiny bit in the center and the volume slider.
I asked a friend for advice, and he suggested using a hairdryer to evaporate the water, being careful not to overheat the battery or display. I tried it, but no improvement. Upon closer inspection, I noticed the top part of the display has a slight gap (unlike the solidly sealed bottom), so water probably got in there. I realized I should’ve dried it upside down in rice from the start.
Now, I’m unsure what to do. Should I disassemble it and clean the contacts with isopropyl alcohol? Or is the touchscreen permanently dead? I really don’t want to buy a new display—it’s hard to find an original one, shipping takes forever, and the display itself still works fine (only touch and maybe the fingerprint sensor are affected).
This phone is essential for me, and I’m ready to buy tools (opening kit, alcohol, glue) right now if there’s a chance to fix it. Should I attempt a repair, or is it a lost cause?
For now, I’m stuck using an ancient iPhone SE (1st gen), which is pure suffering. Any help would be greatly appreciated!