“Simple” iPhone 13 Repair Turned Into a Water-Damage Rescue
An iPhone 13 came in for a screen and battery replacement, but once opened we found corrosion from water damage. After ultrasonic cleaning and diagnostics, the only failed part was the 5G mmWave antenna—removed for a T-Mobile customer—leaving the phone fully functional.
iPhone 13 Screen & Battery Repair Uncovers Water Damage — Full Recovery
An iPhone 13 came into FixMY for what sounded like a straightforward job: replace the screen and battery.
But as soon as we opened the device, we saw something that changes everything in a repair — corrosion.
What we found after opening it
Inside the phone there were clear signs of water exposure. Corrosion can cause unpredictable issues over time (random reboots, charging problems, bad signal, Face ID issues, and more), so we paused the “simple” screen/battery swap and shifted into water-damage recovery mode.
Keeping it affordable (customer-first approach)
The customer wanted to get the phone fixed for as little as possible, so we focused on the best value approach:
- We removed components carefully
- Cleaned everything piece-by-piece
- Put key parts through an ultrasonic cleaning process
- Dried and inspected everything, then reassembled for testing
By the time we finished, the internals looked almost brand new compared to how it came in.
Diagnostics revealed one remaining issue
After cleaning and reassembly, we ran a full device diagnostic to make sure everything was stable and functional.
That’s when we found the only remaining problem:
- The 5G mmWave antenna was damaged
This specific antenna mainly impacts Verizon’s mmWave 5G. Since the customer is on T-Mobile, they chose the budget-friendly option:
- Remove the failed mmWave antenna rather than replace it
Final test: fully functional
After removing the bad mmWave antenna, we ran diagnostics again.
✅ Screen replacement: good
✅ Battery replacement: good
✅ Functionality checks: passed
✅ Device stability: solid
The iPhone was back in full working order — and the customer was extremely happy with the outcome.
Need iPhone screen, battery, or water-damage help in Utah?
If your iPhone has a broken screen, weak battery, or has been exposed to water (even if it “seems fine”), bring it in. Corrosion can hide until it causes bigger issues later. We’ll diagnose it properly and give you the best options for your budget.
FixMY — Pleasant Grove, UT
Book online or contact us anytime.
Need a repair like this?
Book a repair or message us and we’ll get you taken care of.