Heidemarie

Need help; can anyone recommend how to dry out FOB that was accidentally submerged in water that had vinegar added to it. Took key out very quickly, but the inside of FOB was wet. Dried out with hairdryer but still can smell vinegar. Worried that the vinegar will corrode inside of FOB.
Question:Anyone have remedy to prevent corrosion? Certainly do not want to re-submerge FOB in regular H2O to remove vinegar smell. BTW: To my surprise FOB still starts vette after all this.
Heidi
Save the Wave

DanZR1

I've sent them through the washing machine, and jumped in the pool more than once. They are amazingly water tight. If it was me, I'd just rinse it off, and let it air dry. If you want to go OCD on it, unsnap the two halves, take the board & battery out and set them aside. Wash the plastic pieces, let them dry and put it back together. Go easy with the hair dryer, excess heat will do more damage than water...

dmaxx3500

get the battery out,wash with ''windex'' let dry and re-assemble

Zymurgy

Baking soda is a weak base that will neutralize acids giving off carbon dioxide. But I don't think I'd want to stick it into baking soda. Less drastic would be to stick in it some uncooked rice for 48 hours. The rice will absorb any remaining moisture.

CCA Corvette Parts

Rinse with water and stick in white rice for a day or two

Regards
Chip

Heidemarie

Thanks; does it need to be "white" rice? Can I use black Heirloom Forbidden Rice (that's the only kind I have at home)? Any Idea?
Heidi

CCA Corvette Parts

Sorry, can't say if it will work. Worth it to get white rice, it only $2
and it for sure works

Regards
Chip

Patches

I use this type of cleaner for boards, connectors, etc.

trivette

My fob went through the wash following my Road America trip. (I'm still not used to taking the damn thing out of my pocket, I guess)
I dried it and replaced the battery. It worked, but the battery only lasts a couple of days (I tried another one as well) so some damage was obviously done. Must be constantly searching for a signal or something causing it to drain.

NSC5

Remove and discard battery then distilled water rinse followed by bag of rice or other desiccant material.

DanZR1

FWIW, rice will absorb moisture, but you take the chance of getting a broken grain of rice & rice dust in the fob. I dunked an iPhone about 6 months ago, and after a bunch of Googling, I found many articles advising against using rice. Just my $0.02...

2K14C7

You could also use WD40. The WD stands for water displacing. Then blow it dry with some canned air.

Zymurgy

Intel recommends using rice. Hard to argue with the one of the worlds largest microchip companies. Intel Technology Tips

NSC5

Or remember those little packs of desiccant that come packed with most new electronics products, the ones that advise you "do not eat" ? I guess it is time to start saving them for use in saving fobs, phones, etc. Putting the desiccant pack in the sun on a dry day will drive out the moisture then put them in a sealed bag for future emergency use; they can also be baked but I would use caution there because you don't want to put them in a regular oven.

As 2K14C7 noted WD40 will work but it can leave a messy residue behind that you will need to wipe up. I have used it quite often in electronics work to clean things. It is primarily a light distillate of petroleum with some light oil added and the oil will remain after the other parts of the mix disappear. WD40 isn't conductive but it is highly flammable and in times past some people used it to help start a diesel engine as a less explosive alternative to ether but not a good idea with diesels that use glow plugs and/or intake grid heaters.

joemessman

GM recommends removing the battery, let air dry for one week. If it is liquid besides water, rinse the Keyfob after removing the battery and let air dry one week. Replace the battery after a week. Start the car. If not working? Buy new Keyfob. Don't ask me how I know. Mine did work following those instructions. I dropped it in the toilet.

Bill Dearborn

The problem isn't water it is acidic residue. He is trying to reduce the impact of the acid in vinegar. Flushing with a good safe electronics cleaner is the way to do that.

Bill

DanZR1

Other tech sites disagree.

https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/...phone-0154799/

Besides not really being effective, getting a swollen up piece of rice stuck inside your phone (or fob) ports is probably not a good thing. I'd not try it, as it makes sense to me. I'm sure we could both Google lots of data either way. Because internet...

Heidemarie

Thanks; WOW yours sounds worse!!!!!LOL
Heidi

Grand Slam

As others, mine has been through the was a couple of times. I just took it apart, wiped off all the parts, left in the sun for a couple of hours to dry and assembled it again. Works like a charm.

owc6

Check to see if a button is stuck, because the fob doesn't search. If it's still using battery noticeably, then you have a connection still active in the fob (whether it's a button, or a circuit that has corroded and made a connection).