Nintendo Switch OLED Liquid Damage Recovery
Switch OLED fell in bathtub - completely dead. Ultrasonic cleaning, component-level repair, and NAND chip preservation recovered device and saved all game saves including 300+ hours Animal Crossing island.
The Transformation
Before & After Results
Switch OLED submerged in bathtub for ~10 seconds. Completely dead - no power, no charging LED. Motherboard heavily corroded with green oxidation on M92T36 IC and fuel gauge IC. Customer has 300+ hours on Animal Crossing island not backed up to cloud.
Switch OLED completely dead after bathtub submersion
Heavy corrosion on charging IC and power management chips
Zero signs of life - no LED, no charging indication, nothing
300+ hours of Animal Crossing island at risk (not cloud backed up)
Nintendo quoted RM 1,299 for replacement (loses all local saves)
Complete liquid damage recovery: ultrasonic cleaning of motherboard, replacement of corroded M92T36 charge IC and BQ24193 fuel gauge IC, NAND chip preservation for game save data, trace repair on power rails, full functionality restored.
Motherboard restored via ultrasonic cleaning + micro-soldering
Replaced corroded M92T36 and BQ24193 ICs
NAND chip preserved - ALL game saves intact
Switch charges, docks, and plays perfectly
Animal Crossing island recovered - customer emotional reunion
Repair Process
Step-by-Step Timeline
Emergency Water Damage Assessment
Customer brought Switch in towel still damp. Immediately opened device to prevent further corrosion. Found heavy green oxidation on M92T36 charge IC, fuel gauge IC, and surrounding components. Photographed damage.
Complete Disassembly & Component Protection
Removed Joy-Con rails, battery, game card reader, cooling fan, and shield plates. Protected critical components: NAND flash storage (contains all game saves), WiFi/Bluetooth module, eMMC. Isolated motherboard.
Ultrasonic Cleaning - Multiple Passes
Submerged motherboard in ultrasonic cleaner with 99% isopropyl alcohol. Ran 15-minute cycles, changed solution after each pass. Required 4 passes total to remove all mineral deposits and corrosion residue.
Microscopic Damage Inspection
Under microscope at 50x, identified failed components: M92T36 charge IC (corroded beyond repair), BQ24193 fuel gauge IC (oxidized pins), and damaged power rail trace near F1 fuse area.
M92T36 Charge IC Replacement
This IC controls USB-C charging and power delivery. Removed corroded chip with hot air at 350°C. Cleaned pads with solder wick. Micro-soldered new M92T36 chip using low-temp solder paste and precision placement.
BQ24193 Fuel Gauge IC Replacement
Fuel gauge IC monitors battery charge level and prevents overcharging. Replaced corroded chip following same procedure. Critical for battery safety - corrupted fuel gauge can cause battery fires.
Power Rail Trace Repair
Found broken trace in 5V power rail near F1 fuse. Used 38AWG magnet wire to bridge the break. Applied UV-cure solder mask for insulation. This rail feeds entire motherboard - critical repair.
Power-On Test (Critical Moment)
Connected power supply in current-limited mode. Switch drew 0.08A (normal standby). Connected screen - Nintendo logo appeared! NAND chip survived - all data intact. Customer's Animal Crossing island safe!
Component Testing & Reassembly
Tested all functions: Joy-Con connection (working), WiFi (working), Bluetooth (working), speakers (working), USB-C charging (working at 18W), docking (working). Reassembled Switch with new thermal paste.
Game Save Data Verification
Booted Animal Crossing. Customer's 300+ hour island loaded perfectly. Walked through island with customer via video call - they cried tears of joy seeing their preserved island. Priceless moment.
Michelle Wong
Nintendo Switch Repair Specialist
Certifications
Specialties
"Every repair I complete is done with the same care and precision I'd want for my own device. Your trust is my responsibility."
— Michelle Wong
Emily Ng
Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur
"I dropped my Switch OLED in the bathtub while watching YouTube. It died instantly. I had over 300 hours on my Animal Crossing island with custom designs and rare villagers - not backed up to Nintendo Online. Michelle recovered my Switch AND all my game saves! When I saw my island again I literally cried. She's a miracle worker. Worth every sen of RM 899."
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