Unsolicited Cautionary Tale Xperia C3 falls into a bucket of water

When I purchased the Xperia C3 from a store roughly two years ago, I was quickly informed by the salesperson that it wasnt waterproof. Having worked with almost all the Xperia models, I had specifically purchased the entry-level C3 because of its price, not because of any feature. Apart from the extremely limited 8 GB internal memory that renders the device pretty much useless to most users and the horrible camera, I use the Xperia C3s large screen, Sony software, and surprisingly capable hardware regularly for entertainment and use the C3 as my primary smartphone when traveling.

When the C3 accidentally fell into a bucket of water in the toilet, I moved swiftly and plucked it out. It was streaming Bill Nighys rendition of one of Charles Paris mysteries for BBC radio, when the C3 took its impromptu dive. The smartphone was in th e cold bucket of water for less than two seconds, and when I took it out the screens touch screen surface was responding to the droplets of water.

I locked the screen and quickly dried out the outer surface with a towel and T-shirt. When I powered it down, the screen and physical power button was working fine. I then removed 32 GB Sandisk micro SD card and took out the SIM tray. I allowed the C3 to sit in room temperature for 4 hours buried in the towel and T-shirt, eschewing the old trick with the rice.

As noted, the C3 isnt waterproof, but it has the same design as Xperia products with the advertised IP rating. The doors for micro SD and SIM card slots are actually pretty tight - no moisture appeared from the recesses after I pulled the product from the bucket of water.

However, the C3 has a fully open a udio jack and an exterior accessible micro SD connector, which makes it vulnerable when submerged in fluids.

I used the C3 a few hours later and it performed as usual. The volume rocker and power button worked. The touch screen was fine and apps ran as always. Wi-Fi, audio, and Bluetooth functioned. I finished off my audiobook, read a few 80s issues of Web of Spider-Man, and then connected the C3 to a charger. Unfortunately, the device, as it turned out, had not gone unscathed from the bucket incident and showed the following symptoms:

1. The C3 powered down on its own.
2. The system can be powered up, but immediately powers down once Android loads.
3. Battery charging was stuck at 25% even when connected to a micro USB charger for an extended amount of time.

The solution, as it turned out, was to expose the rear parts to make sure any remaining moisture, particularly in the power connectors, were gone. Removing the cover is simple, but requires more effort since the C3 wasnt designed to have the a back cover removed. All you need is a pick or the flat end of a small size screwdriver. Daily Motion has a very good video on removing the rear cover of the C3. 

After sufficient time with the rear cover removed, I replaced the back cover and powered up the C3. The C3 is back to normal with the power issue sufficiently resolved.

A good case wont completely protect the Xperia from submersion but it does help. I purchased a Je lly case for additional protection after the incident, particularly because the right corner of the Xperia C3 is cracked.