All water damage phones must be cleaned with isopropanol and get a new battery before anything else. Ideally, desolder the EMI shields, clean with ultrasonic cleaner, spot clean with brush. Assuming you've done the best you can on this, then if still a problem...Connect to WiFi and make sure time/date is current. Toggle airplane mode off/on--this will solve a software problem when phone is searching after battery connect/disconnect due to wrong time/date. If not solvedCheck in settings--general to see if phone is showing you its IMEI---if not, then you have a baseband problem....this is a board-level repair that requires desoldering of the SIM tray itself, and then a lot of time testing individual components for loss of continuity/shorts that are part of baseband circuit. (I did one like this and the phone looked pristing after the water damage, but there was still dried coffee when I desoldered the SIM card tray).
Hi there right ok usually when a iPhone says searching and SIM card is out the time and date need to be correct but in the case of water damage then it's unsure what componants the motherboard has damaged there's a woman on here that specialises in board repairs that might give you more info her name is Jessabethany
I am having a similar issue with an IPhone 5s. The only difference is that my phone IS showing the IMEI address. Says no sim even when there is one in place but everything else works fine.
Same problem here, I took it to the Iphone shop in Manchesterand they said the cable that connects to the SIM card holder has corroded and there was no point in fixing it."
