Develop Bugs

Broken USB port?

Hey guys, i'm starting to think that my USB port is broken. I've been tethering my phone to my desktop for the past month but recently i've been having spotty connections to the computer. then today my computer tells me the USB device has malfunctioned whenever i plug it in, i've tried 2 different cables and 2 different computers, as well as CM7 and nitsuj's vanilla gingerbread rom but still no luck. the phone charges fine, but i need to have a pc connection.
thanks in advance to anyone who helps.
-zax

I recently was having the same problem and it started getting progressively worse. Called Verizon and got a warranty exchange. My biggest concern was that the USB would stop working completely and then I wouldn't be able to restore it to factory. Luckily when the new one arrived I had it downgraded and rooted and the old one back to S-on all in about an hour.

I would have to "wiggle" the cord around in various positions until I got my computer to recognize it. Once I got a good connection I had to be careful not to even breathe on the cord or I would lose the connection.

I've always felt that this is a weak link for the DInc2...

Yeah mine has progressed to where the phone has to sit in a very particular way overnight to charge. I haven't had time to take it to Verizon to have them take care of this issue.

It's either that damn ribbon cable or the cable that I got with my Dark DIncII that was so tough to pull from the jack that I thought I was going to pull the jack right out of the phone.
VZW corp store said at first that it will get looser with time.
Now I see what he meant.
At the time I showed him how it did similar to my 2 year old Fathom.
He said well that's an LG for you.
I said get me a cable please. OK
The replacement cable fit much better in both devices.
I still switched it with my wife's DIncI cable, Well seasoned.
With the Red DIncII the cable was re designed with a relief on BOTH sides of the plug.
It's still tight, but it doesn't remind me so much of the time when that damn nurse pulled my catheter out of it's position with 5 of the 15 cc of fluid still in the locking bulb. *****...
Any way it,s a known issue (The Cable) that has prompted attention to a re design of the cable at least.
I will look into locating the ribbon cable and or jack complete.
Because the Red DIncII has the issue with a rattle in the area of that jack only when the back is removed.
And I am not about to exchange my otherwise MINT phone for a warranty refurb that will no doubt encounter similar issues.
If not more, according to what I have been reading about the ones getting sent back to VZW.
I rooted with full intention of keeping what I have and not getting stuck in the revolving door of refurbs..
Yes I am happy with self service, within reason.
Has anyone that gotten a replacement unit gotten a refurb?
As in just the unit without battery or door and plain brown box.
Thanks..

[Q] Nexus nonchargeable, starts smoking(!), still turns on

Hey guys, I probably have a pretty unusual question or rather observation. Sometime yesterday night when I connected the Galaxy Nexus to the power outlet it started to make a crackling noise. I immediately disconnected it but it already smelled like burnt plastic. As you can believe I was pretty shocked! Trying to turn on the phone worked flawlessly though, so I though, OK might have been my outlet and tried two different ones. Still to no avail, the phone works but won't charge.
I turned it off for the night and waited until the morning to try to connect it to my computer (thinking maybe it's the plug that's broken) and reset it to factory default. Big mistake! Windows pops up with a warning telling em that it detected a power surge on one of my USB ports, resulting in my phone still not charging, the USB port being broken (won't recognize my USB key anymore), and and the Micro-USB connector emitting some smoke after I unplug it from the Nexus.
Now, enough storytelling. Maybe you guys can help me with the mountain of questions I have after this episode:
A) Really, what happened here? I don't think it has something to do with the software side of it, can it? (eg Battery overloaded?) Then I would guess more people would have had the same problem... I'm running AOKP M3 and Franco Kernel 3.0.08-M1.
B) Did anyone have the same problem?
C) I guess it's unfixable from a software standpoint, so my only option would be to send it back to Amazon and hope they replace it. Any other ideas? I bought it at Amazon.de (Germany) but due to it having AOKP Rom and Franco Kernel installed getting a replacement might be difficult.
C) How do I get my USB port functioning again? It's a new notebook but I don't want to send it back for repairs as I bought it in Hong Kong (I have an international warranty though.) and need it to write my Thesis.
Update: Uninstalled and re-installed the USB drivers, that fixed the USB port.
Thanks for your time and hopefully help!
A confused GN user.

majar said:
Hey guys, I probably have a pretty unusual question or rather observation. Sometime yesterday night when I connected the Galaxy Nexus to the power outlet it started to make a crackling noise. I immediately disconnected it but it already smelled like burnt plastic. As you can believe I was pretty shocked! Trying to turn on the phone worked flawlessly though, so I though, OK might have been my outlet and tried two different ones. Still to no avail, the phone works but won't charge.
I turned it off for the night and waited until the morning to try to connect it to my computer (thinking maybe it's the plug that's broken) and reset it to factory default. Big mistake! Windows pops up with a warning telling em that it detected a power surge on one of my USB ports, resulting in my phone still not charging, the USB port being broken (won't recognize my USB key anymore), and and the Micro-USB connector emitting some smoke after I unplug it from the Nexus.
Now, enough storytelling. Maybe you guys can help me with the mountain of questions I have after this episode:
A) Really, what happened here? I don't think it has something to do with the software side of it, can it? (eg Battery overloaded?) Then I would guess more people would have had the same problem... I'm running AOKP M3 and Franco Kernel 3.0.08-M1.
B) Did anyone have the same problem?
C) I guess it's unfixable from a software standpoint, so my only option would be to send it back to Amazon and hope they replace it. Any other ideas? I bought it at Amazon.de (Germany) but due to it having AOKP Rom and Franco Kernel installed getting a replacement might be difficult.
C) How do I get my USB port functioning again? It's a new notebook but I don't want to send it back for repairs as I bought it in Hong Kong (I have an international warranty though.) and need it to write my Thesis.
Update: Uninstalled and re-installed the USB drivers, that fixed the USB port.
Thanks for your time and hopefully help!
A confused GN user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A) Sounds like a short circuit somewhere. My guess would be the connector or close to it.
B) I certainly didn't but I'm sure it's happened to someone.
C) Unroot and Relock and send it back to Samsung if Amazon doesn't take it back. I'm not sure about their return policy since it's a cellphone that is under warranty. May also depend how long ago you bought it.
The more I think about it I wonder if it's just the USB cable... Since you said the smoke came from the Micro-USB connector... Plug it back into the computer without the phone and see if you get the USB power surge thing again. There may just be a short in the cable.
Of course checking it with a multimeter would be safer, do you have one of those?
Or do you have another Micro-USB you can try charging the phone with?

chjade84 said:
C) Unroot and Relock and send it back to Samsung if Amazon doesn't take it back. I'm not sure about their return policy since it's a cellphone that is under warranty. May also depend how long ago you bought it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that I can't even unroot it since it is not being recognized by the computer (and I get the power surge warning). I will try with the new cable, and then send it back even if it works. might give me problems further down the line if I don't.
chjade84 said:
The more I think about it I wonder if it's just the USB cable... Since you said the smoke came from the Micro-USB connector... Plug it back into the computer without the phone and see if you get the USB power surge thing again. There may just be a short in the cable.
Of course checking it with a multimeter would be safer, do you have one of those?
Or do you have another Micro-USB you can try charging the phone with?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a different cable (or multimeter) near me at the moment but will give an update as soon as I do. I didn't get the power surge warning when I just plugged in only the cable, but as there is no source that could draw power that seems likely to me.
P.s.: Just bought it in january so generally sending it back shouldn't be a problem - if I can get it unrooted.

majar said:
The problem is that I can't even unroot it since it is not being recognized by the computer (and I get the power surge warning). I will try with the new cable, and then send it back even if it works. might give me problems further down the line if I don't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I kind of forgot about that...
majar said:
I don't have a different cable (or multimeter) near me at the moment but will give an update as soon as I do. I didn't get the power surge warning when I just plugged in only the cable, but as there is no source that could draw power that seems likely to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's "good" in that we know the cable isn't shorted. I thought maybe some pins or wires were touching inside the cable that would cause a short (+5VDC and GND) even without the cable being plugged into anything.
So it does look like the fault is in the phone somewhere... And that could be just about anything.
Being that it's Amazon they probably will just replace it and not even bother with checking for it being rooted - especially since you can say it's smoking. As far as I know only the carriers will turn on the phone and look it over (not to mention most Amazon employees wouldn't know root it it reached out of the phone and smacked them across the face). Other 3rd party stores just mark it as defective and put it in a box to send back. I'm not sure how Amazon's return process works though.
I had several problems with my EVO (speakers mostly) and had it rooted when I took it in. They just fixed it anyway and even told me they liked what I had done with it a few times.

Hey, just to give an update I didn't get a specific explanation but Amazon replaced the battery, cable & charger. Now its working again. No problems with it being rooted, they even left rooted but installed stock android & kernel.

I'm currently having this problem, i called google, and they transferred me to samsung. And their department that handles this issue is closed on weekends

peacebomber said:
I'm currently having this problem, i called google, and they transferred me to samsung. And their department that handles this issue is closed on weekends
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any update? i'm having this problem aswell. my phone wont charge through the wall charger but will when connected to a computer... but when it's connected to the computer it says that my usb device (phone) has malfunctioned.
because of that "malfunction" i cant revert back to stock everything and relock everything to get it repaired with bell mobility.

marrrio_ said:
any update? i'm having this problem aswell. my phone wont charge through the wall charger but will when connected to a computer... but when it's connected to the computer it says that my usb device (phone) has malfunctioned.
because of that "malfunction" i cant revert back to stock everything and relock everything to get it repaired with bell mobility.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when i sent them my phone i couldn't bring back to stock software but i still shipped it out either way, i actually got an email from samsung today saying a component has been replaced and being shipped out back to to me, so i guess they fixed it with it being rooted, so when i receive it ill let you know

Well I got back my phone today and its charging again. But they restored my phone back to factory setting. So I lost all my pics and phone didn't restore previous apps etc but oh well as long as they fixed it and no questions asked I'm happy
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

[Q] Is there a fix for the usb port charging issue ?

First thing, sorry if this has been answered before. The thread search never works from my phones. It just disappears as soon as my keyboard appears.
Is there a way to fix the USB /charging port to keep it from being so touchy? I've tried new factory data /charge cable. I've tried expensive brand name cables. They all seem to work for a more th or two pretty well and then its back to charge/not charge sometimes without even touching the phone.
This has been the way with every Samsung phone I've owned and it is so aggravating because, as I'm trying to type or while playing a game it interrupts and causes lags and also the battery will die while I think its charging if I can't see a battery icon.
Other than sending both my phones in for new USB jacks/ports, is there something I can do? I'm pretty capable at fixing electronics if not too technical.

seem to be having bad luck with your ports i would suggest a new charger but im sure you've done that a plentiful of times or you just have really bad luck with phones thats stuff get an iphone JK!!! lol you stick to samsung chargers not no after market stuff right ? and does the cable feel securely tighten or loose when you plug it ? is this phone old new you could have a dirty port spray some air can in that port to clear debris

Hey, thanks for your reply.
I think this problem stems from me being on the phones a lot and I have the the charging /data cable in a lot to keep the battery up. With that, the constant mmovement of up and down from table /desk top, to ear,or car seat /center console to my pocket as im in and out of my car.
The cable always feels loose in the jack. Im sure the jack is stretched open. The chip that is inside, may be has worn and the edges of the board slightly filed down making a loose connection .
Anyways, Ive already had to start charging the battery directly. I've also got a replacement ordered. That's why I pay for insurance right?
So we can put this thread to bed. Thanks

I have the same problem... I'm on my 3rd Galaxy s2...... Phone can be on charger at 15% let it charge for a few hours and when I go back to check on it, it says 10% battery.. I've bought several chargers and batteries... TMobile just keeps sending me the same phone out.. I just got another one on the 13th... What could be the cause of this... Also the phone shuts off while charging... So many dropped calls.. I give up on this phone... What can I do..
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

partial fix for USB charging port problems T989D
Pajar0913 said:
I have the same problem... I'm on my 3rd Galaxy s2...... Phone can be on charger at 15% let it charge for a few hours and when I go back to check on it, it says 10% battery.. I've bought several chargers and batteries... TMobile just keeps sending me the same phone out.. I just got another one on the 13th... What could be the cause of this... Also the phone shuts off while charging... So many dropped calls.. I give up on this phone... What can I do..
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problem here. The best luck is (oddly) using a computer (instead of a wall charger) and charging while the phone is off. And, the original Samsung charger block and USB are the least reliable of all I have tried. The microUSB end of the cable is slightly undersized. Note: removing the battery completely (while not connected by cable) for 10sec seems to improve the charging.
It has been a good phone but 3 years might be all it can handle. Xperia Z3 compact, here I come.

Stock Cable > Hard to Plug on the Charging Port of the Phone

I just purchased this unit. is it normal that the Stock Cable is Hard to Plug on the Charging Port of the Phone..
i need to try so many times before i can plug the charging cable to charging port of the phone before i can plug it successfully. i'm thinking of breaking the charging port if this is the case? Anyone who have the same concern? Thanks

bong0x00 said:
I just purchased this unit. is it normal that the Stock Cable is Hard to Plug on the Charging Port of the Phone..
i need to try so many times before i can plug the charging cable to charging port of the phone before i can plug it successfully. i'm thinking of breaking the charging port if this is the case? Anyone who have the same concern? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed this as well. hopefully if something gets broken its more likely to be the connector on the cable than the charging port. I have tried a few other cables as well and all are pretty difficult to insert.

Well the way I see it would you rather have it flop around and be loose, or have a night tight fit?
On a more serious note I had the same issue when I first recieved my F400S. After a week or so it got better, you can always try an older micro usb cable thats more broken in to avoid this issue.

when i first got the phone it was like what you've desribed. but after a while, it wasn't an issue anymore, i guess its a good sign that the phone is brand spanking new.

Same for me, hard To plug in ...
Sent from my LG-D855 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Hi,
I tilt the usb-connector up (just a bit) while plugging it in.
Greetz

It requires a downward angle tilting towards the device to insert.

Same for me, but once you're using qi charging and Wi-Fi file transfer, you'll hardly ever use the port.

got it! it was like virg** phone. haha..

wow same issue here.
bong0x00 said:
I just purchased this unit. is it normal that the Stock Cable is Hard to Plug on the Charging Port of the Phone..
i need to try so many times before i can plug the charging cable to charging port of the phone before i can plug it successfully. i'm thinking of breaking the charging port if this is the case? Anyone who have the same concern? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only way to get it in is by tilting the cable downward. Tried few cables, they are all doing the same thing. Exchange perhaps?

Sini-Siki said:
Only way to get it in is by tilting the cable downward. Tried few cables, they are all doing the same thing. Exchange perhaps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tilting the cable to plug in seems to be the norm on pretty much every G3. I doubt exchanging it will help.
Once you've done it for a while, it should become pretty easy to do.

Tilting the cable and just dealing with it are fine, but what happens when you stay finding usb cables that don't want to charge your G3 properly? I have one (very nice) 10ft cable and my phone plays a game of connecting and disconnecting while trying to charge with this cord. This courts does not give me the same problems on other devices. However the G3 charges just fine on all my other cables. Not using this cable is an obvious answer but i worry that the problem could get worse and what if I start having problems with other chargers?

For now, the solution is to tilt the cord slightly downward (or upward, depending on your perspective) as the port is just sliiiiightly more flush with the opening. My advice is to get used to doing this. A broken charger port is really a PITA, so taking an extra 2 seconds to plug it in is the prudent choice. My dad gave me a lot of good advice when I was growing up, and one of the gems turns out to be "don't force things."
As mentioned, once we get some wireless charging back covers on a more accessible basis, we'll all just use wireless charging and never plug in again. Except in the car.

The cable from my old GS4 plugs in very very easily. I haven't tried charging with it tho. I use it mainly for usb mtp.
Posted from my LG-D850

Difficult at first. It did get better for me though. I too thought i had damaged it or that it had shipped that way. And I also thought I was just breaking it more each time I charged and contemplated exchanging LOL. Make sure cord is facing the right way first (im still trying to put it in upside down sometimes), then you do have to tilt it down a bit to get in initially and then it tilts slightly up before fully inserting. It was very diificult to do the first couple days. Day 5 and its way easy. Hope this has helped and put your mind at ease This is my first Android phone and i'm luvin it!

the past new phones i had. was always hard at first to plug it in.
just gotta lube it up

Any new updates on this? I guess tilting the cable a bit is working, but will it ever get to the point it will go straight in? It really appears that this is not a defect but a LG design for the port.
Sent from my LG G3

still the same.. still virgin after many charging cycle

I agree with what was previously stated, after a week with phone, I've become used to putting the cable in. I'm pleased with the tight fit as I've had devices where it feels loose and unsecured.
It ain't nothing but a G thing baby... Lg G3 LGSL990

G4 Charge/USB port issues

I've had my G4 since almost launch day and within weeks the supplied USB cable stopped charging the phone. I thought it was a cable problem, but it worked fine with other devices.
I tried other cables with the G4 and these still charged it so I thought nothing more of it until charging degraded with every USB cable I own to where the phone would only charge 20-30% during an overnight charge and the phone would frequently not recognise it was plugged in at all. I contacted LG who did a repair under warranty and all was fine.
I've now had the repaired phone back for about 3 weeks and the same problems are starting up again and it's only a matter of time until I am forced to return again for a repair.
Is anyone else having similar problems? I thought I may have just had an unlucky manufacturing problem, and the LG reps confirmed that to repair my phone they basically replace all the internal circuit boards and components rather than just replacing the individual component that is faulty (in this case the USB/charging port)

Basic debugging includes asking stupid questions, so please forgive but still answer any of those
Are you using a different charger? If so, check if that one is within specifications and if you do send in for repair again, use a different charger.
Are you propping up the device at an odd/weird angle or in a dock of some sort with the cable attached?
(As they replaced the entire print, it's probably not this, just the USB-micro port bent or broken.)
You could double check the wall outlets being used, there might be some kind of electrical problem there.
Either using all kinds of fancy electical testing gadgets, or stick a USB light into the hub or charger, does it flicker?
When sending it back for repairs, did they check the stock charger as well?
Hopefully these questions help you find any logical or plausible cause.

FreezyExp said:
Basic debugging includes asking stupid questions, so please forgive but still answer any of those
Are you using a different charger? If so, check if that one is within specifications and if you do send in for repair again, use a different charger.
Are you propping up the device at an odd/weird angle or in a dock of some sort with the cable attached?
(As they replaced the entire print, it's probably not this, just the USB-micro port bent or broken.)
You could double check the wall outlets being used, there might be some kind of electrical problem there.
Either using all kinds of fancy electical testing gadgets, or stick a USB light into the hub or charger, does it flicker?
When sending it back for repairs, did they check the stock charger as well?
Hopefully these questions help you find any logical or plausible cause.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi FreezyExp,
1. I am using the standard charger that came with the phone, but this has not been repaired/replaced. I have tried other chargers too, but all the same issue.
2. No weird propping up or anything like that. If I hold my phone while it is plugged in it is constantly vibrating as the charger connects and disconnects, and if I place it on the desk to charge I have to ensure that I have at least 3-4" of cabe "on the desk" to give it enough support to make the connection.
3. Wall connection is fine and I have tried it with a range of outlets around the home, both with extension sockets used and plugged directly into the wall and there is no different. No flickering light when using a USB light either.
4. When I sent it back all they asked me to return was the main section of the handset - so no battery or rear cover, no cables or chargers etc
It does seem to be the same issue as last time, a USB connection becoming loose from the main motherboard, but it seems weird that I have had the same issue twice in the space of 4-5 months.

I've been having some sort of problem with my G4 usb port. If I plug it in to a computer, it will lose connection and get a connection again if I barely touch the end of the cord at the phone end. I've tried many different cords and different usb ports on my computer, but it still has problems.
I can't fast charge, either. When I plug it in to fast charge, it actually starts discharging even faster. I've had some extreme battery life problems, too. It drained from 100-36 the other night with everything disabled, and it's been doing that kind of thing a lot lately. I'm guessing that the charging port is what's messing up my battery life because it won't charge correctly.
Never dropped it or anything.

I got my G4 on January 24 and my USB port has also failed. I am getting a replacement from Verizon, but am concerned that a six month old phone has this issue.

I also own a G4 H815. A while ago the phone started not receiving any charge from the cable and I would have to prop it up from right under the cable's micro usb end. Thought it was because it was bent inside the port and not making connection with the cable so I had the port replaced. Now I'm experiencing the same problem and I think it might be the cable that's already gone kaput and is effing up the port itself. I took the phone to the same place to get the port replaced again and bought new cables (I lost both the original adapter and the cable, which were charging slow anyway. Now using a 2A Asus adapter which works great) and when I asked the guy at the repair shop, he says it's a chronic issue with G4 devices. I don't really understand how it would happen twice in just a few months even with a new charger port. What should I make of this? Did they replace my port with an already faulty one, cahrged me full price and now trying to sell this bogus or am I really doomed with this phone?