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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
i'm using Gederom and i have FFF 1.4a, but the kindle's battery died and it is completely unresponsive even when plugged into the stock charger and to the PC. Last night i was also having some trouble getting it to charge, can anyone offer any suggestions??? the micro USB port also looks a little pushed inward in the kindle, although this could just be paranoia
mono feo0 said:
i'm using Gederom and i have FFF 1.4a, but the kindle's battery died and it is completely unresponsive even when plugged into the stock charger and to the PC. Last night i was also having some trouble getting it to charge, can anyone offer any suggestions??? the micro USB port also looks a little pushed inward in the kindle, although this could just be paranoia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get this, once a KF dies completely, it will not have enough power to charge!? Crazy huh? No worries, first, your PC won't charge it. You need the stock wall charger. Took mine 1 Week to come back on! Serious......you have another option, I can't remember the post, but someone here makes a custom USB cable that others will tell you to get. But like I said, wall charger, and let it sit or buy that cable. Either way its not bricked.
Sent from My Beast™
StarkCity said:
Get this, once a KF dies completely, it will not have enough power to charge!? Crazy huh? No worries, first, your PC won't charge it. You need the stock wall charger. Took mine 1 Week to come back on! Serious......you have another option, I can't remember the post, but someone here makes a custom USB cable that others will tell you to get. But like I said, wall charger, and let it sit or buy that cable. Either way its not bricked.
Sent from My Beast™
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the reply, but i think FFF 1.4A fixed that issue no? I think it might be an issue with my USB port, but i want to confirm.
mono feo0 said:
thanks for the reply, but i think FFF 1.4A fixed that issue no? I think it might be an issue with my USB port, but i want to confirm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure, this happened to me stock, and on a aokp build. I've never been on this build so I don't believe its related. The guy who schooled me never even asked what build I was on. I was told to charge from ac, and if it didn't work to order the cable. In my case, it came back on in a few days.
Sent from My Beast™
With FFF 1.4a you should be able to charge using a regular USB cord and your computer. Just turn your KF off, plug it in and then turn it on. FFF 1.4a should detect the low battery and go into charging mode. Leave it alone for several hours and it should show a charge. If it doesn't then you may be right about the bad USB connector. I had to return one because it had a bad connector. It seems to be a common problem. I was able to get mine to charge a little bit by pressing the charger cable connector up and holding it there, but that was only a very temporary fix.
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using xda premium
JimCo06 said:
With FFF 1.4a you should be able to charge using a regular USB cord and your computer. Just turn your KF off, plug it in and then turn it on. FFF 1.4a should detect the low battery and go into charging mode. Leave it alone for several hours and it should show a charge. If it doesn't then you may be right about the bad USB connector. I had to return one because it had a bad connector. It seems to be a common problem. I was able to get mine to charge a little bit by pressing the charger cable connector up and holding it there, but that was only a very temporary fix.
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
after messing around with the charger and getting it to charge in an awkward position, it came on. turns out it is a bad USB connector, which is a big problem for me, as i live outside of the US. is there any way i can fix it?
If you are really, really good at micro soldering you might be able to reattach the connector (if it is just loose) or replace it if you can find an appropriate replacement. I was not able to find a connector that looked the same, maybe you will have better luck. The only other choice is to replace the motherboard but that may be as expensive as just getting a new Fire.
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using xda premium
thanks for the help but I have no experience at all in hardware modding.. i think i'll have to get it shipped to amazon for a replacement.
One of my fires won't charge reliably. I am hoping to repair/resolder connections.
I found used motherboard for fifty dollars. Used board will be last resort.
Any pics or previous experience from anyone that might help.
Thanks
Before you do anything drastic, what ROM are you running?
soupmagnet said:
Before you do anything drastic, what ROM are you running?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cm ROM. Teenager sleeping with kindle plugged in. Has had charging issue for a while. I have four kindle fires, two cm7, one ICS, and one jellybean.
There was a father who had done some soder work in the usb area for his kid he was worried at one point he had made it to hot but it turned out to be ok I will search through some threads to see if I can locate his maybe it will have some insight for you...
TheKid2 said:
Cm ROM. Teenager sleeping with kindle plugged in. Has had charging issue for a while. I have four kindle fires, two cm7, one ICS, and one jellybean.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not quite sure what that means exactly.
The reason I'm wondering about which ROM the affected Kindle is running, is because the ICS and JB ROMs have had a similar charging issues from the very beginning. The latest version of the kernel was released last night with the charging issue fixed. You may want to upgrade before attempting anything like soldering on your USB connection.
Hopefully it is just the known ROM issue, which has now been fixed. I had difficulty charging my KF because the USB connector was coming loose from the mb. I had a hardware engineer attempt to re-solder it but he was not successful. The connector is very small and it is very difficult to re-solder. If it is a loose USB port, and you can get it back to stock, Amazon will replace it under warranty.
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using xda premium
Go with the used board, but be sure that they match in serial number. The earliest releases of Kindle Fires used a different motherboad connector for the LCD, and are incompatible (found out the hard way). A good case opening kit helps keep from damaging the unit.
Motherboards are very hard to come by...
In that case, buy a unit with a broken screen on ebay. Make sure it's one that still powers on and charges (many will show the lcd working below the screen. More expensive, but you can keep the battery as a spare as well.
soupmagnet said:
I'm not quite sure what that means exactly.
The reason I'm wondering about which ROM the affected Kindle is running, is because the ICS and JB ROMs have had a similar charging issues from the very beginning. The latest version of the kernel was released last night with the charging issue fixed. You may want to upgrade before attempting anything like soldering on your USB connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Running CM7, not sure of exact rom its been on there so long.
mthous01 said:
In that case, buy a unit with a broken screen on ebay. Make sure it's one that still powers on and charges (many will show the lcd working below the screen. More expensive, but you can keep the battery as a spare as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure how to identify board revision on ebay?
Ask for revision number and/or serial number and make sure that they match. Even better, get a picture of the board so that you can see they are the same.
mthous01 said:
Ask for revision number and/or serial number and make sure that they match. Even better, get a picture of the board so that you can see they are the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it is just a kindle with a broken screen someone is trying to sell, they probably arn't willing to crack it open just to check the motherboard.
Don't buy without proper info. Buyer protection only works so well.
Sent from my cm_tenderloin using Tapatalk 2
Thanks for all the replies.
It looks like if I had a nice hot air rework station I could repair it in just a few minutes. Right now just prying on charger connection to continue charging. I may just wait for it to die completely, afraid I will kill it with soldering iron.
if you make a TWRP backup and copy it to the computer, if/when you replace the motherboard (getting cheaper as the new Kindle Fire rolls out), you can copy this bac kup folder back to the new motherboard and restore. I have done this when I get a solid working JB ROM on a system, just so that I can go back to fresh quickly and easily. Also, suggest that you use Kindle Nullifire on any board bought from anywhere, as it will zero-write the internal sd card, and avoid issues more issues than you would imagine. It's worth the extra 10-15 minutes to do so.
Of Kindles and Chargers and Broken USB Ports
Kindle Battery:
Most of the inside of your Kindle is a huge battery. It requires a ‘hefty’ charger to charge it and keep it healthy.
Chargers:
While the Kindle Fire calls out for a 1.8 amp charger, I would recommend a 2.0 amp charger for the Kindle. iPad 2 chargers, 2.0 or 2.1 amp rating, with USB ports can be used with appropriate USB micro charging cables to work really well.
Many chargers are over rated and many have cheap thin wire that cannot deliver enough amperage to the kindle port and it will not "shift" into charge mode.
A Kindle will pull about 700mA from a charger, and the charger rating printing is mostly marketing and most of them do not deliver that wattage on a constant sustained level.
Charger/USB charger cable thickness:
If using USB to USB micro data cable make sure it is a thick wire cable that can push out the current from charger to kindle. Thin charger cables are conduits of squished electron flow and will not “shift into gear” the Kindle into charging mode.
Helpful hint:
If charger is not working, power down kindle and try:
Unplug charger.
Power off kindle
Plug in charger
Kindle should wake up in "charge mode"
Having fixed many Kindles lately, I am seeing charger issues, and plugging and replugging the USB cable in cause 50% of broken USB port problems.
Hope these hints will help.
A. Zubair, EE
Hi all,
Some time ago i rooted my girlfriend's KF. It's running the FFF 1.4a and TWRP.
A couple of weeks ago she complained that the kindle wasn't being charged anymore. The result was that the Kindle was dead and after pressing the power button it appeared "Charling low battery - Please wait".
I tried every single procedure that i found here: pressing the power button for 30 secs, the Kindle Fire Unbrick Utility with the shorting trick, the SoupKit...
I managed to boot in TWRP and charge the KF there. Now i have 100% battery.
I boot system normally but the Kindle continues to don't charge normally and it doesn't even recognize that the USB cable is on.
The cable is OK (works in my Xperia Play). I already tried another cables. I already tried to charge via the stock wall charger.
Is it possible to be a software issue? I'm starting to think that the conector is broken/damaged.
I will flash another ROM to see if it's this the problem (I'm currently running CM9)
rbgabriel said:
Hi all,
Some time ago i rooted my girlfriend's KF. It's running the FFF 1.4a and TWRP.
A couple of weeks ago she complained that the kindle wasn't being charged anymore. The result was that the Kindle was dead and after pressing the power button it appeared "Charling low battery - Please wait".
I tried every single procedure that i found here: pressing the power button for 30 secs, the Kindle Fire Unbrick Utility with the shorting trick, the SoupKit...
I managed to boot in TWRP and charge the KF there. Now i have 100% battery.
I boot system normally but the Kindle continues to don't charge normally and it doesn't even recognize that the USB cable is on.
The cable is OK (works in my Xperia Play). I already tried another cables. I already tried to charge via the stock wall charger.
Is it possible to be a software issue? I'm starting to think that the conector is broken/damaged.
I will flash another ROM to see if it's this the problem (I'm currently running CM9)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing anything other than CM9 would be a good idea
Guitarman2010 said:
Flashing anything other than CM9 would be a good idea
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. I'll try that and will post the result
No good... At first boot after installation of new ROM, windows recognized the device, tried to install drivers but very quickly it stopped to recognize...
Now it's charging, but only with the cable inserted in a very particular position.
I'm completely clueless about what to do....
what about connected to the wall? same connection problem? then you have a bad connector. use soupkit and flash stock, and return to Amazon for a replacement. or open the case up and solder the power connector back on,
sent from The Muffinator (it's a kindle fire running cm10.1)
using Tapatalk 4 beta, and loving it!
jma9454 said:
what about connected to the wall? same connection problem? then you have a bad connector. use soupkit and flash stock, and return to Amazon for a replacement. or open the case up and solder the power connector back on,
sent from The Muffinator (it's a kindle fire running cm10.1)
using Tapatalk 4 beta, and loving it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the wall charger I don't get any charging. Do they send another Kindle overseas (I live in Brazil)? I think it's a connector problem...
rbgabriel said:
With the wall charger I don't get any charging. Do they send another Kindle overseas (I live in Brazil)? I think it's a connector problem...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know. You would have to talk to an Amazon representative.
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using Tapatalk HD
Hi I bought my Nexus 7 2013 used in February. It came with a 3rd party charger and usb cable. It’s worked fine since I got it and it use to charge fine. I would use different usb cables and they would all work. Within the past 2 weeks or so it has become increasingly hard to charge it. Also this started happening on the stock 4.4.4 rom with root enabled. Today I installed a custom chroma 5.1.1 rom just to see if anything changed but it’s the same result it doesn't charge. The chroma rom says it has the Franco Kernel. Not really sure what that means but the stock rom's kernal wasn't changed.
I've left it off and connected charging to the AC for hours and would turn it on and it would have not raised at all in battery charge percentage. When it’s on and I can better see the percentage in this battery app I have installed I noticed if I jiggle the cable at all it will disconnect and connect again. So it might not be making good contact. It does this with every usb cable I have tried on it. However when I don’t move it and have it charging in sleep mode it does see it as connected and it says charging in the battery monitor widget app when I wake it, but it doesn't charge stays at the same percentage or lowers.
There is sometimes where I get lucky and it starts charging but it’s becoming increasingly tougher to get that to happen. I haven’t had any luck since last night messing around with it with different cables. I've even tried charging it on my PC but it’s the same result. It says charging but it doesn't charge. However if I do connect it to the PC I can view the files on the Nexus 7 fine as long as I don’t move the Nexus 7 much. I've also tried the AC adapter on my phone to see if it works and it works fine and charges. I've tried a kindle fire 9w charger on the Nexus 7 and that doesn't charge either.
Any idea what’s the problem? If I buy the official AC charger do you think it would work? Am I better off buying a Qi wifi charger? I rather not waste money on the AC charger if there is a good possibility of it not working.
Hi,
I seem to have the same problem recently. I am running on 20150519 CM12.1 nightly right now but this problem started to occur about 2 weeks ago i.e. with an older nightly version running...
It really feels like the USB connector is broken. I have to move it the same way headphones jack has to be moved when it is broken. Have you tried more different chargers? I did but no solution.... Now I got it luckily charged to 90% and I am making a quick backup.
Do you have still warranty? I technically do but would need to get back to stock and lock the bootloader back.
I found threads on how to get back to stock via USB connection but is it possible to lock the bootloader without being able to connect USB to computer?
No unfortunately I have no warranty since its a used item. I tried the 3rd party cheap charger, amazon kindle fire charger and my phone charger on it they all don't charge. I think you can replace the USB board on it but that would require opening it up and doing the repairs yourself. I think I will just get a Qi charger and see if that works. I kinda don't want to spend money on that just to find out its my battery that doesn't work. I am not sure what the problem is since I can connect the nexus 7 to my PC and it will see it and its files fine. So I know the USB port works at least a little bit.
It's a sub-board (usb-sim-touch module) issue. I would reccommend using a wireless charger as a quick fix since the wireless charger module is located on the motherboard itself so you should be good.
I may have a few sub-boards for the 2013 lying around but i'm not sure if they're 100% okay - as in calibrated, tested and fully functional. Also, i'd need to know if yours has LTE or not.
I have a Nexus 7 2013 32gb wifi edition. Thanks for the info. I put in an order for one of those wireless chargers.
MobRookie said:
Hi, I seem to have the same problem recently.
I am running on 20150519 CM12.1 nightly right now but this problem started to occur about 2 weeks ago i.e. with an older nightly version running...
It really feels like the USB connector is broken. I have to move it the same way headphones jack has to be moved when it is broken. Have you tried more different chargers? I did but no solution.... Now I got it luckily charged to 90% and I am making a quick backup.
Do you have still warranty? I technically do but would need to get back to stock and lock the bootloader back.
I found threads on how to get back to stock via USB connection but is it possible to lock the bootloader without being able to connect USB to computer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
eureca said:
I have a Nexus 7 2013 32gb wifi edition. Thanks for the info. I put in an order for one of those wireless chargers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
perhaps you did that already, but from experience i must say that in 9 out of 10 cases it's the cable and 8 out of 10 cables are mediocre as compared to how it could be. no why i say that ist because i tested something between 50 and 60 cables during the last 2 years because i had similar issues and bought a special ampere and voltmeter with with the correct usb ports to measure the flow, same device, same power source, thus as empiric as possible result most cables charged between 0.9 and 1.1 A while about 10% were half of that and only few charged at 1.5A while 3 charged at between 1.9 and 2.1A. understand me right, same device, same charger, sam place all same condition, in car, on motorbike, on wall plugs. only significant difference were the cables. so check those first before taking more costly path which then only remain workarounds.
BTW amongst the bad ones were many that came out of the box with the devices and from different oems but many samsung original cables.
what i did i painted the ends of each cable with red for bad, yellow for ok, green for good and the outstanding ones already had a color, it were the stock cables from the oneplus one which had the best charging rate. good luck