Hey guys,
So I actually upgraded from my G2 about a year ago because of a hardware issue with the phone. I basically developed problems with the screen and it turned out the problem was the power ribbon between the keyboard and screen. Luckily, I was able to salvage my data from the phone before I basically (and unintentionally) killed the screen by poking the power ribbon to try to fix the screen issue. So for the past year, it's kinda just sat in my desk and I just feel really bad about letting a perfectly good phone go to waste if I have the chance to fix it. Only problem is that is that I don't want to drop tons of money on an expensive screen replacement so I was wondering if someone could point me in the right direction with buying a replacement.
I don't want the cheapest option. I just want the best option (and preferably some instructions too!) for a screen and/or ribbon replacement and I'll gauge whether I want to restore my phone or not.
Thank you and kudos for those who are still using the phone! I miss it so much.
Can't really say how much it will cost where you live, but I find LCDs for about 20 and and flex cables around 30 where I live. Usually eBay is a good place to pick these up, being the flex sounds for sure bad I would start with buying that.
Instructions can be found with quick Google or YouTube searches
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Related
Hey guys. So I went ahead and dropped my phone in the bathroom. The battery cover popped off and the battery shot out. Anyways, after putting that back in and turning the phone on the screen won't turn on. The phone does actually start up as my boot sound plays and all the capacitive buttons light up. Also the touchscreen still works as I can "feel" my way around and still call make calls using the launcherpro swipe shortcuts I set up and can answer calls and such. So really the only thing is that the screen never displays anything.
Anyways I don't have TEP (look how smart I am!) and am going to take it into the sprint store that does repairs around here tomorrow morning to see what can be done. What I'm asking is for thoughts on what happened and advice if my device is not fixable by sprint. Do you think that the LCD is busted or did I just jiggle something loose inside? I saw a teardown video of the phone but they stopped before getting to the screen so I don't know what it is like in there. Also should I odin it back to stock before taking it in?
Lastly if all that fails does anybody have thoughts on those "mail it to us and we'll fix your phone" sites? I've seen it range from $120-$190 to fix a screen for the epic which I would be willing to pay if these places are for real.
Thanks for listening to my problems!
optmsprim2 said:
Hey guys. So I went ahead and dropped my phone in the bathroom. The battery cover popped off and the battery shot out. Anyways, after putting that back in and turning the phone on the screen won't turn on. The phone does actually start up as my boot sound plays and all the capacitive buttons light up. Also the touchscreen still works as I can "feel" my way around and still call make calls using the launcherpro swipe shortcuts I set up and can answer calls and such. So really the only thing is that the screen never displays anything.
Anyways I don't have TEP (look how smart I am!) and am going to take it into the sprint store that does repairs around here tomorrow morning to see what can be done. What I'm asking is for thoughts on what happened and advice if my device is not fixable by sprint. Do you think that the LCD is busted or did I just jiggle something loose inside? I saw a teardown video of the phone but they stopped before getting to the screen so I don't know what it is like in there. Also should I odin it back to stock before taking it in?
Lastly if all that fails does anybody have thoughts on those "mail it to us and we'll fix your phone" sites? I've seen it range from $120-$190 to fix a screen for the epic which I would be willing to pay if these places are for real.
Thanks for listening to my problems!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only thing I can say is $190 is not worth it,you can buy one on ebay (where I bought my last 3 phones) for around $150 now I'm sure,and you can still keep yours to make phone calls,and you will have all those extras for parts,battery,what ever...
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
I'd try to odin first, but did you try booting into cwm? If the screen works on there, then it may just be a corruption attack of sorts.
Took it into a sprint store this morning, 1 hour and $35 later had it up and running with a new lcd. Tech said that when he tested the LCD on its own it worked fine, but not when he put it back together. He just replaced it with a different one and I was on my way, no questions asked.
I had no idea about the pricing on repairs! For not already having TEP or being eligible to put TEP on my phone anymore, $35 to fix hardware problems is a ridiculous price. That's some good service!
My screen died last night. The phone works as I can hear all the sounds and my bottom buttons still light up, etc but I have a black screen.
I called a local repair shop and they stated it wasn’t worth repairing and that they’d be guessing what parts need replacement. Based on the symptoms above is this true? Can anyone tell me if they know what part I would need to buy to try the repair myself? Is it worth trying to fix myself?
There are two parts, the screen itself and the digitizer. The digitizer is the actual glass you touch, if that's not cracked, then you are good with that. The screen is the actual lcd under the glass.
Both can be found on ebay for 20-50 bucks, and there are tutorials here and on youtube to show you how to take it apart and fix it. FYI, there are two types of lcd's, one with a small ribbon and one with a wider one. The only way to know if to take your phone apart so you order the right one.
Seems like I can get both parts from Amazon Prime for less than $50 total which makes this worth a try. Can you suggest a good tool kit for this project?
Thanks!
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
Not worth repairing? I'ts cheap as hell to repair your issue.
**LINK**
You can also buy the replacement parts from that website as well. However, you might browse ebay first to see if you can get the parts for cheaper.
Edit: If the guys at the repair shop can't have any kind of educated idea as to what would be the problem with your screen going out then i would suggest not letting them anywhere near any of your computers either.
1. If screen turns on when the phone initially starts and then stops working when Android attempts to load then you've obviously got a software issue.
2. If screen doesn't work at all during the phone's initial startup process then you've obviously got a hardware problem.
3. A quick Google search shows the parts involved in replacing a screen and countless videos on how to do it. Takes only a few minutes to get a complete understanding of how it's done (It's not all that dissimilar from replacing a laptop screen). And it probably take 30-45 minutes, taking it slow since it would be a new process for the tech, to actually do the replacement.
4. Any semi-decent tech should be able to diagnose your problem within 5 minutes of looking at the phone and then have your phone back to you an hour and a half after receiving the parts.
Concordium said:
Not worth repairing? I'ts cheap as hell to repair your issue.
**LINK**
You can also buy the replacement parts from that website as well. However, you might browse ebay first to see if you can get the parts for cheaper.
Edit: If the guys at the repair shop can't have any kind of educated idea as to what would be the problem with your screen going out then i would suggest not letting them anywhere near any of your computers either.
1. If screen turns on when the phone initially starts and then stops working when Android attempts to load then you've obviously got a software issue.
2. If screen doesn't work at all during the phone's initial startup process then you've obviously got a hardware problem.
3. A quick Google search shows the parts involved in replacing a screen and countless videos on how to do it. Takes only a few minutes to get a complete understanding of how it's done (It's not all that dissimilar from replacing a laptop screen). And it probably take 30-45 minutes, taking it slow since it would be a new process for the tech, to actually do the replacement.
4. Any semi-decent tech should be able to diagnose your problem within 5 minutes of looking at the phone and then have your phone back to you an hour and a half after receiving the parts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
#2 describes my phone except the screen came back on today so it is intermittent or possibly in the process of dying. The phone is rooted but running stock so I don't think software is the issue.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
about 2 days ago my phone fell from a table flat into the floor, it now has a dead pixel and a vertical blue line going across the screen, the blue line does not show up on black background but when it displays other colors it is very prominent. I've searched the forums and while I feel confident I can replace the screen myself I wanna know if I have any "cheaper" or price comparable options from the sprint/manufacturer/warranty side before I attempt a DIY. my phone as it happens is only about 1 month old but has been rooted and flashed at least twice.
so the question is: what are my options?
Take it in to the Sprint Store. I don't remember pricing but while Sprint strongly recommends do not root your phone, it's not a policy they enforce. Might cost you $35, if you have TEP it might cost you nothing.
Just take it in and say it fell off the table and show them, then ask how much.... worth a try a least.
There's another thread here with some repair options, you can check them out too.
Edit: Here it is.
If you tell them it fell off the table they will charge you $100 for a replacement if you have insurance or tell you you have to buy a new phone if you don't. You would need a SUPER friendly tech to offer to fix it....which the odds are severely against you.
sweet, i'll try that today, I know a girl on my sprint store that fits the super friendly bill.
Good luck. I wouldn't mention the fall though.
Sent from my PantechP4100 using xda premium
If Sprint doesn't fix it for you, try checking the connection between the screen and the phone.
The bottom of my phone's display looked corrupted and I fixed it by reinserting the ribbon cable connecting to the screen. I guess it somehow loosened on its own.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2
YES, loose connection!!!!
Etirkca, thank you SO much for tossing your experience in at the end there!!! You've given me a quick shift from despondent and grasping to very optimistic and focused! to
My screen went completely dead today (and has stayed that way) at some unknown specific point but following a series of pretty hard-hitting drops of late. I quickly noted that the sound was still functioning when I tried to restart what I initially thought was a phone that had simply powered itself down. Felt like I was deducing in the right direction when I observed that the LED indicator appeared to be non-functional as well. Anyhow, cutting to the chase, had come up with power supply problem to the top-half of the phone as my leading theory before I headed over here to look for some answers/help and was directed to this thread as my very first hit and with your post at least confirming the possibility/likelihood I've got a minor problem, not the potentially huge, expensive one I'd feared.
So, thanks again, but thought I'd hit you up to see if there's any quickie web page you can direct me to which'll show me how to get at that connector. I've no doubt I'll be able to find drawings/instructions on my own, if necessary, but since I'm full newbie to this site and very much an average, amateur tinkerer (as opposed to legit tech) it seems worth asking you and the group for direction on my next step.
Thanks again and in advance! --
--Laz--
There are tons of great vids on how to take the phone apart... google it and watch the video.... its really pretty simple... if you know how to take the phone apart it will be very obvious as to the ribon which may have become disconnected
Follow up/Resolution
Just wanted to close the issue in case anyone should run across this thread in the future and my experience can help them find a solution.
Was actually looking forward to taking my phone apart and giving a fix a try but my lazy/practical side decided to pop into my local Sprint store just to see if there was any chance I could get them to take a look without charging me for anything. Surprisingly, the rep I spoke with took the phone to a tech on the spot and the tech dropped what he was doing to open it up and take a look. Ten minutes later the tech handed me my fully-functioning phone and said the ribbon had been torn completely in half! He said this situation was not uncommon after a year-and-a-half of sliding the keyboard open and closed, again and again. No charge, didn't even write up a ticket as far as I know. Probably got lucky in going into the store about an hour before close on a Thursday night. I'm CERTAIN (based on previous Sprint experience) I wouldn't have received that sort of service if I'd happened in at a busier time.
But worth noting that the ribbon had ripped completely through without any particular drop or other incident and with no prior intermittent performance or any indication something was about to go seriously wrong.
So pretty simple, I got the notorious Black Screen of Death that happens to a lot of epic users. No Samsung/Boot animation logo displayed on boot, but the phone boots successfully. I can have touch response, along with my soft keys lighting up. I have tried every single possible fix for the Epic 4g, including spare batteries, ODIN, etc.
I've searched through a ton of threads on XDA, unfortunately all of them end on "go to Sprint". I went to the store today and was told because I've had my phone 13 months, It's no longer covered by warranty and they refuse to do the $35 replacement. Right now I have only $40 to my name, so the $100 Samsung is quoting me for a fix isn't possible atm. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what exact HW part is failing? I'm an EE, so working with tiny electronics doesn't phase me. Idk if i should look for a blown cap./chip, disconnected wire, or a bad solder joint. I'd like to have a plan before I go into it. Does anyone have any ideas? If i can buy a spare part I'd gladly do it.
I don't really have a solution to the screen of death, but you can sell your epic to Sprint or Bestbuy for like 40$ and add the 40$ you have left and purchase another.
http://m.cowboom.com/index.cfm?page=details&contentID=850763
Maybe just odin again. I had no samsung logo on one odin and then I odined the same thing and it fixed it. I think its a sw issue not hw.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2
Didn't some find that the ribbon cable had loosened up?
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
kennyglass123 said:
Didn't some find that the ribbon cable had loosened up?
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that's the case could you point me towards the thread or give me a vague direction? My Epic is in about 8 pieces on my desk right now and I'm thinking of a full reassembly to at least make sure none of the cables have come loose.
Here's a tear down video for the epic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeO89VGAPuU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
If you ribbon cable is damage it cost between 5$ -10$ to get another one.
Thx for the info. As a follow-up heres what my cable looked like when I took it apart: instagram com/p/Ow3Jj4uyW6
It looks like the sliding of the cable wears down the thin black base of the cable, causing a short to occur on the cable. I've ordered a replacement and will update when it gets here
Good to hear you found the problem, btw do you have TEP? Sprint would have fixed it for free if you took it there.
masaidjet said:
Good to hear you found the problem, btw do you have TEP? Sprint would have fixed it for free if you took it there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, hence why I'm at DIY stage right now. I usually don't get TEP because most software problems I can fix, but I never expected a manufacturing defect
Hi guys,
I had my Gnex for more than a year and thought I was one of the lucky ones without USB wake problems. That is, the USB port thinks it's being plugged in or unplugged causing the screen to turn on and subsequently kill your battery. Unfortunately, I started noticing the phone turn on occasionally. Then, it progressively got worse over the course of about 6 weeks to the point where it had to be plugged in several times a day.
One of the tricks that helped in the short-term was to move nudge/coax the contacts in the port in an upward direction. So, with your phone facing up insert something very thin (ideally plastic or paper-based) between the bottom of the port housing and the nipple thing that sticks out that has all the copper contacts on it. There is almost zero room, so you'll need to search for a suitable tool. Once you put a bit of pressure in an upward direction for a few moments you'll find your phone doesn't wake up at all, or as much. Unfortunately, that only helped for a while.
I'm not sure what the cause of problem is. I hypothesize that corrosion occurred when I left my phone in the washroom while I had a steamy shower every day for a few months, but who knows.
I found no suitable software workarounds.
I didn't want to junk the phone, so I ordered a replacement part for only $5.99 + shipping. You can find the part here: Witrigs. Given the price, I suggest you order two. I don't recall the shipping, but it wasn't expensive. Delivery was around 7 days to Canada (from Hong Kong). Website is definitely legit. Maybe add some other parts to your order, if you feel so inclined.
The install wasn't too bad. I'm a dummy and thought I would skip steps that I didn't think were necessary, like removing my sim card. Don't skip steps! The iFixit instructions I followed don't seem to be around anymore. There are guides on YouTube etc that are helpful but they make it look way too easy. Expect to struggle with removal of the screen from the casing. Be careful when you're jamming around into the edges because there are many delicate sensors and buttons which can be broken. Credit cards work well. Overall it's safe, just use your common sense.
Overall, the replacement wasn't too bad. Unfortunately, the replacement part was IDENTICAL to the outgoing port. I was hoping there was a revision, but no dice. I'm glad I bought the second replacement port, just in case I have the same problem in the future.
Anyways, I did this a few months ago and am trying to remember the best I can. I hope this might help somebody.
MikeMurphy said:
Anyways, I did this a few months ago and am trying to remember the best I can. I hope this might help somebody.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing your experience,MO and advices; I can remember several that had the issue and some fix it by just working around the usb port with a suitable tool, others tried to replace the part without sucess, and others with sucess;
Offtopic: I think this thread belongs in General, no question here. Reported.
Replaced my charging port + flex board yesterday. Ordered the replacement from Aliexpress for $3.something and free shipping! Took around 2 weeks to reach me, but the part works perfectly and you can get faster delivery by paying for express delivery.
The iFixit guide is still there:
1. http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Samsung+Galaxy+Nexus+Teardown/7182/1
2. http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repairi...+LTE)+Micro+USB+Charge+Port+&+Main+Mic/9641/1
Also looked at various youtube videos before I finally undertook the replacement.
Cheers to everyone who fixed their own phones!!