Database Users

Wizard Sim Card/ Radio Trouble (Water Damage)

This is a last ditch effort for fixing my Wizard:
A couple weeks ago it had an unfortunate meeting with a river. It wouldn't turn on. Since then I have opened it, repaired it, and gotten it to turn on and function --EXCEPT-- the phone part. The sim is recognized at first, but within 1-5 minutes (regardless of movement, usage, etc.) the sim is no longer recognized. Sometimes the phone reports "Searching for signal", but usually it reports "no sim. insert sim". Does anyone have any advice? Please? I'm stuck with a Tornado until I figure this out! Thanks in advance.
David

Have you tried another Wizard compatible sim card? You may have damaged you original card. Just go to a retailer and ask them to temporarily boot you up with a new card and you'll know wether or not your sim card is to blame.

I have used the below method to save a number of phones that got dunked. Most importantly is to use anti-static protection when handling it after you open it. Yeah, you gotta open the case to get the moisture out. (Note - Nokia is like a tank and I won't argue that this or that Nokia worked fine after being dunked without taking it apart. I already know it does)
I keep a usb cable handy that is cut and use it to ground the device after I remove the battery. Using canned dry air I empty the can going over and over the circuit boards with special attention to the connections for the buttons and video.
I have a dehumidifier just for the purpose of running it for a week with projects I am working on so next I setup the dunked phone next to it and forget it for a week or two. On expensive items I have gone so far as to put it inside a plexi-glass box that has a vent hole cut the same size as the intake of the dehumidifier to concentrate the treatment by putting them together. (I live on the gulf coast and get a lot of business on fish-finders and such). Once or twice during that time I check my work to remove any droplets that may appear due to condensation that has not evaporated.
The problem with using heat is that it will simply evaporate water that is inside connections and so on but if there is not an easy exit for that water it will not come out. You remove the moisture from all the surrounding air and the moisture inside those connections will slowly leech out.
Replace the battery. That is normally what fries the device when people turn it on. Water gets inside the battery and shorts it out, then it ZAPS the device. I repeat. REPLACE the battery or everything else you have done is likely to be a waste of time.
Blah, blah, blah... Yeah, I am sure there are gonna be people that "had no problem reusing the battery" and yes there are exceptions to every rule. There are also just as many or more that had problems with the device or it failed afterward and they did not know why and it is for them that this is written. (Can ya tell I have written this before in a forum? heh heh) Mostly the batterys that are not affected will be the ones that are a plain battery but this is not the case with a smartphone or pda. Many of them actually have electronics built inside the battery for protection and those electronics are also damaged by the water. I am sure that some are not so equipped but when it comes to such a device, I prefer to err on the side of caution.
Anyway that is about it. Cheers!

Silica gel might be a good alternative to a dehumidifier. You'll want to use more than what comes in the little packets with new items.
(No that was not a pack of Chicklets!)

rmcknight said:
Silica gel might be a good alternative to a dehumidifier. You'll want to use more than what comes in the little packets with new items.
(No that was not a pack of Chicklets!)
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I used a hairdryer once, ofcourse going over each component a couple of times. I did have to change the battery. i used a multimeter to check the voltages and got freaked since the cells shorted.
kept it under a heating lamp for about 2 days with adequate ventilation.

Aye, silica gel is probably the fastest and best bet, goto Wal-Mart or Lowes or something and get you some Painter Desicant, as it is called....should be like 5USD or so. Put some of the granuals in a plastic container, then put your Wizard directly on top of it and put a lid on the container. Let it sit for a few days, and all should be fine.

Disassembly of Legend (advises & some help required)

Hi there,
I broke my touch screen and tried to replace it by myself.
To make a long story short, I failed miserably (I broke the screen under).
However, I learned a few things I didn't met in the forum.
A- Disassembly of the case.
1- The Legend is glued. So, you have first to use hoven to melt the glue before being able to do anything useful.
15min/ 60 degree in the oven. Or use an hair dryer (I used the former).
2- Don't forget to remove ALL the screws (even the one behind the IMEI notice).
3- Don't try to open the camera lid before loosening the glue or you'll damage the aluminium body.
4- You have to unplug all the différent cables, so take notes to remember where all of them goes.
5- You must disassemble all the boards. There are 2 boards. One supporting the sim / SD connector, and one supporting the screen/touchscreen.
6- When disassembling the screen board, remove it by pulling the touchscreen at the bottom, and lift it up. don't pass a tool on the sides to remove it or worse, under the touchscreen, you'r tool will touch the screen under and break it (like I did). The screen is very, very fragile
Now, I'm stuck here because I can't remove the connector of the legent which is passed under the shield on the back of the screen.
I'm not able to remove the screen so I would like to know how to remove this shielding or get back the touchscreen connector to be able to replace it.
Once I figure out how to remove this shiled, I may be able to remove the screen too.
But now, I'm clueless (it was 2 in the morning when I gave up).
Maybe, some of you knew the trick to open this phone further.
I'd like to hear about it.

A little up to my post for the ones who did not read it till the end:
I can't remove the connector of the legend which is goind under the shield on the back of the screen.
I would like to know how to remove this shielding or get back the touchscreen connector to be able to replace it.
Once I figure out how to remove this shield, I may be able to remove the screen too.
But now, I'm clueless (it was 2 in the morning when I gave up).

mate it sounds like you have trashed your phone.they are built NOT to be taken apart.They require special tools and process to be repaired. The only thing i would suggest is contacting your insurance company and let them know that your phone was crushed under a car or something and then crush it under the car and you can get it replaced. If you dont have insurance, take some out and make a claim in say a month or two.
Its not an honest thing to do but your phone sounds busted and its the cheapest way of replacing that handset.
Post a pic of it if you can

Unfortunately, I have no rights to post a link or some put some pics.
Something about spam and profile that should be reviewed before being able show any pics.
This device is glued. No specialized tools are able to open it without removing it.

That would mean that the phone cannot be repaired, only replaced. My phone's motherboard was replaced, so at the service stations they should have special tools.

Fixed it!
Bottom right hand corner:
Bend the shielding back just enough to allow you to slip the connector in & then use a little glue to stick it back.
Maybe I was lucky, but my phones working as good as new again

I fixed my Legend
Guys, I know it's been a while since you talked but in case someone else is looking for this info, that's what happened to me:
I cracked the display of my legend and purchased a new one on eBay (roughly 40 pounds) - obviously delivered from Hong Kong but a genuine Samsung (in case you didn't know the Legen's screen as well as most of the AMOLED screens are Samsung's).
Then I used the above information plus some YouTube videos to give myself an idea as to what should I do. The result follows:
I used a hair dryer to heat up the back of the phone (camera and loudspeaker cover). Perhaps I should have been more patient as in the end I decided to use a knife with a very thin blade to lift it and I scratched the plastic and the aluminium body a bit. Anyways - the back clicks in but is glued in addition to that so you have to use both the heat and gently applied force.
Once you remove the back cover (which took me the longest out of everything) you should start removing screws. There's two behind the back cover and six behind the bottom cover (where the battery is). At this stage you don't have to remove all the screws - the bottom two, the one behind the IMEI and the one under the VOID sticker hold the main board but the two screws sitting deeper inside the phone's body hold the front buttons so you may leave them for now.
Now comes the trickiest part so read carefully: the main board is held inside the unibody by the screws (which we already removed), but is also glued right below the camera lens and along the sides. You should probably heat it up as much as you can and for a long time. I decided to do it the hard way. My dislplay was already cracked and it's the most delicate part of the phone so I said "whatever" and used the same knife as before - moved it alongside the screen (pushed it in gently from the front) until there was no resistance (the glue let go). Then I pushed and I heated the thing up and pushed and tried from every angle until finally the board slid out of the unibody. I hope you'll find it easier then I did as it seems that everyone describing it found it quite doable.
Now everything becomes easy-peasy. Remove the remaining screws to put the buttons aside (you'll have both the actul buttons and the tiny board with sensors - the latter sticks to the screen but once you remove the connectors, yu can take it off too). All the connectors are quite easy to remove if you hav a needle or something (just pull them out gently). I didn't worry about noting which is which as ther is practically no way you can mix them up - they're very different.
The rubbery plastic black surrounding of the board clicks in, so once you find the right spots you can lift them gently and take the thing off. You'll be left with the display covered by the shielding from the top and a thin metal board from the bottom. You have to remove two more screws to disconnect the main display plug.
And the final bit (that's where the thread's author had a problem I believe). My display was cracked but the shielding - fine. These two are glued together so I had to find some space for my finger nail and lift the shield. By slowly and gently pulling it apart I detached one from the other - and had to do the same thing with the metal board. Don't forget there's some extra stuff to remove from the back of the display - they're all glued but the glue will remain fresh enough for you to glue them again - this time to the new screen. The same applies to the front shield. I hope you won't let any dust sit on it in the meantime. You should have a screen protector on your new display if you bought it like I did. Remove it now and the display will be happy to stick to the old front shield just as if it was always there. The metal back will also fit in.
Now you can go through the above process backwards - just remember to connect all the connectors.
What I didn't do: I didn't use ANY glue putting the phone back together. As an effect the front shield is sticking out a bit (doesn't sit in the unibody tightly). It doesn't affect the phone itself but it gives you the funny feeling that something isn't 100% right. But I prefer that than screwing something up with a misuse of glue (glue can be disobedient).
The most important piece of information: the phone is working 100% correctly as if it was never disassembled by an amateur. Apart from two scatches on the back, the VOID sticker missing, the front sticking out slightly (less than a mm) and the missing battery slider (which I forgot to put back in and didn't bother to repeat the whole process for the sake of it) - there is nothing wrong with the phone. So if you ever crack you ever crack your Legend's screen - you can try fixing it yourself if you have the courage.

I would like to see some photos too But I'm never gonna take my phone apart - can't see the point

Foto's
Nice thread, i myself am wondering, if a better gsm antenna can be fixed inside the phone. and connect them to the 2 connections.
Do you have any pictures of the inside housing etc?

[Q] Legend water detection sticker?

Does anyone know where the water detection sticker (or whatever it's using) is located in the Legend?
After I stupidly left my Legend in the bathroom while I took a shower my phone is acting up. Basically there's a horizontal row on the digitizer that isn't working and when you've used the phone for a while the digitizer goes all crazy and adds a huge vertical offset to all touch coordinates; you press an icon at the bottom of the screen and it thinks you're pressing one in the top row etc. After a reboot it works again for a few minutes of interaction and then it's the same problem again.
The phone is still covered by warranty but before I send it in I'd like to check if the water detection sticker indicates that the warranty is voided (which means that I'll have to pay a service fee and they won't fix it). Since the phone already has been to service once (also problems with the digitizer, they exchanged it) the IMEI/warranty void stickers covering the screws are already removed so I can open it to have a peek if necessary.
Any ideas?

Looks like it might be beneath the micro SD card. If you remove the bottom plate and then the battery, then take out the micro SD card there is a small white (in my case) square that is visible. I'm not 100% certain that this is what you're looking for but it's the only thing visible that looks like it could be the detection sticker.
Sent from my Legend using XDA App

There is also a similar small round white sticker on the top side of the battery. I heard somewere this is also a water detector.

Gertjan90 said:
There is also a similar small round white sticker on the top side of the battery. I heard somewere this is also a water detector.
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Click to collapse
It will be.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Thanks guys! Checked both indicators and they're as white as they can be so this little piggy is off to warranty repair again.

Just to inform u,my phone was on a bath tab for two or three minutes(still alive) an the small sticker on the battery is still white. Might be that indicator is hidden somewhere else . Haven't checked the one underneath micro SD card.
Good luck.
Sent from my HTC Legend using XDA App

Sim card wont stay on

My phone fell and i too became a victim of the uninsertable sim card and now im stuck with 3g.
Anybody found a fix for this?
Looks like the mechanism which holds the sim card broke or something.

Duct tape.

MrTriTanium said:
Duct tape.
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Click to collapse
Either that or just super glue it. The spring felt a little too strong for tape so I went with the permanent fix.

parkerlreed said:
Either that or just super glue it. The spring felt a little too strong for tape so I went with the permanent fix.
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Click to collapse
Where exactly did you apply the Super Glue? And how did you hold the SIM in place while the glue set? The spring is pretty strong and "spits" the card out forcefully...
Sent from my TF300T using Tapatalk

kozmo2k4 said:
Where exactly did you apply the Super Glue? And how did you hold the SIM in place while the glue set? The spring is pretty strong and "spits" the card out forcefully...
Sent from my TF300T using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
I applied it on top of the card. This worked for a little bit but failed a few days later. Too much glue got onto the contacts. I've given up now. Just going to use it with only 3G till I get a new phone.

parkerlreed said:
I applied it on top of the card. This worked for a little bit but failed a few days later. Too much glue got onto the contacts. I've given up now. Just going to use it with only 3G till I get a new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I was afraid of the super glue not holding up for too long. I might try hot glue, if I can keep the SIM wedged in there long enough for it to cure.
Sent from my Mobile Communication Device

Solution without tape or glue
There is a notch on the back cover that can move and hold the SIM in place on the back cover on the phone.
If you slide the back snug (back cover from right to left assuming the word SHARP is upright) putting pressure on the notch area it will slide / push the SIM into position. Carefully snap the back on and you are good to go. I've had the problem for months but it seemed like an easy fix. It will eventually go on its own to 4G, but a restart works faster especially if you are unsure if it is in place. If you drop the phone or switch memory cards often then maybe use tape or something else, as the SIM is small and might not be easy to find if it shoots out.

Found the fix!!!!!
OK all you have to do is right above the SIM card you can peel back the tape / sticker once you do that there will be a little tab in the top left right corner that you can pop up and then the other way . then u will see that when u stick your SIM card all the way in and you'll see a little bar that comes down in the top left corner n you'll notice that when you press your SIM card in there's a little bar that comes down if you if you take something and basically press that bar upwards (like a needle)bend it up it will actually keep your SIM card in works for me then just put the back on it works for me my 4G works[/B

OK all you have to do is right above the SIM card you can peel back the tape / sticker once you do that don't be a little tab in the top left right corner that you can pop up and then the other way then stick your SIM card all the way in and you'll see a little bar that comes down in the top left corner n you'll notice that when you press your SIM card in there's a little bar that comes down if you if you take something and basically press that bar upwards it will actually keep your SIM card in works for me then just put the tape back where it was my 4G works
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Click to collapse
This worked for me. Thanks!

Aquos must have that problem alot!
cmomoney said:
This worked for me. Thanks!
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Click to collapse
Mine is broke too and only gets 3G.
I'll have to try that repair and see if it works.
Must be a bad engineering on the sim holder.

Screen Flicker/Flash

I just got a used unlocked G930A. I used odin to update to 7.0. When I use any app the screen will go dark for a fraction of a second maybe once or twice a minute . it will also pause youtube video once or twice a minute. Both problems also happen in safe mode. I'm not sure if it did on android 6. Any ideas, I would really appreciate any help, i'm all out of ideas.
Thanks

It could be related to water damage. If water got into the phone, especially through the sim card slot, the phone screen will act crazy. Since you got a used phone, it could be water damaged. It could also be the result of a hard- drop impact, causing the screen ribbon cable to slightly move on the inside. If you take out the sim card tray, and take a flashlight and shine it on the inside, you should see a white sticker with red X's on it. If the sticker is full on red, with no white, then Im afraid your phone has been water damaged, and there is not much you can do about it other than get the phone repaired.