Hi guys,
New owner of a S4 (GT-I9505 international) here with a problem. 2 days ago I noticed the screen wasn't rotating anymore. I used to rotate it portrait/landscape in applications like Camera or Internet (browser). The moment when it started to bother me was when looking at pictures with the phone in portrait and the image was landscape. Trying to rotate the phone didn't help. It was frozen. I called a buddy of mine who has some experience with Samsung devices and told me to verify the "Auto-Rotation" settings. It was all OK and enabled. Then he suggested turning the phone off and pulling out the battery and SIM card for 5 minutes and putting it all back. This didn't help either. Finally we got to the point where he told me to enter *#0*# in the Phone dialing application. As you might already know, this code gives you access to the "testing" hidden utility. There I tested all the options available. Everything was fine except for the Sensors and SensorHub Selftest.
In the Sensors section, all the tests failed, starting with the Accelerometer and ending with the Temperature. I uploaded screenshots taken during the tests. Please remember this started 2 days ago. Before this it was working perfectly. I don't recall making and major changes like updating any OS components or installing/running stress utilities related to sensors or device behavior. After doing some research online and reading about other people's similar problems I got to the point where I started to suspect a problem with the MCU (Micro Controller Unit). This component, according to Samsung, controls all the sensors and reads raw data from them without accessing the AP (Application Processor) this way extending the battery life. I believe the problem is here because it seems odd that none of the sensors are working all of a sudden. Can this component put the sensors into a sleep state and shut them down completely? Might this be the case here?
Below are the solutions I tried in order to revive the MCU and finally the sensors. I was all without success:
1) Turned off the phone and pulled the battery and SIM out. Put the back in after about 5 minutes. Result: sensors not working.
2) Reset to factory-settings from the settings option while the phone was in the working state (turned on). Result: sensors not working.
3) Rooted the phone, installed Clockwork Recovery, made a full system and applications backup and then installed custom ROM (two actually: PACMan, Google Play Edition (4.3)). I did this in order to exclude a problem related to drivers in the stock Samsung ROM, even if it was logical that Samsung being the owner and manufacturer of the device might have the "best" drivers and applications for inquiring the device components/sensors. I am aware this ended the warranty for me, but can I know it can easily be undone. Result: sensors not working.
4) Restored the original stock Samsung ROM. Result: sensors not working.
The utilities used for sensor testing were: Sensor Kinetics and Sensor Tester. Both can be found in the Play Store. On my wives phone, which is an old HTC Desire, both utilities picked up the available sensors and created graphs with the results. On my S4, I only got blank charts/graphics/results. In Sensor Kinetics for the Gyro for example, the message was "Waiting for the Gyroscope sensor...", just that, stuck.
If there are any other guys (or ladies!) out there who encountered this awful experience, please reach out and tell me if you found any practical solution, any other then just taking the device back to warranty. I'm open to any suggestions.
Best regards,
Andrei
Most likely a defective device ... can't you claim warranty and sent it back?
Sounds like hardware failure. This would be an issue for Samsung to solve.
Sent from my GT-I9505
AvelonTs said:
Most likely a defective device ... can't you claim warranty and sent it back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately I bought it second-hand and it does not have any warranty. I guess it's one of those moments I wish I had patience and gathered more cash to buy a new one from the store. Anyway, it's my bad luck. I had it working perfectly for weeks after buying it. I will use it like this for the time being..
i´ve got the exact same problem since yesterday...
i think i´ll take it to the shop for warranty
I've got the exact same issue. All sensors are having the same issue. None are working,
I found out because my camera app was not switching between landscape and portait any more. All pictures are saved as landscape...
Called Samsung Netherlands and they told me to wipe my phone (still latest original stock ROM) and try again.
Making a backup now using Kies... and will hard reset it afterward and check the sensors.again.
Probably not going to work... So I have to send it in...
darklord said:
I've got the exact same issue. All sensors are having the same issue. None are working,
I found out because my camera app was not switching between landscape and portait any more. All pictures are saved as landscape...
Called Samsung Netherlands and they told me to wipe my phone (still latest original stock ROM) and try again.
Making a backup now using Kies... and will hard reset it afterward and check the sensors.again.
Probably not going to work... So I have to send it in...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi there. I had same problem with sensors and MCU test failed, so i took phone to service. They said its hardware failure and replaced main board. Im picking phone tommorow and we will see...
Hi guys,
I took mine to a local phone service, not the official one, but they are an affiliate. They could not figure out exactly what the problem was so they replaced the logic/main board just for testing. It was all working fine. They called and informed me of the findings. Given the fact I don't have warranty for it, they suggested to send it to our main service in Bucharest where they have a more sophisticated testing equipment. It is possible to get a more precise answer regarding the defective component and maybe a less pricey solution to the problem. At this time, the only viable option is to get a new logic board in place, which is about to set me back 250 USD. I will get an answer from Samsung in Bucharest by tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.
I will get back to you with my final solution... hopefully something not so expensive
@darklord, @eweu: please post back you findings. Maybe in the future when some other unfortunate owner finds his way in here, will have a better understanding of whats on the plate for him.
Thanks,
Hard reset did not work as expected. Going to drop it off at a local official repair center....
S4 Sensors failing
I have the same problem with my S4 GT-I9505 device not auto-rotate, air gestures with gyroscope and accelerometer tests failing. S4 been back for 3 weeks to Samsung for repair came back and failed again after 1 week
KSal7506 said:
I have the same problem with my S4 GT-I9505 device not auto-rotate, air gestures with gyroscope and accelerometer tests failing. S4 been back for 3 weeks to Samsung for repair came back and failed again after 1 week
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After installing some other ROM's and playing with different CSC's I have no sound and even no wireless and only Edge speeds on some ROM's. Restoring from backups, wireless came back and HSDPA+ also, but no luck with sound what so ever. Now, I have a tablet more or less. Thanks Samsung, this is great!
canaris1780 said:
After installing some other ROM's and playing with different CSC's I have no sound and even no wireless and only Edge speeds on some ROM's. Restoring from backups, wireless came back and HSDPA+ also, but no luck with sound what so ever. Now, I have a tablet more or less. Thanks Samsung, this is great!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashed I9505XXUDMH8_I9505OXXDMHA_BTU, sound and wlan working again. Previous problem with MCU/sensors still there.
i'm tired
canaris1780 said:
Flashed I9505XXUDMH8_I9505OXXDMHA_BTU, sound and wlan working again. Previous problem with MCU/sensors still there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
really i'm tired to solve this issue.
when i install new stock software the sensors work fine just a few minutes only yhen return to fail again.
i think its software issue and i'll solve it :good::good::good:
Sensors work again
:laugh: :victory:
Its work right now by itself
:crying:
after uploading the pictures its fail again
abdali_m2 said:
:laugh: :victory:
Its work right now by itself
:crying:
after uploading the pictures its fail again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same thing here
all sensors are broken because of SensorHub BIN FW Version: AT0199999
then i try to update firmware with *#2663# it failed.
I have the same problem with my S4 GT-I9505.
Suddenly the device do not auto-rotate, and no air gestures with gyroscope and accelerometer are working.
The SensorHubTest end with FAIL.
Mid december I got one OTA firmware update and I didn't notice any problems first.
A few days after newyear I notice that my auto-brightness adjustment did not work properly.
Can't remember if auto-rotate didn't work when I notice the auto-brightness problem.
But finally I am here because I searched for sensors problems.
I did the SensorsHub Test with *#0*# and it ends with FAIL.
It seems that there is a problem with the 4.3x firmware.
With 4.2x all was fine.
Can anybody confirm my thoughts - that the firmware is broken and not the MCU itself?
What can we try? Downgrade? I read that one was lucky with "factory reset" but it didn't helped to revive the MCU of my device.
Thanks for reading
and answering
___
DK
Hi, i am a owner of a sch-i545 phone, and i have the same problem with the phone: no response of any sensor and a fail on test (or upgrade firmware) of the sensorhub.
At this time i was tried a lot of solutions: i was flashed stock firmware, custom firmware, and of course a factory reset (by the way, the first time with this problem was when i did it a single factory reset), its still broken the communication with the sensors.
I get back to life the phone when i upgrade the phone from 4.2 to 4.3 (sadly) and get lost when i update the binaries in super su (previously rooted with vroot).
Yesterday i give the phone to a technician (a close friend of another best friend), he will test the phone on this weekend to determine what is the problem to try to fix it.
When He fix this phone, i will post any news!
Regards.
remy1004 said:
At this time i was tried a lot of solutions: i was flashed stock firmware, custom firmware, and of course a factory reset (by the way, the first time with this problem was when i did it a single factory reset), its still broken the communication with the sensors.
I get back to life the phone when i upgrade the phone from 4.2 to 4.3 (sadly) and get lost when i update the binaries in super su (previously rooted with vroot).
Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your answer. I have hope that the next firmware will fix it.
What is strange that none of any reseller/privers know this problem. It seems that also Samsung has no knowledge about this special error.
Well if the next firmware didn't fix the problem, I can replace my model with a working one, that is what the guy at the phone shop offers to me.
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DK
Same Problem Here
Hi guys, I'm new to this forum so be nice :angel:
I am having the same problem in that none of the sensors are working which indicates that it is a connection issue or the actual hub not working or the firmware and not the individual sensors themselves. I have thought about this and looked around and to me it seems like there are only 3 possibilities for the problem:
1) The SensorHub BIN FW Version is out of date and needs to be updated manually (not through *#2663 as it doesn't work)
2) There is a connection issue e.g. the cable from the sensorhub to the motherboard is loose or broken
3) The sensorhub is broken (not the sensors)
I will try to find the firmware files and see if I can do a manual update. If that fails I will open up the phone and see if the cable is connected/broken. If I still cannot solve the issue, I will have to take it to the shop and hope I can fix it off warranty (I bought it second hand)
Dan
shadowsoulxp said:
Hi guys, I'm new to this forum so be nice :angel:
I am having the same problem in that none of the sensors are working which indicates that it is a connection issue or the actual hub not working or the firmware and not the individual sensors themselves.
[...]
I will try to find the firmware files and see if I can do a manual update. If that fails I will open up the phone and see if the cable is connected/broken. If I still cannot solve the issue, I will have to take it to the shop and hope I can fix it off warranty (I bought it second hand)
Dan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Dan for your reply.
I assume that your S4 shows the same behaviour as my one and the phone is still working fine.
The sensorhubtest failed and your light sensor for automatic adjusting and the sensor for turning the display are not working.
What is really strange that I went to a vodafone shop in Hamburg and ask them if there is any other one having problems with the S4.
You know the answer? They where wondering and telling me that this is wierd and they heard the first time of such an issue from me.
I showed them the device and showed them how I test the sensors. *#0*# funny they didn't know this combo
I hope that you succeed and share your knowledge,
with best regards.
___
DK
Hi All,
I've been experiencing some sensor issues lately on my Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505. The issue is basically, that they don't work. After running tests and ensuring that it's not me being stupid, I sent it back for repair under warranty into Phones4u, (DO NOT ever do that if you take my advice) saying it's a hardware issue. That was in august (precisely on the 30st).
The first time the phone came back to me in september (25th) saying it had been repaired. And guess what, it had not. Same issues. (I'll skip the part where I complained over phone and emailed them and basically they ignored / didn't get back to me, or refused to give me a replacement phone saying I'm not with the ripoff insurance company they had offered) Cheers for that!
So I sent it back for a second round with an A4 sheet describing the issue in details.
After waiting almost a month - again - I got my phone back (yesterday.. Oct 19th) with the engineer's comments: "Couldn't find the problem."
Great!
BUT! Surprisingly, all sensors worked! wow!
But my joy didn't last long, as after a few hours the test Failed again. I restarted the phone and it turned out that restarting the phone helps SOMETIMES temporarily, and that's only confusing because I would've thought that I'm facing a hardware issue. But if they SOMETIMES work it must be a software issue.
So I went ahead and downloaded the latest OFFICIAL firmware (XXEUEMI8) with 4.3 android. With this I'm not voiding the warranty and keep the binary counter on 0 just in case it has to go back again. (Oh yes, the phone hasn't been rooted. )
But no, didn't work. Still the same issues.
In the video here you see my latest factory reset and sensor tests.
Any ideas? Suggestions? Maybe someone with similar issues?
hey guys i need some help.. a few months ago my j500h was dropped in water i took out the battery and got it dried. it worked fine but as soon as i played a video its screen got blanked out.. anyhow I got this issue fixed but the problem i am facing is that my wifi and bluetooth are not working... a few days earlier I went to a local mobile shop.. i told him everything he said that it might be a software problem.. he did some troubleshooting but at the end he told me it might be the hardware.. when i got home I opened the wifi and was surprised to see it was detecting the wifi networks but it lasted only 15-20 mins.. after that i tried to turn off and on it several times and it would detect on or two networks.. so i tried reflashing the software and there it was again gone forever... Is there a way to get it working again.
Most probably there must be some problem in your board due to water. Seems like hardware issue.
I've only had this phone for about a month and been running Havoc, I just upgraded the rom about 4 days ago. The screen just went blank out of nowhere yesterday, the phone is always on. Even when I boot into recovery or flashboot, still no display. The screen gets lighter when it powers up and you can access the storage, just no display. Obviously, I have no warranty. I'd just like to ask if this is a definite hardware problem or is there any possibility of it being a software issue (don't think so but could be wrong).
Much thanks in advance.
hognoodle said:
I've only had this phone for about a month and been running Havoc, I just upgraded the rom about 4 days ago. The screen just went blank out of nowhere yesterday, the phone is always on. Even when I boot into recovery or flashboot, still no display. The screen gets lighter when it powers up and you can access the storage, just no display. Obviously, I have no warranty. I'd just like to ask if this is a definite hardware problem or is there any possibility of it being a software issue (don't think so but could be wrong).
Much thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try flashing stock rom from aft or fastboot if still the display doesn't work then it's a hardware issue
it might be a hardware issue.
Since nobody else seems to be having this specific issue, I've got to assume it is a hardware problem. Not overly thrilled with Asus at this point, I had one of their tablets randomly crap out on me not too long ago. Anyway, we'll see how far I get with customer service after "voiding the warranty", I've started an RMA with Asus and Banggood is requesting a video demonstrating the issue. I'll just follow up here if anybody is wondering how that process goes.
so, this phone died for me in 2017, and have been in a drawer since then. then i thought why not ask. so long story short if i remember correctly: bought it new. i rooted it since all the cool kids do that. then i did some update i think. and then in the winter of 2017 in beginning it just started behaving weirdly for me and then it turned off and all kinds of shenanigans. cant restart using different methods, sometimes it blinks, sometimes that bios menu comes up. blabla. so i tried to send it to the local repairshop that the seller used. but since i had it rooted they refused to fix it. so now i have a phone that costed 600 euro + 70 euro in service cost and it doesnt work. and then its been in a drawer since then.
i took it out, had it and the battery in a freezer for a while like some has said on internet didnt work.
anyway. does anyone here know any tips? if i want to flash the room can that be possible? or is this a lost cause? was this a common problem with note 4? i loved it and it crushed my heart when it stopped working. i still have a few months of pics etc on it from back then that ive never been able to get out. i attached it to the computer now and the computer makes a sound but nothing more.
any tips?
darknessviking said:
so, this phone died for me in 2017, and have been in a drawer since then. then i thought why not ask. so long story short if i remember correctly: bought it new. i rooted it since all the cool kids do that. then i did some update i think. and then in the winter of 2017 in beginning it just started behaving weirdly for me and then it turned off and all kinds of shenanigans. cant restart using different methods, sometimes it blinks, sometimes that bios menu comes up. blabla. so i tried to send it to the local repairshop that the seller used. but since i had it rooted they refused to fix it. so now i have a phone that costed 600 euro + 70 euro in service cost and it doesnt work. and then its been in a drawer since then.
i took it out, had it and the battery in a freezer for a while like some has said on internet didnt work.
anyway. does anyone here know any tips? if i want to flash the room can that be possible? or is this a lost cause? was this a common problem with note 4? i loved it and it crushed my heart when it stopped working. i still have a few months of pics etc on it from back then that ive never been able to get out. i attached it to the computer now and the computer makes a sound but nothing more.
any tips?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds to me like either dead emmc or misconnection.
If it's just? misconnection there are tips (increasing the pressure by cardboard).
Can you access download mode?
Sometimes it shows there "dead emmc".
I somewhere read about a testing app.
Gotta search.
Where in Europe are you?
In the German Android-hilfe forum there is a member who fixes that.
Either exchanging the emmc or resoldering it.
If the chip is dead probably the data are lost.
afaik flashing the stock ROM deletes data.
It's a known problem, yes.
bmwdroid said:
Sounds to me like either dead emmc or misconnection.
If it's just? misconnection there are tips (increasing the pressure by cardboard).
Can you access download mode?
Sometimes it shows there "dead emmc".
I somewhere read about a testing app.
Gotta search.
Where in Europe are you?
In the German Android-hilfe forum there is a member who fixes that.
Either exchanging the emmc or resoldering it.
If the chip is dead probably the data are lost.
afaik flashing the stock ROM deletes data.
It's a known problem, yes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent feedback and assessment @bmwdroid . Thank you for sharing.
I only wish to add that there is a way to flash Samsung firmware while keeping user data. Of course, this method wouldn't be effective when it comes to emmc hardware failure so Im posting it for general information purposes only.
If you have downloaded the firmware for your Samsung Galaxy device you’ll find 2 CSC binaries with *.tar.md5*extension (namely CSC and Home_CSC ) inside along with BL, AP, and CP.*CSC*and*HOME_CSC*are necessary for different purposes, and you have to choose one or the other depending on your goal.
CSC –*If you flash the CSC file, it’ll perform a*factory reset*of your Galaxy device and wipe all data while installing a new firmware to bring your device to the same*state as it was when you purchased it. Go with CSC if you want a*clean installation.
HOME_CSC*–* On the other hand, if you want to*keep your Samsung phone’s data and settings*even flashing the stock firmware, you can select the HOME_CSC file.