Iphone 4 - diy repair

the corpo

Howdy,

My phone has a bust power button and a flakey home button. I see plenty of places sell kits to DIY the repair, but have many of you tried it? What's the success rate like?

Don't want to make things worse, but if its easy enough I don't want to waste $$ getting someone else to do it. It is budget day, after all!

PaddyFagan

Hi

I've done a number of repairs on iphones (3's & 4's) and ipod touches - probably about ten in total. I'd suggest that getting to the home button in the 4 is a tricky job - I'd estimate it would take me a couple of hours and there are some tricky steps - this guide from ifixit gives a good idea of what's involved: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Replacing+iPhone+4+Home+Button/3144/1

I'd suggest that unless you have a fair idea of what's what in terms of electronics, a steady hand and a few hours to spare - I'd pay some-else to do it. But if you are confident enough, and have the time, it's interesting to see just how it all fits together, and you get the reward of having done something most people would run a mile from!

Paddy

PS Full disclosure - I have a degree in Computer Electronic engineering and a 20 year+ history of mucking about with electronics - you don't need my level of experience to do this, but it might help explain why I'm happy to do this.....

borygo77

It's taking me half an hour to refit new home button in my wifes iphone 4 :P
And did it 3 times or so...
Also lock button is broken for years now and never could get it to work I think that metal part which need to be pushed is broken...

the corpo

Thanks Paddy, am tempted to do it.

Borygo, that you've had to do it three times isn't the best ad!

horgan_p

Having swapped out screens on iPhone 4 + 4s - for the love of christ buy the correct screwdrivers. A mistake you'll only make once, trust me.
Also use an egg carton to keep the teeny tiny screws in order of removal.

brophs

borygo77 wrote: »

It's taking me half an hour to refit new home button in my wifes iphone 4 :P
And did it 3 times or so...
Also lock button is broken for years now and never could get it to work I think that metal part which need to be pushed is broken...

Nah, when the power button doesn't work it's usually the power button flex that needs to be replaced. Basically it has this little nub on it that comes off and stops it making contact, or at least proper contact.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/iPhone-4-GENUINE-NEW-FLEX-RIBBON-CABLE-POWER-BUTTON-AND-PROXIMITY-SENSOR-/271117196023?pt=UK_Replacement_Parts_Tools&hash=item3f1fd81af7

Cathal from www.irepair.ie did mine for around €30, in around half an hour. Well worth it if you can't be bothered fiddling with it.

PaddyFagan

horgan_p wrote: »

Also use an egg carton to keep the teeny tiny screws in order of removal.

Or use a sheet of blank paper and some tape to keep them together in order as removed - like this (an iPhone 4 where I was replacing the screen):



and this :



Paddy

guil

Very good cheap idea.