iFixit - Answers With Device "iPhone 3GS"

iPhone 3GS: Wont Turn On, Coil Smoked?

Sat, 02 Nov 2013 20:23:12 -0700

Yesterday my iPhone 3gs fell on the floor and the speaker, charging port and mic wouldnt work. I took the front assembly off and noticed the dock connector ribbon had come off so I reconnected it and put it back together and it charged and the mic worked but the speaker still wouldnt.. Then i decided to take out the dock/speaker/mic part and have a look.. So I took the motherboard out and removed it and then the dock bit, had a look at it didnt attempt to mess with it and put the phone back together. Now the phone would still turn on but the screen would only flash on for less than a second when I pressed home or power (The phone was still working I got texts and the vibrate switch worked). Just no screen. so I took it apart again and made sure everything was connected and was secure but now when I put it back together it wouldnt turn on! Now I decided to leave it untill today.. Today it still wouldnt turn on but when I connected it to the charger or computer it would get warm on the back but wouldnt be recognised in iTunes, I took it apart AGAIN and looked under the EMI shield and noticed the coil looked a bit dodgy so it brushed it gently with my finger to see if it would move.. It smoked me and fell off the motherboard! I had been having a problem with the backlight only working on low setting and the proximity sensor not working but I left that alone. Now the phone still wont turn on and I dont have a clue what to do with it!

⟐ Answer accepted 11월 02, 2013 at 20:23 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: connector 7 smashed on board of 3gs

Sat, 02 Nov 2013 20:22:13 -0700

Hi,

I dropped the phone in the toilet then pulled it apart to let it air dry while putting it back together I smashed the #7 connector on the board, now I have no service and cant figure out how to fix it? Anybody have an idea? Was wondering if I could just solder the to connections together but I dont even know if solder is conductive. Help.

⟐ Answer accepted 11월 02, 2013 at 20:22 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: Water Damage, can't get reception

Sat, 02 Nov 2013 20:21:56 -0700

I had some water damage on my phone and I've opened up the logic board and cleaned up all the gunk. I've changed the screen and the home button and everything is working fine except that my phone can't get reception. The phone recognizes the sim card because I can see my phone number on it. It searches for a network and sometimes find T-mobile or ATT but never connect. By the way, I can use bluetooth, wifi, and the speakers work.

I'm not sure if it is a software or hardware problem at this point. I'm with T-mobile so I had to JB my phone. I'm in a JB 4.1 with 06.15.00 baseband.

Thanks

⟐ Answer accepted 11월 02, 2013 at 20:21 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: Fix Flex cable # 7 connector

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 03:45:35 -0700

I washed my Iph 3gs 16gb. I've replaced the battery, the LCD and the antennae assembly. Unfortunately taken it apart an re-assembling the 'motherboard' #7 connector is no longer connecting the #7 flex cable. Do you know of a fix for this or how much to repair? Thank you

⟐ Answer accepted 10월 01, 2013 at 3:45 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: How to jailbreak and add tethering. Also, how to replace a battery.

Wed, 11 Sep 2013 11:16:40 -0700

Hello iFixit,

Thank you for this great service.

I have two questions:

1. Is there a good way to ad tethering to my iPhone 3GS? I heard you have to jailbreak it first and then there is a software app that will enable tethering.

2. the battery in my iPhone 3GS no longer holds a long charge. Is there a way to replace the battery myself? Are there instructions to do this? Where can I obtain the parts, battery?

THANK YOU!

Best Regards,

Carson

⟐ Answer accepted 9월 11, 2013 at 11:16 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: I´ve got a problem with the recovery mode

Mon, 02 Sep 2013 22:40:40 -0700

Hi team, I hope that may you can helpme.

Few days ago,

I¨ve got the iphone conected to the mac computer, at some point it´s askme to change to the latest update of iTunes....I said OK....

and from that moment I got stuck the iPhone on the recovery mode, even if i switch off the phone an them switch on, also I try to re-install the iTunes, but nothing happens. When I switch on the phone, on the screen is appearing a music logo with a cable conection and stay there, no change.

At the moment I don´t know what else to do.

I hope that I get an answer soon from you.

Regards

Sergi Fernandez.

⟐ Answer accepted 9월 02, 2013 at 22:40 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: iPhone freezes 10 seconds after startup after repair

Mon, 02 Sep 2013 22:40:35 -0700

Hi,

I recently changed the back of my 3gs. it all went well and had absoluetly no problems what so ever. Got it back in one piece no problem.

Now when i start the phone up it freezes shortly after the pincode screen is reached. If i enter the pin it will freeze as soon as the last correct digit is pressed.

If i leave it locked, the swirly wheel thing eventually comes on. However this just stays on for as long as the phoene is left.

I've since updated the phone and restored it. Still the same problem.

It's not right in itunes when it's connected but it still kinda sees it as it managed to restore it. (took a few attempts.)

Another weird thing is i can use the voice command funtionallity at th epin screen. If i make it play music it'll continue to play whilst frozed???

Any ideas? Is there maybe sometihng i could leave disconnected inside to see if it's causing a problem??

⟐ Answer accepted 9월 02, 2013 at 22:40 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: Installed new display assembly but appears the color balance seems off

Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:07:55 -0700

I replaced the front display (including LCD) on my iPhone 3GS. The new lcd seems to have a really warmer color temperature than the old display (the new one seems to be "yellowing" out (ie, white appears closer to off white). Old LCD was much cooler, bluer. Did I do something wrong with the install or is this hardware related?

⟐ Answer accepted 8월 29, 2013 at 12:07 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: How to replace SIm reader

Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:07:08 -0700

Hello,

How to change the sim reader ?

thank you in advance for your answers

⟐ Answer accepted 8월 29, 2013 at 12:07 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: logic board getting hot and battery drain.

Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:04:40 -0700

my iPhone charges well and everything works normally but it gets hot and shows battery drain in about 4-5 hours, even if the phone is switched off.

Ddo you have an idea what is wrong with it?

The battery is okay.

When the battery is completely discharged I have to put another battery into the phone to switch it on. It is a hardware problem, I am sure about that. Regards

⟐ Answer accepted 8월 29, 2013 at 12:04 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: Cleaning inside camera lens

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 20:54:45 -0700

I'm wondering what would be the easiest way to clean the inside of my iPhone 3GS camera lens. It has a lot of particles accumulated, and the resulting pictures are very blurry.

I want to avoid doing the whole "camera module take-apart" guide. Aren't there any other ways? Thanks for any tips!

⟐ Answer accepted 8월 26, 2013 at 20:54 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: How can I undo screws holding in the headphone jack?

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:38:59 -0700

In step 19 of the iPhone headjack repair guide I can't get the screws out. I have successfully removed everything other than the screw right below tab 6, the vibrate button and the top screw holding in the volume up button. I've attempted to put a bit of white glue in there to no success.

⟐ Answer accepted 4월 20, 2012 at 3:38 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: How to hear incoming callers

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:58:19 -0700

mute button does not work, nore can i hear callers on the line, is the problem linked,how do i fix this

⟐ Answer accepted 4월 19, 2012 at 14:58 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: Dim display after attempted replacement :( any ideas?

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:11:03 -0700

I was trying to help out a friend with a cracked screen, and after about 10 minutes of tinkering I thought to check the model number on the scrap iPhone that I was using for parts- turns out that the old model was a 3G and the new one is a 3GS, which don't have compatible screen/LCD assemblies. I was trying to put the 1 2 and 3 connections back together with the 'new' (non-cracked) screen, and I'm afraid I damaged a connection somewhere. Now when I put the old cracked screen back together, the display is extremely dim and won't get brighter through 'Settings'. She already tried to reset her phone through iTunes. If I can't fix it I'm going to replace the screen out of my pocket, but I would love to not do that. Any ideas, iFix-ers?

THank you!!

Experience: I have performed this repair successfully multiple times previously, and am fairly comfortable within the guts of a iPhone.

⟐ Answer accepted 2월 13, 2012 at 20:11 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: Charging problem after LCD and Dygitizer change, no auto-dim,bat drain

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:55:21 -0700

So I cracked my screen and replaced it, right after I noticed that the unit is getting odly warm and battery drains verrrrry fast,(10% in 5 min) that is not normal... also when I make a phone call and talk the screen is always on and the auto dim light doesn't work. I disabled 3G, Data, Vibrate, Dimmed light to 10%, disabled notifications and location, airplane mode... SAME ISSUES :S.... Please give me some hints....

⟐ Answer accepted 12월 28, 2011 at 12:55 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: Logic board bent co

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:35:48 -0700

This 3GS was run over by a trailer and I disassembled to try and repair but the first thing I noticed was the logic board is warped! I put a working display on it to test it because the digitizer and LCD were crushed and it's not doing anything. Is there anyway to fix a bent board also is this what is causing it not to work?

⟐ Answer accepted 9월 27, 2011 at 10:35 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: Where is the NAND-IC and how to clean it (error 21)?

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:58:53 -0700

I get error 21 when I try to recover an iPhone 3GS, and have googled to try to find answers.

Some people suggest to clean the NAND Ic board, but where is this?

Can someone help me on this?

⟐ Answer accepted 9월 01, 2011 at 12:58 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: Replacement earpiece volume very soft

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:02:15 -0700

Hello,

I've got an iPhone 3GS and recently replaced the LCD assembly. I've bought the assembly from eBay. The first one I received had a problem with the ear speaker. The volume is very soft and i can barely hear the caller.

My question is: Could this be a problem with the earpiece itself or the proximity ribbon cable? I've bought more LCd assemblies (also for iPhone 3G) and those were also very soft. I want to know how I can fix this. By either replacing the ear speaker or replacing the ribbon cable.

Thanks in advance =)

⟐ Commented 8월 30, 2011 at 20:02 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: Can I disconnect front assembly while the phone is turned on?

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:24:37 -0700

Hi there,

I have recently replaced the back housing and front panel assembly for my 3Gs iphone. The USB device is not recognized in windows, and the phone hangs on the boot screen, with an eternal spinning load sign.

I cant do a hard reset, I figure this is because one of the button's is not connected properly.

Can I remove the 3 connectors and remove the screen while the phone is on, or do I have to wait til it goes flat?

⟐ Commented 8월 29, 2011 at 9:24 GMT-7

iPhone 3GS: Backlight out, coil or LCD the problem?

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:15:13 -0700

I recently dropped my phone in my kitchen. The backlight went out. I looked up online what the problem could be, it looks like it may be a 6r8 coil or my LCD display...the thing is, I'm not sure which one. I just ordered a new coil since it was so cheap, but I would like guidance on whether I'm taking the right approach. Help would deffinately br appreciated!

⟐ Answered 8월 29, 2011 at 9:15 GMT-7