iPhone screen repair... Any recommendations?

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Loismustdye

927 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#91210 8-Oct-2011 10:37

My partner dropped her 3 gs and cracked the screen, it still works fine, but has a major crack across the screen. (I'm guessing the best skins ever on the front went some distance to hold the screen together).

Does anybody have any recommendations as for a repair place for it? Preferably mail in as we live in palmy.

Thanks in advance.
Simon

1080p

1332 posts

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Inactive user

#530831 8-Oct-2011 11:09

"Please return you iPhone to its place of purchase of contact Apple on 00800 7666 7666."

clicknz

467 posts

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#530841 8-Oct-2011 11:47

Hi - if you were feeling skilled with micro-surgery & had some time on your hands you could buy a new glass (& possibly LCD/digitizer) from somewhere like TradeMe or eBay & try to repair yourself. Otherwise I think there are a few places/people around that do these repairs - check in the archives here & on iPhonewzealand.co.nz.
Good luck.

Cheers,
Mike

Photographer/Videographer clickmedia.nz

josephhinvest

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#530901 8-Oct-2011 14:12

Not sure about mailing or couriering, but I don't see why not.

Try giving ASPA computers, the guys name is Henry, a call. My previous employer used him for non warranty repairs, he's pretty reasonably priced.

www.aspa.co.nz

My 1st gen with dodgy home button is going there as soon as new 4S arrives :)

Cheers,
Joseph

BerG

61 posts

Master Geek

#530904 8-Oct-2011 14:20

Extremely easy to replace yourself.

Just need a very small screwdriver.

Trademe.

uglyb0b

335 posts

Ultimate Geek

#530941 8-Oct-2011 17:18

clicknz: Hi - if you were feeling skilled with micro-surgery & had some time on your hands you could buy a new glass (& possibly LCD/digitizer) from somewhere like TradeMe or eBay & try to repair yourself. Otherwise I think there are a few places/people around that do these repairs - check in the archives here & on iPhonewzealand.co.nz.
Good luck.

The "glass" is the digitiser. Not trying to correct you or anything, you just want to make sure you use the right terminology when ordering parts to make sure you get the right thing.

The digitiser is the touch panel (glass) and the LCD is the actual colour screen part underneath. Most places will sell them separately so you would need to be specific.

These repairs are quite straightforward to do, you just need to be VERY careful when putting the new digitiser on as there are a few flex cables that can very easily be torn. From memory I believe the digitiser has two cables and the LCD has one. On the 3G and 3GS models they are connected to ports on the PCB very close together so you need to be careful. Use tweesers or small pliars to pull it from as close to the PCB as you can, to avoid unnecessary pressure on the cable.

There is also a small latch on one of the connectors that the cable clicks into, so you will need to flick that open with a small screwdriver before pulling the cable out.

BerG

61 posts

Master Geek

#530943 8-Oct-2011 17:23

Easily torn!?

I must be lucky, was pretty rough with mine :D

uglyb0b

335 posts

Ultimate Geek

#530946 8-Oct-2011 17:28

I haven't torn any myself, but I know a few people who have attempted this repair and have had that happen.

I can see how it would be easy for it to tear due to the placement of the cables and the way you have to slide the digitiser into place, but unless you're trying to fix it with a hammer or something it should be fine.

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Loismustdye

927 posts

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#530959 8-Oct-2011 18:12

Thanks for the replies.
Just a few questions for those who have done it themselves.
If it's just the glass(digitizer) that's broken, how would I know this? Is it because the screen still lights up and is fully usable? (which is the case with her phone).
and is there any soldering involved? If it's a case of unscrewing, unplugging etc and no soldering I could be keen on attempting this myself.

Thanks again.

uglyb0b

335 posts

Ultimate Geek

#530994 8-Oct-2011 20:02

If the lcd is damaged you will have distorted colours or no colour on parts/all of the screen. If it looks like the phone is okay but just cracks on the 'glass' part then it should just be the digitiser.

No soldering involved, you just need to unscrew the two screws at the bottom, and unplug the cables.

Google iphone 3Gs screen replacement and you'll find lots of good tutorials.

langers1972

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#531031 8-Oct-2011 21:25

Loismustdye: My partner dropped her 3 gs and cracked the screen, it still works fine, but has a major crack across the screen. (I'm guessing the best skins ever on the front went some distance to hold the screen together).

Does anybody have any recommendations as for a repair place for it? Preferably mail in as we live in palmy.

Thanks in advance.
Simon

Part surf in ChCh, use original parts and did a faultless job on my 3GS http://www.partsurf.co.nz/

Thoroughly recommended

Loismustdye

927 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#531077 9-Oct-2011 02:09

Awesome, thanks guys.
I'm gonna have a Hack at this myself thanks to the tips.
Hopefully things go as easilyas it seems, lol.

clicknz

467 posts

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#531093 9-Oct-2011 08:17

Uglybob - thanks for clarifying my earlier point (digitizer/LCD) - it's been a while since I replaced a screen. Yep, sounds like you just need the glass if the LCD looks all OK. Once again, from memory, the most time-consuming part of the operation was carefully removing the broken glass from the silver bezel frame. This is stuck on to the glass and was quite tricky to remove so the new glass can be stuck back into it.... unless some suppliers are selling the glass/bezel as one unit.
As suggested - a Google search/You Tube search will bring up more help... you may need a suction cup to lift up the glass to separate it from the case.

Cheers,
Mike

Photographer/Videographer clickmedia.nz

Decal

222 posts

Master Geek

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#531121 9-Oct-2011 10:22

langers1972:
Loismustdye: My partner dropped her 3 gs and cracked the screen, it still works fine, but has a major crack across the screen. (I'm guessing the best skins ever on the front went some distance to hold the screen together).

Does anybody have any recommendations as for a repair place for it? Preferably mail in as we live in palmy.

Thanks in advance.
Simon

Part surf in ChCh, use original parts and did a faultless job on my 3GS http://www.partsurf.co.nz/

Thoroughly recommended

+1
These guys are great. 1 day turn around on my mates ipod touch

Loismustdye

927 posts

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#533083 13-Oct-2011 20:47

Well I got the replacement digitixer from trademe, 30 mins later all back together and working fine.
thanks for all the tips, certainly alot easier than I thought it would be.
Cheers