Installing iPhone 3GS Display
Replace a broken display on your iPhone 3GS.
- Author: Ben Eisenman
- Time required: 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Difficult
Cracked or faulty display? Replacing the glass is somewhat involved but very doable.
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Step 2
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Remove the metal handle from the suction cup. It's easier and safer to grip the suction cup's base instead of the metal handle.
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Be very careful when opening the iPhone so that the cables under the display are not severed.
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There is a rubber gasket between the silver front bezel and black display assembly. A bit of force is required in this step to separate the iPhone's display assembly.
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Use a small suction cup near the Home button to gently pull up the lower portion of the iPhone's display assembly.
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If the display assembly is too damaged to allow the suction cup to adhere, tape with a strong adhesive such as duct tape may be used.
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Step 4
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Continue to hold the display assembly with one hand, and use your other hand and a spudger to disconnect the black ribbon cable labeled "1."
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Ribbon cable "1" is connected with a plug style connector. The block at the end of the cable is the plug which is simply pushed into a socket on the circuit board. No other locking mechanism is used.
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Step 6
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Ribbon cable "3" is held in place by a FPC style connector. You must unlock this connector before sliding the ribbon cable out. The locking mechanism is on the opposite side of where the cable is inserted - it swivels upwards 90 degrees. Use a plastic spudger to lift the locking mechanism.
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The FPC locking latch is very delicate and is typically a different color than the body of the connector. (see the detail image of FPC connector open and closed)
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Slide the ribbon cable out of the connector, and remove the display assembly from the iPhone.
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It's impossible to properly reinsert a ribbon into an FPC connector unless the lock is disengaged. Make sure the locking latch is open when attaching/detaching the cable.
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