Stories
My Problem
I've been wanting to start a repair business for a long time. An opportunity came my way and I started up. I've been focusing on refurbing damaged iDevices and repairing customer units.
My Fix
The guides on iFixit.com are awesome! It seems that anything that is missing I the guide is in the comments. This makes repairs go really smooth!
My Advice
Participate! When you see an issue with a step in a guide, submit an edit - together we can help to make repairs even easier!
My Problem
I bought an old iPhone 4from a friend to use as an iPod. The screen had some dings, which doesn't bother me all that much, but the glass over the rear camera lens was scratched pretty badly. Since I love to use iPhones as cameras, this was a problem.
My Fix
I ordered the black iPhone 4 CDMA and the pentalobe screwdriver from iFixit, and the repair could not have been easier. The parts came very quickly and worked as advertised.
My Advice
This is a simple fix- anyone can do it. Don't be afraid to give it a shot.
My Problem
Purchased the screwdriver to repair a broken back cover on an iPhone 4.
My Fix
Fixing the iPhone was very easy and quick. Unfortunately, the screwdriver had to be modified prior to use. The tip of the screwdriver was too long and came to too fine of a point to grip the screw.
My Advice
Very, and I mean VERY, gently grind or file off a small amount of the excess tip. I'd suggest grinding a little and testing the fit and then grinding some more if needed. Be sure to keep the tip square to the grinder.
My Problem
I dropped my phone twice and needed to replace both the display assembly and rear glass panel.
My Fix
Shaky at first. This is a take your time kinda project.
My Advice
1) Go slow - I almost stripped a screw, yikes!
2) Use alot of light!
3) Sort and label where each screw goes - this made the process fast.
My Problem
I busted the glass on my back panel and my battery was starting to become incontinent.
My Fix
Easy. It took a few minutes.
My Advice
Yes, if you replace the back, don't forget to remove the thin plastic lining from the INSIDE of the back cover before installing. I missed that the first time and my photos were blurry.
My Problem
The back panel of the iphone 4 was spiderweb shatter after some unknown impact through its cover. Still worked fine until it maybe had an encounter with a spilled glass of water. Shortly after that it stopped charging.
We replaced the battery first, because that seemed to be the advised course. That didn't do it, so we went on to replace the dock connector. (And the back panel of course.)
That's the tidy summation. The twist in the middle is we first ordered AT&T parts for a Verizon phone because I didn't realize there was a difference. And didn't realize it until the phone was completely deconstructed in some mysterious ways. Because, hey, the insides didn't look like the instructions said they should.
My Fix
"I fixed it like a man," he said.
"What does that mean?"
"Means it works, only ... there are a couple pieces left over."
Ok so, I'm the one who thought the instructions were so cool and insisted on him reading them the first go round when it turns out they didn't apply because they represented the AT&T version, not the Verizon version, so pretty quick he was off the map and removing whatever seemed like it should be removed.
Eventually got the dock connector out and then discovered the new part was a significantly different size than the old part.
Some time passed then as I made embarrassed inquiries, sent the wrong parts back and ordered the right parts. (Thanks guys!)
So the new parts worked a lot better but there were things that had come out that probably didn't need to and now it wasn't obvious how to put them back.
He's the kid, it's his phone. He thought that was good enough. I'm the mom, it's my money. I wanted all the pieces back in place. So I found the tear down pictures of the phone on this site (http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-4-...) (you guys are awesome!) which he examined and eventually managed to find homes for those last stray little parts. And hey, now the button on the top works again too!
Happy ending!
My Advice
Hello! There's a difference between Verizon iPhones and AT&T iPhones.
If the directions don't seem to apply to the equipment in hand, there's probably a good reason and you should probably stop and ask yourself what it is.
Fixing something broken is a transcendent experience. Everyone should try it.
My Problem
The plastic camera lense cover in the rear glass panel was so scratched the camera was not usable
My Fix
Easy, just unscrewed the screws in the bottom, slid off the old rear glass panel and slid on the new one.
My Advice
It's pretty easy, just remember the rear glass panel slides up and away from where the screws are, it doesn't pop out.
My Problem
iPhone 4 fell out of the belly pouch on my sweatshirt and promptly dropped on the hard garage floor. Sure enough rear glass was cracked.
My Fix
Repair was extremely easy. I had a little issue at first getting the screwdriver tip to fit inside the screws. My eyes aren't as good as they used to be, and those screw heads ARE tiny. Overall, it was very straightforward
My Advice
I wound up pulling the tip out of the screwdriver to initially get it to fit into the screwhead. I found that a bit easier for me, anyway. The new rear glass was an extremely tight fit relative to the old, broken glass. Maybe that was function of the old glass being broken.
My Problem
I dropped my iPhone while trying to change covers and shattered the back glass panel.
My Fix
Very easy! I followed the tutorial video and it took less than five minutes without any problems. It looks just like it did the day I bought it!
My Advice
It was very simple and a lot cheaper than having to buy a new phone!!!
My Problem
the glass on the back cracked when i engraved a customer's name on it
My Fix
the repair was so simple.. remove screws, take panel off, put the new one in, screw into place.. so easy..
My Advice
DO NOT engrave the glass panel back!!! unless using a laser engraver.
