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Repair information and guides for the fifth generation of iPhone. Model: A1387

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Not Charging, Not Recognized, Replaced Dock Connector.

iPhone was charging only when off.

Not recognized by iTunes [Mac]

Replaced Dock Connector as suggested [Not Battery].

Still after replacement:

• Still Won't Charge from iMacs [3 different devices]

• Tried 2 different wires [one fairly new]

• Still Won't Charge from adapter (used to charge only when "off" before the stopped charging and stayed that way after replacing connector)

• When plugged to 3 different iMacs get same warning: "USB Devices Disabled Unplug the device using too much power to re-enable USB devices.

In brief: No connection or charge improvements after replacing Dock Connector

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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caduceus, since you already changed the battery and the dock connector, there is a possibility of logic board charging circuitry issues. I would suggest that you try another dock connector. Just in case you have a defective one. If that does not work, you will have the check the charging circuitry. I am sure that you also already tried to place your phone in DFU mode to see if it is being recognized....

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Thank you very much [Interesting background, Health Care provider myself]. I will consider the second replacement option. Yes, I tried the DFU and it did not work... It looks like I have a real mess in my hands...oh, if only "cracking" would work...

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Charging an iPhone requires a set of about 5 functional components on the motherboard. Any of these can become damaged, and the history of the phone may help to guess which one. In your case, there are two little filters near the dock connector that are required for USB detection and charging. If something happened to them then no matter what else you do, the phone won't charge. With recent work near the dock connector, this is where I'd start looking.

Troubleshooting and replacing components in the charging circuit line is possible, but requires specialized microsoldering. This is the kind of work myself and a few other people on here do if you're interested in seeking professional help with a board-level repair.

Jessa

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Thanks, I will replace the battery first, and if that does not work, I will consider what OldTurkey03 suggests of replacing the dock connector again. But it does look like you are right and these filters are the source of the problem. Is there any way I can check these [I do have a multimeter but nothing more sophisticated than that] and, if it ends up being these, how can I contact anyone who has "board level repair" skills? [I can't do microsoldering]

Thanks for taking time to help me with this.

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yes--you can use your multimeter to check for continuity across these filters. i'm not able to post a detailed picture, but they are near the dock connector--look for some black squares sitting on four solder pads that should have continuity from one side to the other.

You can contact anyone directly via their profile on iFixit.

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Thanks, I got my parts today {I love this site} and will work on this tonight... so, tomorrow I will know if changing battery worked or not... if not, {which given what you propose it will not} then I have another problem which you have a solution to... I will contact you regarding the board. I live in Norway, so I do hope that is not a problem. I will do as you suggested and find these filters and check. Thank you again, this is great help.

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Arghhhhh replaced the battery, replaced the dock connector.... nothing. I left my multimeter in the clinic, so...have to wait and see about the filters... I love ifixit, great service... I hate that the iPhone is still so very, very dead.... it's not even mine, wanted to surprise the owner [the mama of my 3 gremlins] by fixing it myself... she has picts and movies of the kids in this thing.....more than a phone to fix then...and, she did not back up...so if I don't get this to work, we loose all those picts. That's the deal.

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It sounds like your motivation to fix this phone is data recovery---you could probably solve your problem with less expense by just borrowing someone's 4S to use as a battery charger, and a new battery. Pop in a fully charged battery, offload the pics via WiFi to your favorite destination, and keep the second battery charged via the friend's 4S. If the first battery isn't enough to do the job, pop in the second---repeat.

When it comes to board-level repairs like this, they can be easy if A, B, or C is the problem. Then when you have to look at D, E, F---for example, replacing the charging coil---which is right next to the PMIC chip, or having to reball the PMIC because it got too much heat replacing the charging coil....you have a real risk of actually creating a full short in the phone via the procedure itself.

just a thought.

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You won't believe this: I replaced the dock connector and battery, was going to check the charging circuits when, my daughter came home, exactly the same day we found a misplaced iPhone 3g [she has an iPnone 4s also]. I went to charge the 3g, and it did not charge-Nothing, dead. I thought to use her charger-cable and wow, it charged...... so then I thought, no, can't be that 3 [3!!!] charging cables where messed up at the same time. No, that CAN'T be. So, I plugged the iPhone 4s to her cable - charger and IT CHARGED!!!! Unbelievable... by the way, one of the 3 cables what almost new. So, what are the odds? Grrrrrr......Anyway, I did not waste my time, nor your advice. I got the see the inside of an iPhone 4s, replaced a dock connector and a battery. Studied your advice and learned something because of it. Got some thrills out of that. Plus I bought some cool tools from iFixit. Very happy with this website-company and all you guys who gave great advice. I learned a lot. THANK YOU ALL. Next time, I will test the basics 4 times instead of 3. Jessa, con, OldTurkey, thanks again.

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Have you tryed a battery.

Sounds to me like a motherboard problem

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4 Comments:

.... will try battery next, thought it obvious but wanted to consider other options since it was charging to 100% when off with the previous dock connector, then stopped charging with the same connector, and never charged with the new one. The battery consideration then became one where other elements might be contributory. You suggest the motherboard, can you illustrate how this would replicate the behaviors? Thanks for the help.

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I wouldn't have big knowledge on the motherboard and what parts do but I'm sure people on here can help with that..

I did hear some1 on here talk about components that charge the battery and replacing them could sort it but that requires soldering

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Thank you so much for taking the time.. as you proposed, someone posted with relation to your suggestion. Thanks again.

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You won't believe this: 3 defective cables.... that was it, the cables where ALL defective...I wrote a more detailed description as an "answer". Thanks for your help!!! :)

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My iPhone 4S was out of commission, until I bought a new charging dock. I've replaced it, and now the battery won't charge.. Never had problems with it. Only the dock. It's slow as heck, and my wifi has been greyed out. It's about 2 years old but hasn't worked for the past 7 months.

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Hi guys, I have a problem with my iphone 4.it was water damaged and I used alcohol after I've done that it only turn on when its plugged in charger,I thought it was a battery problem so I replaced it twice but still it just get stuck on connect to itunes.can anyone help me please,I would be very happy for your help.

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Yea... IPhone 4S is dead. I replaced the battery and it turned on after 3 long months of a using my old flip phone(which wasn't as bad because of t9 texting).I was very happy but then I noticed that my phone still doesn't charge.Is replacing the dock connector a good choice or is it a waste of time and money? I'm novice at fixing things myself but soldering if far out of my league. Phones jail broken also don't know if that matters. Any help would be awesome , phones not under warranty and have nowhere else to turn.

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Hi i have a ipad 4 64gb i plugged in a dodgy cable and it started smoking so took it off.the ipad carried on working until battery went flat and then wouldnt charge.ive had the charge port replaced so looks like a chip on the board has gone or the fpc charge connector on the board.Anyone know where i can get the connector from as this would be the easiest part to replace under my microscope.im not sure if i have a steady hand to be soldering the tiny chips lol Thanks in advance

Dave

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caduceus will be eternally grateful.
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