iPhone 3GS Display Assembly Replacement

Scritto Da: Ben Eisenman
  • Commenti: 43
iPhone 3GS Display Assembly Replacement

Difficoltà

Moderate

Passi

7

Tempo Necessario

15 minuti

Introduzione

Cracked both the LCD and Front Panel? This guide shows replacing the display assembly can be done with ease.

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    • If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.

    • Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's display until the whole face is covered.

    • This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.

    • Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from any glass shaken free during the repair.

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    • Remove the two Phillips #00 screws from the dock-connector end of the iPhone.

    When you do this, do it in a very well lighted environment that is not on carpet. Take off metal wristwatches and generally remove any other metal before starting the repair. If you drop these tiny screws and they land on thick carpet you have almost no chance of finding them again. The IF137-008-1 kit would benefit with the addition of two replacement screws in case the buyer loses the original screws.

    cochranb -

    I just replaced the display assembly and digitizer on my iPhone, it made one beep when I got it back together, there is no display at all, not recognized by iTunes, and its getting REALLY hot, more than before. Any ideas?

    graham -

    CAUTION. If your phone was assembled the same as my 16GB 3G, the cable labeled 4 in step 3 is glued to the back of your LCD not simply connected to the main board as shown in the instructions. There is no way you can open the phone 45 degrees as shown without ripping the cable as I did.

    I now need to replace the dock connector as well.

    postnospam -

    Weird. I've taken all of my 3G apart. My 8 replacements, and my 2 3GS apart. all were 16GB, and what your describing has never happened to me.

    Citazione da postnospam:

    CAUTION. If your phone was assembled the same as my 16GB 3G, the cable labeled 4 in step 3 is glued to the back of your LCD not simply connected to the main board as shown in the instructions. There is no way you can open the phone 45 degrees as shown without ripping the cable as I did.

    I now need to replace the dock connector as well.

    Nicholas Ouimet -

    After looking at this closer, I don't think it was glued to the back of the LCD, so much as it had just bonded there after a year and a half of use. I usually just keep the phone in my back pocket. Maybe this contributed to extra pressure in that area?

    If some one has the same issue, it will take a very gentle hand to slightly crack it open and use a spudger to separate the end from the back of the LCD before opening it further.

    The cut in the cable was so clean, I didn't even notice the problem until I went to put it back together and wondered why there was an apparently unused cable connected to the back of the LCD.

    The good news is everything else is working and the replacement dock connector should arrive tomorrow.

    After using a cheap Go Phone to get me by for the weekend, I'm in complete awe of my daughter's ability to text on those things!

    Citazione da ouimetnick:

    Weird. I've taken all of my 3G apart. My 8 replacements, and my 2 3GS apart. all were 16GB, and what your describing has never happened to me.

    postnospam -

    Citazione da postnospam:

    CAUTION. If your phone was assembled the same as my 16GB 3G, the cable labeled 4 in step 3 is glued to the back of your LCD not simply connected to the main board as shown in the instructions. There is no way you can open the phone 45 degrees as shown without ripping the cable as I did.

    I now need to replace the dock connector as well.

    I had a similar issue, only it wasn't cable number 3. It was a ribbon cable that is without label that connects to the screen opposite the ribbon cables 1-3. It's also connected to the iPhone, and not the display assembly.

    Jerod Dunn -

    What size are these screws. Please

    Lisa Yates -

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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.

    • Be very careful when opening the iPhone so that the cables under the display are not severed.

    • 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.

    • Use a small suction cup near the Home button to gently pull up the bottom portion of the iPhone's display assembly.

    • 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.

    I've had problems removing non-apple touchscreens using the suction cup method - often the glass pulls away from the frame/lcd instead of the phone. On 2 occasions, I've had to gently lever up the frame/lcd with thin plastic sptum or ccard instead.

    Also the thin glass of cheap touchscreens sometimes cracks when pulled with a sucker (if not already!) leaving 2 suckers!!

    Paul baskeyfield -

    I found it very useful to use a magnet sheet when doing these repairs. I use electrical tape or a sharpie to make a grid, and place each micro screw in a separate box on the grid.

    I work directly over the magnet sheet, so that if something drops I have a better chance at not losing it.

    If you do lose a screw, go over the work area with a fridge magnet. It will pick it up if it hasn’t popped too far away.

    Megan Telliano -

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    • The display assembly is still connected to the iPhone by several cables, so don't try to remove it entirely just yet.

    • Rotate the display assembly up until it is at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

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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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    • Rotate the display assembly up until it is roughly vertical. This will allow easier access for disconnecting the remaining cables.

    • Use a spudger to disconnect the black ribbon cable labeled "2."

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    • Use a spudger to flip up the black plastic tab holding the remaining ribbon cable in place. The black will rotate up 90 degrees, releasing the ribbon cable.

    • The tab is very fragile, so be careful when flipping it up to unlock the cable and down to lock the cable.

    • The plastic tab may be white (instead of black) on some iPhone models.

    • Slide the ribbon cable out of its connector, and remove the display assembly from the iPhone.

    It took me only about 10 minutes to do the entire replacement procedure. I had to wiggle in the speaker end (where the 3 cables are) several times to get the display to seat perfectly, but all is well. The new unit looks great!

    At this point, before turning on the device to test it, you might want to make sure the sim card is installed. Otherwise the 3G will boot up, and you will get a message "No SIM card installed", and the screen will be locked. Worse, you can't power off because the screen is locked and the power-off slider can't be moved to the right.

    I just installed this unit for a friend's phone, but don't have the sim card here -- it is with the friend. I hope that replacing the sim card with the 3G powered on will work out okay.

    cochranb -

    I did this and now my display does not work... What is wrong???

    phonenewby -

    Citazione da phonenewby:

    I did this and now my display does not work... What is wrong???

    When you say "my display does not work" can you be more specific? In what way doesn't it work? Does it not turn on at all? Or does it turn on just fine, but you can't move the slider to the right to unlock the screen and get into the functional part of the iPhone interface? My suggestion is to open the phone again by removing the sim card, the two bottom screws and gently applying the suction cup. Slow and gentle helps a lot. Check that the cables are plugged in. Use a magnifying glass for this. Make sure cable #2 is seated correctly. Check the other two cables as well. Cable #3 is a little tricky, you have to slide it in the connector and then set a locking tab. And cable #1 can be challenging too. Check them all -- gently but also firmly. Now gently reseat the display assembly and see if it works now.

    Always try to be very specific when you describe a problem. Don't throw a short one-liner and expect it to convey the precise issue you are seeing. Please be a little more descriptive. Thanks! --Bob

    cochranb -

    The Phone's touch screen will work with out a sim. You must have installed it wrong. My iPhone and brothers iPhone, both are 3G. Work fine w/o a sim card installed.

    Citazione da cochranb:

    It took me only about 10 minutes to do the entire replacement procedure. I had to wiggle in the speaker end (where the 3 cables are) several times to get the display to seat perfectly, but all is well. The new unit looks great!

    At this point, before turning on the device to test it, you might want to make sure the sim card is installed. Otherwise the 3G will boot up, and you will get a message "No SIM card installed", and the screen will be locked. Worse, you can't power off because the screen is locked and the power-off slider can't be moved to the right.

    I just installed this unit for a friend's phone, but don't have the sim card here -- it is with the friend. I hope that replacing the sim card with the 3G powered on will work out okay.

    Nicholas Ouimet -

    Citazione da ouimetnick:

    The Phone's touch screen will work with out a sim. You must have installed it wrong. My iPhone and brothers iPhone, both are 3G. Work fine w/o a sim card installed.

    Hi yes you are correct, I discovered my problem was really that cable #2 had come loose. This caused the touch screen not to respond to input. I missed updating this note until reading your comments. --Bob

    cochranb -

    Hi, i can´t get cable number 3 back in its connector, the white "flipclip" at the end is opened so that i should just slide in, but it doesn´t...

    adnix -

    Citazione da adnix:

    Hi, i can´t get cable number 3 back in its connector, the white "flipclip" at the end is opened so that i should just slide in, but it doesn´t...

    At the beginnig, the display turned on, but now it stays dark, the phone is turned on! Is it possible that the flexcable is damaged or just because number 3 won´t get in the connector?

    adnix -

    hi, im having trouble getting it to work, i got everything installed but when i try to turn it on its still black and every once in a while i get a white screen that stays on for about 2 seconds, the sound and vibration work, just not the desplay

    travis321 -

    hold power and home button till it blinks

    dugy40 -

    Hello, I seem to have completed the install just fine (the screen is working now). The problem is that when I reboot (hold both home and power buttons for approximately 10 seconds) system displays the Apple screen but does not seem to finish the boot (15minutes and counting). Is there a different/special procedure I need to do to restart the iPhone after the repair?

    gnosis2 -

    Citazione da cochranb:

    Hi yes you are correct, I discovered my problem was really that cable #2 had come loose. This caused the touch screen not to respond to input. I missed updating this note until reading your comments. --Bob

    Hi Bob. i also have a problem that I hope you could help me with. I did all these things but apparently, when I reassemble i get no sound from the earphone and the auto brightness does not work at all. Bassically the top part of the phone does not work. I think this has something to do with cable #3, because everything else looks fine! Is there something I should do to connect it better? It is already in the slot but no sound..(not from the loudspeaker)..any help?

    Victor -

    Citazione da adnix:

    At the beginnig, the display turned on, but now it stays dark, the phone is turned on! Is it possible that the flexcable is damaged or just because number 3 won´t get in the connector?

    I had this problem too. I was able to get the screen back by resetting the iphone. hold "home" and "sleep" buttons simultaneously for at least ten seconds until you see the white Apple logo appear. The phone is restarting.

    PCH75 -

    would this be a good way to align the screen to make the screen more flush the bevel and having a better alignment?

    zahi -

    Citazione da Jose Ayala:

    I broke the cable #3 locking tab how can i fix that

    Jose Ayala -

    guys if you're not good with small(extremly) fiddly electrical components dont try this. Its not worth ballsing up ur iphone. I repair iphones/phones & if someone came to me with a phone theyd tried to do themselves Id tell em to !@#$ off. If IM not good enough to to the job in 1st place,no way am i helping em sort their !@#$-ups

    Martin Thomson -

    hello, I did everything as in the explanation but now the screen does work.the images are seen with the screen but I can not make us .i tried several times to connect the cables well but nothing changes ..

    (sorry for my english)

    daniel -

    Citazione da cochranb:

    It took me only about 10 minutes to do the entire replacement procedure. I had to wiggle in the speaker end (where the 3 cables are) several times to get the display to seat perfectly, but all is well. The new unit looks great! At this point, before turning on the device to test it, you might want to make sure the sim card is installed. Otherwise the 3G will boot up, and you will get a message "No SIM card installed", and the screen will be locked. Worse, you can't power off because the screen is locked and the power-off slider can't be moved to the right. I just installed this unit for a friend's phone, but don't have the sim card here -- it is with the friend. I hope that replacing the sim card with the 3G powered on will work out okay.

    Hi; I changed my LCD but is white the whole time.. i can work with it, i took the LCD and put it in other iPhone and it worked..

    What is the problem?

    Please Help!

    Siia -

    Citazione da Siia:

    Hi; I changed my LCD but is white the whole time.. i can work with it, i took the LCD and put it in other iPhone and it worked..

    What is the problem?

    Please Help!

    Hello, that happened to me to.Make you sure that the connectors are well placed,especially the number 1 .When I close the screen had just disconnected,had to open it again to understand

    DANIEL VALKOV -

    Citazione da Jose Ayala:

    I broke the cable #3 locking tab how can i fix that

    Hello, i also got the same problem... did u find any solution for that ?

    thanks

    mostafa -

    I seem to be running into a problem that more then a couple people are getting from what i've read all over the internet. i too replaced the glass digitizer screen and my lcd and now i can't get any sort of display to show up on my iPhone at all. the vibrate still works and thats the only reason i know it's even turned on besides syncing it with my computer. (i use my friend's old iPhone 3G as an iPod, so no phone calls or anything) ive checked the cables multiple times and everytime they all seem to be seated properly. is there something i could've screwed up thats not part of the display assembly?? ribbon connectors or something? and how could i figure that much out??

    Thanks for your time

    Jordan -

    I changed the whole display, as i should in this guide. But the display does not work at all, there does not come any kind of light or anything? I do not know what to do next. I consider sending it for repair.

    Can it be the whole motherboard, which is going to be changed, and in case of that, what is the price for that. Hope you can help solve this problem, i am totally lost..

    Sorenboje11 -

    This photo needs much better detail: please reshoot it zoomed in much closer. The "black plastic tab" (white even in the photo)is a tiny clamp at the front end of the assembly, furthest away from the cable. It pivots upward from the end of the connector nearest you towards the cable.

    john -

    Reinstalling the cable 3 in position is definitely the hardest part, i used small tweezers to get sliding it into the FPC lock. However after completing the assembly i can see the apple logo on display and the in progress sign but nothing more. If i connect to itunes on the pc i can see the device and i put into restore mode that was completed, anyway no way to get it booting.I repeated the sequence 3 times to make sure the 3 cables were in place but i suspect there'd be some additional damage. if somebody have some guidance is more than welcome. thanks

    ciampa -

    Hi; I changed my LCD but is white the whole time I tried unplugging 1 and plug it back but it does work?

    Please help

    Yee Jang Jue -

    When assembling the new display, I felt like this was the hardest step. I was never sure if the cable was secure, and messing with that little lock was scary. But, all worked!

    James Collins -

Conclusione

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Autore

Ben Eisenman

87675 Reputazione

9 commenti

I had no issues taking the 3GS apart;however, putting the new screen assembly back together was a little more difficult. I can't get the new screen to 'stay flush' with the bezel. Also the 'gasket'(that runs around the length of the new assembly) keeps getting pinched and doesn't 'snap' under the bezel properly. I'm going through other procedures to see how to remedy this.

damuta -

I did everything very simple to do for a Rookie, but the only issue I had was the screen wasn't calibrate I will type number and another number will show. I check the cables several time but no luck...anyone feel free to response...

barbara2333 -

Replaced the dock with success, now my phone starts and does everything it should however I can't get any signal from my carrier, anybody have any suggestions other than buying a new phone!

James -

Simple job. I made the mistake of ordering the assembly with the glass and the button and speaker in one. I'm glad I did. I have done the glass only repair, and it's a far more difficult job, to carve away the shattered shards on gorilla glass. My advice: spend a liitle extra, get the assembly with the electronics in tact, and just deal with attaching the LCD and the ribbon connections.

bearleton -

I just received my order today and I was able to follow all of the steps with ease. And I was able to repair my iPhone 3GS in about 25 minutes. All I have to do now is charge the new battery and everything is good to go. Great guide and very easy to follow.

jtking007 -

i just fixed my friends iPhone i replaced the glass and now the right edge of the phone is not responsive does anyone know what could be wrong with it, i've also tried unplugging them and plugging them back in and its still the same

vicfigueroa3 -

Excellent guide, only difficult bit was getting the bottom left of the screen to fit in but did it in the end. ☺

garriet -

Excellent guide, I fitted the lcd but had a slight issue getting the bottom left corner of it to fit in smoothly but got there in the end. ☺

garriet -

My landlord has a 3GS (A1301, MC640LL/A) with busted glass.

The LCD still works fine. So I just need the front panel kit?

raouldukeesq -