[Q] Digitizer Replacement. - Atrix 4G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello buddies!
I was replacing my LCD screen that was dropped in th toaillet and apparently everything went fine. There was only one problem in the opening, I screwed with something I don`t know what was for (you'll see the image later). When I turned the phone on I get really happy for my screen was shinning again but the digitizer stoped working. Sometimes it works randomly, can't explain what happens, but try to realize that: the unlock screen sometimes works, but I press the upper of the phone, and its rare to work. I want you all to take a look and try to help me looking at this flat connector.. why is it for? Its related with the digitizer? I think its not, but I wanna know whats this since I screwed with it. Sorry for disturbing and thanks for help! Here is the picture:
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/4348/11082011043.jpg

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SkzBR said:
Hello buddies!
I was replacing my LCD screen that was dropped in th toaillet and apparently everything went fine. There was only one problem in the opening, I screwed with something I don`t know what was for (you'll see the image later). When I turned the phone on I get really happy for my screen was shinning again but the digitizer stoped working. Sometimes it works randomly, can't explain what happens, but try to realize that: the unlock screen sometimes works, but I press the upper of the phone, and its rare to work. I want you all to take a look and try to help me looking at this flat connector.. why is it for? Its related with the digitizer? I think its not, but I wanna know whats this since I screwed with it. Sorry for disturbing and thanks for help! Here is the picture:
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/4348/11082011043.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
look at the post on ifixit:http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Motorola-Atrix-4G-Teardown/4964/1 it seems like you should follow that and see if you can find what's wrong

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I was following this article and a video on youtube.
As you see on image, i just bricked some flat cable below the front cam, but this cable is connected to digitizer... Eveything is working fine, just the digitizer is broken. I'm just asking if someone knows that the function of THIS part of flat connector, because eveything else is working, so i think the error of digitizer is not this.
if you look this image: http://guide-images.ifixit.net/igi/JhXk4VIeX3CahwaY.medium you can see the yellow/brown part on metalic part, and if you see my image, you can see thats broken.

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That part that looks broke in your pic may be the problem. Under where the black piece above it is where the digitizer is connected.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

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Yes, but if you take a look to left, by passing the fingerprint scanner, you can see that it's connected by a flat cable to motherboard... so i *think* the problem isn't here...

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I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that is probably the ground for something. Looks pretty similar to some of the copiers I used to work on.
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Its look like the orange thing on bottom right of image. If it's a ground, i have bricked my digitizer? I think the problem is on the front panel, on top that have some flat connectors...
There is any way to fix these ground?

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Obviously you've damaged the flex cable, but it's responsible for other components and not the touchscreen input.
You can get a replacement on ebay for $20 .
But I suggest replacing the digitizer first, then if there are still problems - you'll know it's the flex cable you need to replace.

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The touchscreen was working before the lcd replacement, maybe i didn't connected anything well? Where it is connected? I have just screwed the ground connector that i have show to you on the photo, everything else is like before.
Also, i have take some pic of front panel and digitizer, maybe it can help someone identifies the problem.
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/3475/13082011044.jpg
http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/850/13082011045.jpg
Thanks.

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You need a new digitizer. The ribbon cable and the glass aren't supposed to come apart. Looks like you pulled the glass off the front without removing the internal components first as well. Follow the take apart on the iFixit site.

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Ok, thank you so... i bought the ditizier on ebay already, waiting it...
Some videos say to remove the digitizer by the front, others say to remove it by back, removing ALL components, what can leave me to brick something else, what to do?
The ground that i bricked is for headphones? its 30$ and the shipping is other 30$

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To replace the digitizer you have to open the back of the device to remove almost all components. Follow the guide posted on the first page.
Also, did you try to restore PDS backup? Maybe it's not the digitizer after all...
Follow this guide (use your backed up PDS file, if you've made one).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1131649
as for the flex cable you've damaged, it's $20 shipped on ebay.
Item ID : 190560164198
http://r.ebay.com/ftcx3P

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Thank you,
My atrix have died, just wont turn on... no screen, no led, everything... just strange because i didnt modified anything.... maybe this ground cable made my cellphone die?
Just making me angry about atrix, it's so failing on everything, no hardware protection, just one accident and it's a big paper... thinking of buy an SG2... i'm for 6 weeks trying to fix it.

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You mad at the atrix, your inability to fix it or do you think you should stop playing angry birds while you take your bread out the oven?
I voided my warranty.

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I'm studying computer engineering, so i have basic understatement of fixing things... so or it's impossible to repair it without do anything that affect it, or i'm very dumb, what i do consider.... j/k
Seriosly, i didnt touch anything and it just died, so it's not my fault... must be something on it... i spend 800$ on it (Brazil), 120$ to lcd replacement, 35$ on digitizer, 30$ on tools, this cellphone is getting very expensive... just because of this my angry... i really doesn't want to leave atrix and go for GS2, i really like the fingerprint scanner, and the design of phone... and with bl unlocked... you know.

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Im pretty sure the SG2 would malfunction if you dropped it in the toilet as well.

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You know i watched some youtube videos last night. It seems phones can take some water. Almost. The videos showed phones in toilets and being submerged and still working for a bit. After watching those i think its feasible alot of phones can be saved with the usual tactics we hear. Like turning off right away, pulling battery immediately after that and then using preferred method to dry phone completely. Some phones dont make it or malfunction months later. I think op should use this as a lesson now and in the future. No more checking mail while checking the ceramic, or at least wear a wrist strap and if it happens again dry it immediately and turn on days later.
I voided my warranty.

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SkzBR said:
I'm studying computer engineering, so i have basic understatement of fixing things... so or it's impossible to repair it without do anything that affect it, or i'm very dumb, what i do consider.... j/k
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not calling you dumb or anything, but I know several engineers that I wouldn't trust working on a toaster. They're really smart guys, but have no mechanical aptitude.