How to repair volume button? - Atrix 4G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I noticed the up and down volume buttons on my new atrix were not even. Now many months later it appears as if they are no longer working. Before I take it apart I would like to ask if anyone knows what could have gone wrong, if I may need replacement parts, or any info on the physical makeup of the volume control that may help me fix it.
It seems that when I push one of the buttons very hard and at an angle, it starts working again, at least for a while. So maybe a loose part or a damaged or bent part. Just trying to find out any info i can before I take it apart. The phone has always been treated gently, no water damage or anything. It's my baby of course )
thanks
panflute

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x10 half dead, pinched ribbon cable. HELP!

yesterday I decided against my better judgement to try and take apart my x10 to see if I could get to the speakers, it sounded distorted during phone calls when the volume was all the way up. I used the dissasembly guide here: http://www.xperiax10.net/2010/05/10/xperia-x10-disassembly-guide/
however once, i started reading the guide, i realized I had to basically gut the entire phone to get to the main call speaker, so i put it back together. all i did was take out the screws, removed the lower support and used a credit card to pry between the covers and worked my way down. thats as far as i got, I had the back cover off and then I reassembled after reconsideration. however, the phone didn't work when i turned it back on. I mean, it works and I can see the backlighting on the screen but no logo or anything. I know it's actually booting into android because I can unlock the phone by memory and proper finger placement without even having the display working. I hear the "click" when it unlocks my phone and the volume/updown beeps. i've even heard my personal set notification tone go off a couple times. however, aside from the screen not working (besides backlighting), it wont respond to a phone call or chime when you send it a text message. If i use a different phone to call mine, it rings several times until you leave a voice message like normal. so, its not acting like its off. so again, I know it's actually booting into android.
after further inspection I realized that there is a ribbon cable on the bottom right hand side (battery side up) particularly close to where the covers snap together. I don't know if I did it with the credit card swipe or the covers weren't aligned well when I snapped it back together but I can see one little trace with a magnifying glass and a flashlight where it was "nicked" or scored. one teeny tiny little thing and my phone is inop.... does anyone have any suggestions? maybe like where I can get that ribbon cable? I'd start over with a new phone but the ebay prices are ridiculous. this use to be an ATT free upgrade phone and now its discontinued. I really doubt you can fix a ribbon cable... im feeling pretty helpless here.
I think you should send to shop to get professional repair before it getting worse.

[Q] Volume Rocker Issues

Greetings all, I was just wondering if anyone else is having this problem, and if anyone might have a simple fix other than sending it in for an RMA, and if possible without having to open the device. I doubt there is a solution... And while I can change the volume through the software itself this issue is not absolutely critical, but come on... This should definitely not be a problem.
Anyways, my volum rocker seems to be falling apart. It was originally working very well, however it has recently started to become problematic. It almost feels like it is jammed up or not positioned properly. I don't know how the feature works internally so i don't really know the terminology to use here, but I have had quite a few different Android & Apple devices and never experienced a problem like this with the volume rocker. Basically, I will push up on the rocker and it doesn't actually do anything, it's like it doesn't actually push in. If I look at it, it may look like its jammed in the upward position, and if this is its current position I can push down and it usually will work, and I can feel a faint pop as it comes back into place. This can also happen with the down position.
I have not dropped the device, have not had any accidents with the device, I am not exerting much pressure on the button, it just feels like it is not put together properly or like it may have slipped out of its natural fitting or something. Has anyone else experienced this before? It's rather frustrating and turns my stomach when I think about how much I spent on this thing and the freaking volume buttons don't even work... Sigh...
robproctor said:
Greetings all, I was just wondering if anyone else is having this problem, and if anyone might have a simple fix other than sending it in for an RMA, and if possible without having to open the device. I doubt there is a solution... And while I can change the volume through the software itself this issue is not absolutely critical, but come on... This should definitely not be a problem.
Anyways, my volum rocker seems to be falling apart. It was originally working very well, however it has recently started to become problematic. It almost feels like it is jammed up or not positioned properly. I don't know how the feature works internally so i don't really know the terminology to use here, but I have had quite a few different Android & Apple devices and never experienced a problem like this with the volume rocker. Basically, I will push up on the rocker and it doesn't actually do anything, it's like it doesn't actually push in. If I look at it, it may look like its jammed in the upward position, and if this is its current position I can push down and it usually will work, and I can feel a faint pop as it comes back into place. This can also happen with the down position.
I have not dropped the device, have not had any accidents with the device, I am not exerting much pressure on the button, it just feels like it is not put together properly or like it may have slipped out of its natural fitting or something. Has anyone else experienced this before? It's rather frustrating and turns my stomach when I think about how much I spent on this thing and the freaking volume buttons don't even work... Sigh...
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I haven't heard of it happening on the Prime. Other devices yea, but nit the Prime. Hopefully it's not another wide spread problem. I dropped my docked Prime TWICE in one week,(ashamed) and I have a very similar issue with the space bar on the dock now. The right side doesn't really depress, and it doesn't function. But seeing as it's only the dock, it doesn't bother me, and I feel like I can easily open the keyboard up and fix it if I really want to. I understand I am very lucky to only have this space bar problem after 2 drops onto concrete.
Good luck man.
EDIT: In the meantime, you can try Widgetsoid or the like. There's a nice toggle widget with ALL the system volumes on one widget...notifications, media, alarms, etc with sliders. I use it and my volume rocker is fine, that's how useful it is IMO.

power button is jammed

had my atrix for a year and a half, its never given me problems until now! nooooooooo
not sure how it happened but instead of the power button clicking when you press it, it has just randomly stopped clicking, the button still works but you have to push it really hard and it feels awful, my guess is that something has gotten underneath! iv tried scraping around the fingerprint scanner gaps with a needle to clear out any dirt but no luck im afraid
any ideas how i can fix this?
Well, since no one else has chimed in, I'll try to help. I tried finding a detailed picture of the button mechanism, but unfortunately I can't find one hi-res enough to look at. It sounds like you may have gotten some sand in the button or even in the switch itself. You might be able to low it out with compressed air while someone works the button, but again, it's hard to say without really being able to see exactly how it's put together and you don't want to take it apart unless you absolutely have to.

So long S2, your power button has failed me

Or, how I learned to not rip open phones on a messy desk.
My S2 was my first android phone, and man has it been an incredible phone. Really the only issue was some lockups with an att update, wherein I switched to ParanoidAndroid.
Unfortunately, recently the phone began having power button issues. It wouldn't wake from power presses, it would wake and work, or it would wake and suddenly restart the phone.
I figured it was the power button, so like a true fool, I got to work ripping open the phone to clean the inner guts.
Attached are a few bad pics I got. Good lord these phones get dirty as hell inside!
After spending 15 minutes cleaning the phone and the crap out of the power button, I went to re-assemble it.
When I realized that it was the volume button I was cleaning.
When I realized the power button dropped when I ripped it open.
The lesson here for me:
Open your phone as a last resort
Open your electronics in clean areas, so when you drop things...
and be careful!
I get these a lot. I can solder a new power button on for $50 including return shipping. You can email me @ seivad17 [at] msn.com if interested.
What's the problem? You just need to replace the power button. If you're not afraid of opening up your phone, then you can surely buy a cheap soldering kit and learn how to solder using youtube videos. That's what I did. You'll fix your phone and learn a very useful skill for a very, very small price.
I opened up my phone to fix the power button, and it started working, even though I didn't do much other than blowing some canned air into the area where the actual switch is. But in taking it apart, the vibrator motor got pulled off of its ribbon cable, so it doesn't work anymore. I've taken it apart a couple other times to look closer and see whether it's something I could just solder back on, or if I could buy a replacement part, but every time I open the case I get one or two new cracks in it, so I don't think I'll open it again to finish the job. I'll just live without the vibrator motor until I get a new phone.
Mine also failed recently due to the power button. It's nearly two years old, so I replaced it anyway. Think I'm going to buy a replacement power switch and see what I can do--maybe give it to a friend or something.
The strange thing is, when I pull it apart and use the phone without the actual power tab (rubber) in the slot, it will work. But not every time. So I'm thinking the button itself was being pressed too firmly while in the case/my pocket, which caused the switch itself to fail.
GiSS88 said:
Mine also failed recently due to the power button. It's nearly two years old, so I replaced it anyway. Think I'm going to buy a replacement power switch and see what I can do--maybe give it to a friend or something.
The strange thing is, when I pull it apart and use the phone without the actual power tab (rubber) in the slot, it will work. But not every time. So I'm thinking the button itself was being pressed too firmly while in the case/my pocket, which caused the switch itself to fail.
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I had something very similar. Used it for a few days after I switched on the Volume as screen activation (on CM). Then it stopped charging. Ended up being a ribbon cable from charging port to main board was bad. Got it replaced and it's as good as new.
Mine acts strange. When I put the battery, it automatically turns on and power button doesn't work, also USB but if I push USB really hard it gets working but works too bad. I cant make factory restore because of the power button, but also the battery is replacement battery, I charged it outside of the phone with the charger and in 30 minutes dropped from 21% to 10%, even doing nothing. So is it battery problem or my charging dock needs to be replaced? battery is 2200 Mah.
I had the same problem with my Cappy. I was able to get by still because I could still get into recovery. I just downloaded an app from the Play store that allowed me to have advanced reboot option. When I wanted to turn it off I just removed the battery.
I had seen a guy use a type of cleaner for electronic equipment that he sprayed inside a few times and operated the button. He said he was able to fix the problem. I don't remember the spray though.
seivad17 said:
I get these a lot. I can solder a new power button on for $50 including return shipping. You can email me @ seivad17 [at] msn.com if interested.
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Click to collapse
I'm going to fix my s3 and captivate. I looked up how easy it is and I was very pleased. Hoping to get it done soon.
Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk 4
My power button died a few months ago and I've been using an app called "Wake Up Screen!!!" that let's me shake the phone when I want to turn it on.
It's getting a bit old, so I'm thinking of rooting it so I can map the power button to the volume button. Anyone know if I'll need to use the power button during the root process? This stuff is all new to me.

Volume buttons stuck

My buttons are stuck. Internally not the outer button. Could anyone assist me correcting this? I have an upgrade in two weeks and sprint won't move it up for me. =(
krnfrk6663 said:
My buttons are stuck. Internally not the outer button. Could anyone assist me correcting this? I have an upgrade in two weeks and sprint won't move it up for me. =(
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So your saying no matter what you do in the settings to the volume it continues to turn the volume up/down? If that is the case you can either take to a local repair shop or take the phone apart yourself to reseat the outer button as it might be off somehow causing your issue. That happened on mine after a screen repair, a secondary internal part was not placed correctly. The repair guy fixed it on the spot really quickly. Hopefully that helps???
Yeah pretty much. It's up, then down.. power button won't work when this happens.. and typically I'm getting thrown into safe mode, or RSD protocol continuously pops up during boot. So... it's frustrating. I have thought about taking it apart, but I don't want to completely destroy it. haha The repair store refused to help because they couldn't replicate the error, and phone line wants to refer me to the store.. -_-
krnfrk6663 said:
Yeah pretty much. It's up, then down.. power button won't work when this happens.. and typically I'm getting thrown into safe mode, or RSD protocol continuously pops up during boot. So... it's frustrating. I have thought about taking it apart, but I don't want to completely destroy it. haha The repair store refused to help because they couldn't replicate the error, and phone line wants to refer me to the store.. -_-
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If it happens when rebooting its probably hardware.
Turn it off remove battery try a couple DROPS rubbing alcohol on the buttons.
Blow it out wait for it to Dry, Dry.
Try it, repeat.
Good Luck.

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