Whoa, That was a battle,
My MicroUSB port got unsoldered as many of you know the problem
So, I followed this tutorial:
unsoldered everything
Cleaned every pad
I had BAD LUCK and 2 of the pads where broken, so I had to scratch some of the plastic to uncover some copper beneath.
Then, I resoldered the microUSB …
It really really was a pain, but I took a scope, a microsoldering station and lots of patience !
I am unsure if the proximity sensor or the light sensor got destroyed … they may have but at that point it was
No phone
or
a phone without proximity sensor and light sensor (which to me seemed a better option !)
After successfully soldering the mini-USB housing back onto the motherboard, I wanted to share my little work-around.
Starting condition: Entire housing was loose. When I removed the motherboard, the housing came off by itself. The four socket-pins of the housing were intact, leaving four holes in the motherboard.
Challenge: Solder the housing firmly onto the motherboard, while connecting the five tiny contacts (I just had a very standard soldering iron).
Solution: Bend all five contacts outward to ensure they would really touch the contacts on the motherboard. While pressing the entire housing into the four holes with some pliers, I soldered the bigger two front socket-pins from the backside of the motherboard.
Notes: It took a while to get the remaining metal to melt. But once it did, it filled the gap between socket-pin and the motherboard nicely and firmly. It’s important to position the housing, the outward-bent five contacts and the pliers well.
I find it really frustrating that this fault on the FP1U cannot be included in the guarantee. FP asks that you return your phone for them to inspect to see if it’s your fault or a manufacturing issue. I emailed them two weeks ago and still no reply. My girlfriend had the same issue with hers but to be without your phone for weeks and to risk having to pay for it to be mended if they deem it your fault just seems ridiculous. And very curious that it’s user error as we both developed the same error within weeks of each other.
Our solution was to buy a spare battery and a universal battery charger but it feels extremely UNFAIRphone to have to buy more STUFF.
If we tried soldering ourselves we could destroy the phone.
I don’t think I’ll be getting a FP2, despite the improved modular nature, as the customer service is terrible.
Hi,
How am I supposed to fixe it ?
I did try with other cable, it’s not that, the connector is just dead. it was working hazardously since weeks. I tried to tighten it, and to put some contact cleaner, it worked a bit better for a time, but now, it’s dead for good.
I’m not going to buy a new mother board just for a rigged micro usb connector.
Can any one tell me which usb connector I should buy, where and how to replace it ?
It’s a very common issue on any electronic device, so I’m surprise you cannot buy a spare part for that on Fairphone shop…
Well Actually I would consider solder a Usb connector, but I guess if it has to be microsoldering it’s out of my league then… too bad, I always like to do things myself better.
I will have to consider a tour to the Smartphone Klinik then…
Thanks Stefan.
Good point to check for dust and clean the connector, Robert. I had charging problems (but no loose connector). Cleaning the connector out with a needle released loooots of dust and solved the problem!
Great :’( i also have a broken usb plug (have the phone from preorder. So a long time but still is not fun)
When pushing the cable upwards it works but normal plugged in not anymore. Bad to see that it is this type of design. What would be a great solution is a seperate battery loading station. I don’t use the usb plug for different things than chargeing.
I have found someone in Shrewsbury who have said they will look at it but I am worried as I didn’t back up the phone so I don’t want to lose the motherboard!
We have some repair cafes in UK but unfortunately not near here. I think they are a brilliant idea. In fact Frome a town in Somerset is offering repair skills courses to people aged between 18 and 35.
I feel very disappointed with my Fairphone as it has not lasted as long as my old Sony which I am now using again.
I had exactly the same problem, no major shock but after less than 3 years of use the usb connector is near dead. I opened the phone to check and indeed the soldering is broken. Very disappointed, I thought this phone was built to last. I’ll try to have it fixed in a repair café…
Update. The repair café guy fuxed it up even worse. It confirmed that it’s really difficult to repair. I’m not an expert but it definitely looked like it’s really hard to solder the micro-USB connector due to the lack of space in that area. I’m really disappointed of myself for having fallen to this scam, where you buy a phone that is supposed to be fair and different, it’s made in China like all the rest, it breaks after two years like all the rest, only I paid three times the price.
Hi Martin, could you give me the details of that phone shop in Bradford? I’m in Leeds and my phone has now stopped charging entirely, I think its the same fault. Thanks
(Only if you have taken any. No need to open it up again).
… I have now noticed the Molex USB connector in a tailored side bar ad in our German Facebook group.