Droid headphone jack self-fix?

[KZIWarrior]

So I was looking at teardown images and it LOOKS to me like the droid headphone jack isn't even attached to the board at all!! It kind of looks like its only attached to the back end of the phone and it just 'rests' on the board connection areas. They probably do this so it has a little more give but those pins must be lifting off the board as they get older/less flexible/bent whatever.

Take a look at http://www.phonewreck.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Droid46.jpg

The ZUNE has a ribbon. Take a look at this ZUNE hd teardown pick http://s1.guide-images.ifixit.com/igi/NmCoGApC4PNsLqrZ.large

and here is the ipod touch http://s1.guide-images.ifixit.com/igi/XqLrUHgSEYERiT4u.large

For the apple and m$soft products the headphone jack is physically connected, not just resting on the board.

So I take it back, the issue isn't the jack, or the quality of the jack, its the way that the jack is meant to stay in contact with the board.

Good find buymagic...

WTF was Moto thinking... sadly now I am remembering why this is my first Moto phone in over 6 years... and why I've refused to have ANY other Moto devices in my house for several years (their DVR's are the biggest POSs you can find, second only to ScientificAtlantic)... This is just so retarded it's not even funny.... damn good thing I didn't find this out in my first 30 or I would seriously have taken it back. Least it's covered under warranty for the next year:icon_evil::icon_evil:

 

[kaboyd]

I agree it's total crap to have a simple problem like this on a flagship device. I just received a replacement phone in the mail, it has the same loose jack! It's apparent this is going to be the norm so I am about to epoxy the jack in place. The only good aspect of this situation is that VZW has been very pleasant to me about this situation. Shame on Motorola for overlooking this problem, but I'm still overall pleased with this phone. Hopefully the epoxy will permanently fix this.:sad:

 

[buymagicfish]

Yeah its funny, the first time I took the phone back was not long after it launched, VZW employees were super suspicious.

Second time, I barely finished saying wiggly headphone jack before they wrote up the order for the new one. I wish they would just put a small plastic layer or something between the headphone unit and the back cover, push it just an iota more into the connection. I understand not wanting to hardwire it to the board because of the stresses it induces, but they can do a better job at industrial design then they are doing now.

Then again, they've probably never had a phone that so many people use as an ipod replacement.

I'm not going to return my current one all things considered. Im going find a thin piece of plastic I can use instead of the envelope im using now and just a little bit of glue to hold it there.

 

[KZIWarrior]

Wonder where the warranty seal is in/on the phone? Would it be possible to open the phone and epoxy the jack so it's more secure? Anyone crack theirs open yet?

 

[Hugh Jass]

Wonder where the warranty seal is in/on the phone? Would it be possible to open the phone and epoxy the jack so it's more secure? Anyone crack theirs open yet?

I watched a video of someone taking apart the Droid, scariest thing I've ever seen in my life.

 

[KZIWarrior]

Wonder where the warranty seal is in/on the phone? Would it be possible to open the phone and epoxy the jack so it's more secure? Anyone crack theirs open yet?

I watched a video of someone taking apart the Droid, scariest thing I've ever seen in my life.

Eh, I've taken apart worse from what I saw on a video a while back (the HTC Tilt was a little nerve wrecking the first time, lol). Only concern is the warranty sticker location (don't remember where it is).

Edit:
Ah, crap.. didn't the video say/show that the cover beside the camera lens was just glued on... damit... I just looked under my case and batter and there have got to be some screws under the camera cover or the speaker area.... basdards.... this confirms it... this will DEF be the LAST POS I buy from Moto....

 

[Ryan325678]

I'm stoked. I really want my DIY envelope fix to take off!

I also put it in the top end of the jack. I'm going to do a more permanent fix soon with glue or epoxy. Any advice on the best glue to dab in the gaps to keep the jack from moving around too much?

Heheh yeah it should totally take off! Sounds like this is a pretty universal problem. I'm not sure what would be a good glue to use--I'm envisioning hot glue because it would keep it in place and is quick to harden but isn't super permanent. Maybe it would be difficult to do it right. Super glue dries really fast which might be good but then it might crack off? Did you find something good to use?

 

[DesktopDevin]

Has anybody just tried using a bluetooth set of headphones?

http://reviews.cnet.com/headsets/so...13831_7-33528991.html?tag=contentMain;compare

Seems like this would take the headset jack totally out of the picture, problem solved!!:icon_ banana:

Yea, I know this actually doesn't take care of the problem of the jack itself, but if you are actually using the headset with the droid so much that it stresses the jack out. This seems like it would be a good solution.

 

[kaboyd]

Has anybody just tried using a bluetooth set of headphones?

Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Wireless Stereo Headphone Headset reviews - CNET Reviews

Seems like this would take the headset jack totally out of the picture, problem solved!!:icon_ banana:

Yea, I know this actually doesn't take care of the problem of the jack itself, but if you are actually using the headset with the droid so much that it stresses the jack out. This seems like it would be a good solution.

I have a set of LG bluetooth headphones that i use periodically and they work great. My complaint comes because I plug my phone into the front aux port on my aftermarket cd player in my truck. I would be interested in a bluetooth device that plugs into the aux port on my cd player to play the music on my phone.

 

[DesktopDevin]

Has anybody just tried using a bluetooth set of headphones?

Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Wireless Stereo Headphone Headset reviews - CNET Reviews

Seems like this would take the headset jack totally out of the picture, problem solved!!:icon_ banana:

Yea, I know this actually doesn't take care of the problem of the jack itself, but if you are actually using the headset with the droid so much that it stresses the jack out. This seems like it would be a good solution.

I have a set of LG bluetooth headphones that i use periodically and they work great. My complaint comes because I plug my phone into the front aux port on my aftermarket cd player in my truck. I would be interested in a bluetooth device that plugs into the aux port on my cd player to play the music on my phone.

Ask and ye shall receive.....

Amazon.com: BlackBerry Remote Stereo Bluetooth Gateway for BlackBerry 8100, 8110, 8120, 8130, 8300, 8310, 8320, 8330, 8800, 8820, 8830, 9000 (Black): Cell Phones & Service

 

[kaboyd]

Awesome! Thank you.

 

[KZIWarrior]

Has anybody just tried using a bluetooth set of headphones?

Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Wireless Stereo Headphone Headset reviews - CNET Reviews

Seems like this would take the headset jack totally out of the picture, problem solved!!:icon_ banana:

Yea, I know this actually doesn't take care of the problem of the jack itself, but if you are actually using the headset with the droid so much that it stresses the jack out. This seems like it would be a good solution.

Wow... that's a helpful post... lets just ignore the issue.. do you work for Moto by chance?? Or are you just an Apple lover (sorry to others, this it the type of response you often get from Apple fan-boys...:icon_ devil

Since you lack an apparent ability to see the use of the phone/jack I'll enlighten you. Many (if not MOST of us) use or want to use the phone in our cars via aux inputs??. So how does this help?? And before you interject with more BS (e.g. 'buy a blue-tooth adapter for your radio') we shouldn't have to spend $$ for an auxiliary device when the $500 phone COMES WITH something we are SUPPOSED to be able to use...

Edit:
Besides many users have headphones they really like and again shouldn't have to spend more money... And there is NO pair of BT headphones that will match the quality of high-end headphones (least not for a reasonable price).

 

[DesktopDevin]

Has anybody just tried using a bluetooth set of headphones?

Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Wireless Stereo Headphone Headset reviews - CNET Reviews

Seems like this would take the headset jack totally out of the picture, problem solved!!:icon_ banana:

Yea, I know this actually doesn't take care of the problem of the jack itself, but if you are actually using the headset with the droid so much that it stresses the jack out. This seems like it would be a good solution.

Wow... that's a helpful post... lets just ignore the issue.. do you work for Moto by chance?? Or are you just an Apple lover (sorry to others, this it the type of response you often get from Apple fan-boys...:icon_ devil

Since you lack an apparent ability to see the use of the phone/jack I'll enlighten you. Many (if not MOST of us) use or want to use the phone in our cars via aux inputs??. So how does this help?? And before you interject with more BS (e.g. 'buy a blue-tooth adapter for your radio') we shouldn't have to spend $$ for an auxiliary device when the $500 phone COMES WITH something we are SUPPOSED to be able to use...

Edit:
Besides many users have headphones they really like and again shouldn't have to spend more money... And there is NO pair of BT headphones that will match the quality of high-end headphones (least not for a reasonable price).

I find this post quite funny considering how many times I have been kicked for going in raising hell on plenty of fanboy sites. I have only owned 1 apple product and that was back in the 80's and swore I would never own anything apple again.

I was just presenting a work around to a weak point. Don't get me wrong, I love my droid and yes MOTO SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM.

But until then if I was worried that I was plugging in enough and stressing the jack out to where this was a problem. I would look for a solution on how not to stress out the jack. Thus use a device that does not use the jack.

I only tried to offer an alternative and you have to come down on me for doing that?

Well I hope you know plenty as this will be the last time I post anything here. Sheesh what an a-hole.

Edit:: Whoops made an incorrect statment it was the early 90's I owned that apple POS.

 

[KZIWarrior]

I find this post quite funny considering how many times I have been kicked for going in raising hell on plenty of fanboy sites. I have only owned 1 apple product and that was back in the 80's and swore I would never own anything apple again.

I was just presenting a work around to a weak point. Don't get me wrong, I love my droid and yes MOTO SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM.

But until then if I was worried that I was plugging in enough and stressing the jack out to where this was a problem. I would look for a solution on how not to stress out the jack. Thus use a device that does not use the jack.

I only tried to offer an alternative and you have to come down on me for doing that?

Well I hope you know plenty as this will be the last time I post anything here. Sheesh what an a-hole.

Edit:: Whoops made an incorrect statment it was the early 90's I owned that apple POS.

Sorry, didn't realize you were so sensitive. Looks like I was a bit... abrasive on a few of my posts this morning. Wasn't feeling good and didn't realize it (diabetic complications lately).
Everyone knows there are work-arounds (like BT headphones) to limit the stress on the jack. The focus of the thread was more about possible 'fixes' and what the underlying issue was. Not on how to avoid it completely. And again that 'solution' you offered still doesn't give a viable alternative to the in-car issue which is what many (if not most) people that need the jack are concerned with. But thanks, hope you don't get scared off as for my response(s) feel free to add me to you 'ignore' list if it will keep you around the forum:icon_ banana:.

 

[JimmyD]

I find this post quite funny considering how many times I have been kicked for going in raising hell on plenty of fanboy sites. I have only owned 1 apple product and that was back in the 80's and swore I would never own anything apple again.

I was just presenting a work around to a weak point. Don't get me wrong, I love my droid and yes MOTO SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM.

But until then if I was worried that I was plugging in enough and stressing the jack out to where this was a problem. I would look for a solution on how not to stress out the jack. Thus use a device that does not use the jack.

I only tried to offer an alternative and you have to come down on me for doing that?

Well I hope you know plenty as this will be the last time I post anything here. Sheesh what an a-hole.

Edit:: Whoops made an incorrect statment it was the early 90's I owned that apple POS.

Sorry, didn't realize you were so sensitive. Looks like I was a bit... abrasive on a few of my posts this morning. Wasn't feeling good and didn't realize it (diabetic complications lately).
Everyone knows there are work-arounds (like BT headphones) to limit the stress on the jack. The focus of the thread was more about possible 'fixes' and what the underlying issue was. Not on how to avoid it completely. And again that 'solution' you offered still doesn't give a viable alternative to the in-car issue which is what many (if not most) people that need the jack are concerned with. But thanks, hope you don't get scared off as for my response(s) feel free to add me to you 'ignore' list if it will keep you around the forum:icon_ banana:.

LMAO! :icon_ goofy: Damn dude... eat a box of raisins and stomp on that diabetic stress!
:tongue: Just kidding... glad to see that you realized you were rather harsh on the guy... he was just trying to help, you have to admit... his post IS a viable alternative!

Take a breath and relax... we're all in this forum for pretty much the same reasons.

Desktop Devin.... no need to take your ball and run home either...
stay on the forums! Lots of great info can be found here. The more input and ideas from everyone who reads this site... THE BETTER!

:icon_ peace: PEACE EVERYONE!:icon_ peace:

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

ALL THAT SAID......

I just wanted to add to the discussion:

If you plan on using any type of glue/epoxy/cements/etc. be sure to check...
no... scratch that...
BE POSITIVE that the type of epoxy you're selecting will not have adverse effects on the internal components.

In other words...
>>> SOME EPOXIES WILL MELT CERTAIN TYPES OF PLASTICS!
>>> SOME EPOXIES MIGHT INSULATE INTERNAL HARDWARE THAT SHOULD NOT BE INSULLATED!
(Electrical bridge contacts, like where the headphone jack meets the board!)

Just my 2 cents and call for peace posting. :happy: