How to start a mobile phone repair

Kabeya Brice From South Africa want to know the starting point in mobile phone repair.

Hi Humphrey

I am a junior electronic technician working as a SMPS repair technician in a company fixing satellite receiver.

 I have got project of building my own workshop where I can be repairing plasma, LCD, monitors and phones.

I already have books on those but I don’t not have any clue on how to repair phones and it seems like you an expert on that would you give me guidance like where should I start, what to read, which training to do, some courses link.

Just tell me how you can help.

Hi Kabeya,

Thanks for your email Kabeya, I am not an expert on mobile repair but I know a few things (generally mechanical problems).

Fortunately most of the mobile phone problems are simple and require simple solutions.

To get started I advice to search for any mobile phone service repair manual from the net and most likely you are get one.

Once you get one you can then go ahead and download and usually they have enough info for starting point.

Most importantly is to know how to open mobile phones and the tools used to open.

I suggest you start opening your own phone so that you can have confidence in opening others.

Usually if you find any equipment (especially) a phone not opening easily, this could point to a hidden bolts still not picked up.

Please don't force anything otherwise you may break the phone.

Kind regards

Humphrey

Anyone with good info on where to get mobile phone repairs info kindly share with us.

Mobile phone repair tips

 

Sometimes on your line of duty as a technician you may encounter a customer who brings to your shop equipment which maybe you don’t repair but insist that you check for them what could be wrong with their equipment.

Although I am not very experienced on mobile phone repair I usually get some customers who bring their phone to me for repair and usually if the problem is hardware related I undertake to repair it.

Mobile phone problem are frequently hardware related and if you are keen one can be able to make conclusions as to the faulty component even before opening the phone by listening to the customer complain.

Here is an example.

1.       Customer complain:

When I place a call the phone does not indicate when the phone has gone through. Only hear the other party if the phone is set to loudspeaker.

Check the ear piece with analogue/digital meter set in low resistance range. Should be around 30 ohm when okay.

Solution: Usually changing the earpiece (speaker) cures this kind of a problem.

2.       Customer complain:

 I can’t hear the other person. In that case when the phone is dialed the phone rings and when you receive the call. You can’t hear the other person.

Solution: ear piece fault see above. Again one can use loudspeaker if the phone is equipped with one.

Nb: remember the ear piece could be okay but there could be other factors which could be hindering it from functioning. Be very keen to do observations around the ear piece, gasket, connector parts, the housing itself. - is it completely closed (home). Any loose bolts or missing bolts which could make the ear piece not to connect fully to the circuit board? Also check the orientation of the ear piece in connection to the main board.

Note: The earpiece and buzzer (ringer) are different. Some mobile phone has earpiece and loudspeaker- in this case the loudspeaker is used also as buzzer (Polyphonic Ring Tones)

3.       Customer complain:

When I make a call the other person can’t hear me but I hear them

Solution: Check the microphone (mouth piece) is loose or faulty-usually replacing the mouthpiece cure this kind of problem.

4.       Customer complain:

The phone goes off often, switch on and off after a small shake.

Cause: battery bad or shorted or battery connector loose.

Solution: change the battery/ Check the battery connector is firm.

Tip: Dust is one of the main killer of electronic gadgets and mobile phones is not excepted and therefore before you start suspecting component failure on mobile phone please be sure to do thorough cleaning of the PCB board with medicinal spirits and dry the board well with hair blower or hot air (this usually solve 30% of mobile phone problems)

That’s all for today guys

See you in our next class