ACK! Cracked Digitizer

[thcobbs]

Ok, I've had this damn thing not even two months and I cracked the digitizer! Boy, what a dumbass thing to do.

However, being fairly adept at electronics (computer engineer by degree, firmware by trade) I decided to fix it myself. Oh, and I took PICTURES!


Let me just say, that you have to be VERY dedicated to fixing your iPhone 3g to pull this off by yourself. But I outlined all of my gotcha's and even have a nice teardown video to help with some of the main details.

Hope everyone enjoys it! Please, comment and let me know where you could use more info, etc.

http://huntercobbs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80:iphone-repair-with-photos&catid=39:iphone&Itemid=84 (http://huntercobbs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80:iphone-repair-with-photos&catid=34:thcobbs&Itemid=70)

[Youngbinks]

Nicely done. I did the same thing a couple of months ago. I actually cracked the LCD by accident when I was replacing the digitizer so that was just another headache.

I think the hardest part was removing the original metal bracket from the old screen. Using the heat gun caused it warp a bit that took a little while to straighten out.

[psylichon]

Wow, how did I not know about that, Phil? Did you make a thread here?

Nice writeup, cobbs!

[Youngbinks]

Wow, how did I not know about that, Phil? Did you make a thread here?

Nice writeup, cobbs!

I actually didn't which was a pretty dumb move on my part. I cracked the screen back in late November after dropping it from less than 2 feet (I wasn't happy). I tried my luck at the Apple store knowing full well they wouldn't replace it, and they didn't. I had to resort to my own methods and the repair (including my stupidity for breaking the LCD) was about $90 total, far less than the $299 they told me it would be to replace the phone at Apple.

I actually bought my cousin's cracked 3G and it has been sitting in my room for about a month now. I'll order the digitizer and such soon and be sure to do a detailed write-up and step-by-step. It should be exciting.

[thcobbs]

Thanks guys!

I'm just glad it seems worthwhile. I'm a techie at heart(I've been doing something with computers and getting paid since I was 16). It's nice to be appreciated :)

Who knows.... this might just spur some other how-to goodness.