Clicking noise pre 3 slider (volume cable?)

[Consequence_9]

Hi, I recently had a pre3 that had the volume cable severed by the slider, luckily the ebay seller was kind enough to provide a replacement. I have just received the new unit & I've noticed that on the very last portion of the slide there is a clicking noise coming from the left side.

Now, I'm definitely paranoid that it will happen again, however, is this noise normal? I know there is a mechanism that detects if the slider is open, could that be what I'm hearing? Also, has anyone had good luck securing the cable with glue or something so that it's out of the way of the slider?

[ananimus]

My 3's practically silent. I do hear a noise like that in my Veer though.

[eblade]

Might be the proximity sensor, I guess if your hearing is really damn good, or maybe somehow the camera auto focus?

[Consequence_9]

hmm.. i don't think i'll be able to rest easy about it, so i think i'm going to open it up & locktite it down jic ;]

[Consequence_9]

So, I opened it up & my suspicions were confirmed, once you take off the first layer (the part surrounding the battery) you could actually see the slider hitting the cable. If anyone else is having this issue it is a very simple fix that will save you a lot of headache. The pre3 is very easy to disassemble & reassemble. If you are hearing a slight clicking noise towards the left side it is definitely the slider hitting the volume cable.

What you want to do is take out all the screws, take off the plastic part & then take the mainboard out & flip it over. You will see the ribbon cable connecting the volume buttons. Get a toothpick & some loctite glue, apply a small amount of the loctite underneath the right side of the cable & hold the ribbon cable against the board firmly with the toothpick. You must be quick as loctite sets in seconds & bonds very strong. I also put a little bit on top of the cable & surrounding board just to be safe. Remember, it only needs a thin later.

Snap the mainboard back in, screw back on the plastic & you're done! No more clicking & you can rest easy knowing that your volume cable will not fail =]

I couldn't stand the thought of this happening to my second pre3, but it was very easy to fix, so do not be afraid.

[John Steffes]

Originally Posted by Consequence_9

So, I opened it up & my suspicions were confirmed, once you take off the first layer (the part surrounding the battery) you could actually see the slider hitting the cable. If anyone else is having this issue it is a very simple fix that will save you a lot of headache. The pre3 is very easy to disassemble & reassemble. If you are hearing a slight clicking noise towards the left side it is definitely the slider hitting the volume cable.

What you want to do is take out all the screws, take off the plastic part & then take the mainboard out & flip it over. You will see the ribbon cable connecting the volume buttons. Get a toothpick & some loctite glue, apply a small amount of the loctite underneath the right side of the cable & hold the ribbon cable against the board firmly with the toothpick. You must be quick as loctite sets in seconds & bonds very strong. I also put a little bit on top of the cable & surrounding board just to be safe. Remember, it only needs a thin later.

Snap the mainboard back in, screw back on the plastic & you're done! No more clicking & you can rest easy knowing that your volume cable will not fail =]

I couldn't stand the thought of this happening to my second pre3, but it was very easy to fix, so do not be afraid.

Wow, Testing the new Verizon webOS 2.2.5 doctor, I opened up my keyboard a click, back forth, click...

A little part of the ribbon bent up, so I used a little layer of scotch tape (Box sealing tape, cut very thin) put it from top of the ribbon to the bottom of the metal strip... No more click... Never noticed (or maybe it just started)...

Thanks for the fix...

[OldSkoolVWLover]

wait 2.2.5 doctor? when did I miss this or am I just being forgetful again?

[John Steffes]

Originally Posted by OldSkoolVWLover

wait 2.2.5 doctor? when did I miss this or am I just being forgetful again?

Backup created Doctor, yes, someone bought a Verizon Pre3 off ebay with webOS 2.2.5, I am creating a Doctor for it, will post more when I am done building it (like my Veer/Pixie/Touchpad Go etc...)

[OldSkoolVWLover]

Wow, really insane some of the products that leaked out. Does it have the same non production version like the goes and the slab have?

[MartinH@webos]

Originally Posted by Consequence_9

So, I opened it up & my suspicions were confirmed, once you take off the first layer (the part surrounding the battery) you could actually see the slider hitting the cable. If anyone else is having this issue it is a very simple fix that will save you a lot of headache. The pre3 is very easy to disassemble & reassemble. If you are hearing a slight clicking noise towards the left side it is definitely the slider hitting the volume cable.

Thanks for instructions. WIth my ATT Pre3 I have exactly the same issue. Actually the ribbon is already somewhat broken and now I can no longer use the volume keys - as the connection is broken.
Does anyone know if there would be any replacement part for this ribbon ??
Any chance to fix the cable yourself ??

[Consequence_9]

Originally Posted by MartinH@webos

Thanks for instructions. WIth my ATT Pre3 I have exactly the same issue. Actually the ribbon is already somewhat broken and now I can no longer use the volume keys - as the connection is broken.
Does anyone know if there would be any replacement part for this ribbon ??
Any chance to fix the cable yourself ??

unfortunately the only way to get a replacement would be a working pull from another unit. Try looking for a cracked screen unit on ebay or here. The traces on the cable are too small to repair. If it is doing what mine originally was (adjusting the volume down whenever i used the slider) then I would recommend fully severing that section of the cable & using patches to help out. The only thing that I could not find a patch to control the volume of is the in-call volume, which was frustrating to say the least (it set itself all the way down). The new replacement device menu is perfect for adjusting the other volumes easily though.

[John Steffes]

Originally Posted by Consequence_9

unfortunately the only way to get a replacement would be a working pull from another unit. Try looking for a cracked screen unit on ebay or here. The traces on the cable are too small to repair. If it is doing what mine originally was (adjusting the volume down whenever i used the slider) then I would recommend fully severing that section of the cable & using patches to help out. The only thing that I could not find a patch to control the volume of is the in-call volume, which was frustrating to say the least (it set itself all the way down). The new replacement device menu is perfect for adjusting the other volumes easily though.

If someone wanted to PM and send me the cable, I will fix the trace... I have a microscopic toolset, which goes to a small micron scale, can not promise anything, but I have fixed traces on ribbons and small multi-layered bread-boards. (including the First Touch Touchpanel)... FYI those traces are 1/4 of the size of a human hair.

[Consequence_9]

impressive! I'll have to add an asterisk onto my post ;]

[Mutoidi]

Thanks.. my Pre3 has only been out of the box a short while and I was already just noticing/wondering the very same thing!
I can just hear it 'scratching', presumably as it slides over the susceptible ribbon cable.
Screwdrivers and Loctite coming out asap!



EDIT: Later. Actually it all looked good and OK in there!
The self adhesive backing on the volume control ribbon-cable was doing it's job and maintaining several mm of clearance with the slider mechanism.
While the 'hood was open', I carefully applied a little high temperature lithium grease just to the slider runner blocks and stops, which quietened it down at the bump-stop ends of travel (which is what I was originally hearing on reaching fully open position) and made it's operation even smoother.

~*~