Power button dead - hardware fix or software workaround??

[bobthebob]

so - apparently this is a very very common problem - I've had this phone for just 6 months and I'm seriously pissed off that this has happened - in addition, Asurion (VZ's insurance/warrantee center) WON'T warrantee it because the little sticker is red and that means that it has "been exposed to water" - which is utter bull.

the customer service rep responded to my statement that this phone had NEVER been in the water with the question "well didn't you ever go outside with it in your pocket when it was raining out?"

so - heads up people, if you want to not void your warrantee better leave your phone at home if it's raining or else put it in a ziplock bag.

ANYWAY - the bottom line is this: I am stuck with this phone for the foreseeable future and the power button just doesn't work.

well, actually it works maybe 1 out of 500 times I press it... maybe... for now.

obviously not a viable solution.

so - because I am running a custom ROM I was able to enable the "Volume Wake Lock" feature, which gets me out of a jam as far as regular use goes... but what happens when my phone gets switched off for some reason? it will happen sooner or later - I do run out of juice sometimes at work and often there is no option to charge my phone on the job...

anyway - I found some disassembly vids on YouTube but although I'm quite technically savvy, I'm not exactly sure how to troubleshoot and repair this problem.

has anyone had any luck fixing this problem?

or is there any way to map the power key over to the volume key for turning the phone on? rebooting and restarting are no problem but turning on is a real problem.


Google search found widespread complaints of this issue but no viable solutions.

[rant] and let me just say one more time that it's TOTALLY LAME for VZ/Asurion to claim that they won't warrantee this phone due to 'water damage' when it's never ever been exposed to more than light rain!!!![/rant]

[Ads]

[smalltowngirl13]

Here is an app you might try... https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...r.awesomeonoff

[bobthebob]

Here is an app you might try... https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...r.awesomeonoff

Well thanks smalltowngirl, but I'm afraid that wont help at all.
What I need is to be able to actually *turn the phone on*, not just wake it up.

If you read my admittedly way too lengthy post you'll see what I mean.

Thanks tho.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[smalltowngirl13]

I apologize - I missed that part...I did read your post and saw the remapping but I was thinking once it was on...hopefully someone will offer some advice that will be helpful...

[Dippa]

Well, its true that the warranty doesn't cover water damage, but insurance through Asurion certainly does, so I believe the rep was either misinformed or confused. I'd try calling VZW again and if no luck with an insurance claim, contact Asurion directly.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Xparent ICS Blue Tapatalk 2

[bobthebob]

You're right about that, but this would not be covered under their insurance program, but would have to be a straight warranty. I did have their insurance but since I've already made 2 claims on this phone in just 6 months I don't have any claims left.

To be fair tho neither claim had been from defects - my first one got stolen after just 6 days (from right under my nose!) and the 2nd one was my fault -dropped and cracked the screen (bummed they didn't use Gorilla Glass).

So - bottom line - straight warranty is my only shot.

Again - thanks tho!
;-p

And no worries SMG, I tend to over indulge my verbose instincts and.... but there I go again ;-)

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Mujibar]

Bob, did you see my response to your other thread about the pics of the water indicator? Hope it helps a little.

~ GNexified ~

[bobthebob]

Bob, did you see my response to your other thread about the pics of the water indicator? Hope it helps a little.

~ GNexified ~

I did, thanks! That is in fact what mine looks like as well... So water only makes the white background change color? You'd think they'd make it more definitive... but then again it works to their advantage to keep it ambiguous doesn't it.

Hopefully someone will post a pic of a damaged one so I can refute them positively.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[bobthebob]

So - FYI, the trick where you plug your phone into your computer and then as soon as it shows the charging icon you do a (very) quick battery pull TOTALLY WORKS.
I have no idea why and its not the greatest solution but now at least I can turn my phone on if it gets turned off somehow!


Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2