Common Blackberry Smartphone Hardware Problems and Fixes

The BlackBerry smartphone/PDA has long been a favorite in the corporate world and during the past few years has become a popular phone for the average consumer as well. The BlackBerry product line is well made and designed to endure a surprising amount of use and even abuse. There are only a few parts on the typical BlackBerry that are mechanical in nature but they can and do develop problems over time.

After retiring a few years ago I involved myself in the repair and selling of "previously owned" BlackBerry phones. Every year Americans throw away millions of cell phones containing materials that are highly detrimental to the environment. Every phone that gets fixed and resold is one less to foul up the environment. The information to follow is based on my own observations resulting from repairing or refurbishing BlackBerries.

Trackball Related Problems

The majority of BlackBerry models utilize a trackball assembly to navigate around the menu display. Additionally, depressing the trackball closes a switch that acts as an 'enter' or 'select' key. The trackball is almost constantly in use and is actuated by fingers coated with whatever dirt and contaminants the user happens to possess at the time. These substances transfer from the trackball to some very tiny magnetic rollers that are turned by the friction between the trackball and rollers. Eventually slippage develops between the trackball and the rollers. Fortunately most trackballs are very easy to replace by the "average Joe" and only cost a few dollars for the parts.

A related problem is failure of the trackball dome switch. By depressing the trackball a very small dome shaped piece of metal is pushed down onto the circuit board providing the equivalent to a switch closure. The flexing of the dome gives the familiar 'click' during the process. Over time the metal dome will suffer from fatigue and cease to flex correctly. Replacing the dome switch requires a magnifying glass and a very steady hand. This delicate work should be left to an experienced technician.

USB/Charge Port Connector

The A.C. charger for your BlackBerry connects to the phone via a small mini-USB or micro-USB type connector. This same connector or 'port' is also used to connect a computer to the phone with a cable for data transfer functions. Damage to these connectors is primarily through carelessness or accidents. They are also difficult to replace and require some specialized soldering equipment.

Broken Display LCD or Lens

A surprising number of phones with "broken display" are really only suffering from a damaged display lens. The actual LCD display is mounted on the main circuit board and is protected by a clear plastic or glass viewing cover called a lens. This lens normally develops some scratches and frequently becomes cracked if the phone is dropped. The underlying LCD assembly is seldom damaged in these situations.

The lens is held in place with double sided adhesive tape along the edges of the lens where it contacts the housing. A broken lens can easily be pried off and a new lens with adhesive installed in a few minutes.

Defective LCD assemblies can be replaced by disassembly of the phone by an experienced technician. Some LCDs are relatively cheap and others cost almost as much as a replacement phone so be sure to get a price quote for the repair.

Keypads and Membranes

It's no small wonder that the Blackberry keypad is second only to the trackball for receiving punishment. Unlike the trackballs, the keypads survive very well over time and only fail on rare occasions. All keypad assemblies can be easily replaced when the housing is disassembled.

Underneath the keypad assembly is a mylar piece with a small flexible metal disk that acts to close the switch when a key is pressed. This is known as the keypad membrane and lies directly against the circuit board portion of the keyboard structure. Blackberries exhibiting a keyboard on which one or a few keys aren't working could very well need a membrane replacement. Aside from a membrane failure there is often a problem with contamination that seeps under the membrane and prevents the metal contacts from doing their job. Removing the old membrane, cleaning the circuit board area, and a new membrane will usually do the trick.

Housing Replacement (refurbishment)

You don't really need to dump your phone every two years and get the latest one that has a new list of features that you will hardly use anyway. Your trusty Blackberry can easily give you a few more years of good service. Phones get scratches, dings, and scrapes during the course of normal use. If you get embarrassed at the cosmetic condition of your phone there is a simple solution. You can have a new housing installed in a refreshing new color for about $40 or so including labor.

The new housing typically includes a new trackball assembly and keypad as well as replacement faceplate with lens and battery cover. Only the original circuit board and electronic mid-chassis remain with the resulting phone operating and feeling new. This recycling of the electronics helps the environment since many of the elements used in manufacturing cell phones is environmentally harmful.

Don't get rid of it, fix it!

As with just about anything these days, shop around. Repair prices vary widely and not every facility can do all types of repair. For more information check at donsblackberry.com.