Cracked screen... cheapest way to repair it?

[Juice#AC]

The screen on my Fascinate just cracked a nice fault line all the way down the middle from the top end to bottom end with two other cracks forking off to the left side. The actual display isn't damaged though - just the plastic over the screen. What's the cheapest way to fix this?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[jtalker1965]

There is a repair kit on eBay that you can buy. I believe there are a few other people in here that have had to replace there screens. If your phone has a insurance policy you could just replace it. That is if it isn't rooted which then I believe the insurance is voided. (could be wrong)

 

[gunnermike53]

There is a repair kit on eBay that you can buy. I believe there are a few other people in here that have had to replace there screens. If your phone has a insurance policy you could just replace it. That is if it isn't rooted which then I believe the insurance is voided. (could be wrong)

it only voids it if you are dumb enough to return it rooted. just flash back to stock with odin before you return it. you dont enen need the screen. just dl mode.

 

[Cory Streater]

They always make this look so easy, but every time I've tried this on a phone I end up destroying it. In this video it's the glue removal at the end that concerns me the most. What do you replace that glue with when you put it back together?

video here.

 

[Jgonzo1299]

to my understanding, insurance covers anything, even if rooted. thats why you pay a deductible when you get a replacement. I once dropped my phone in a toilet and they just gave me a new one. I think it only voids the warranty, in which case you cant go to a verizon store, but instead call their third party insurance

 

[Sta11i0n]

Rooting does void your warranty, but they can't say it was the cause of a broken screen. It's still a good idea to flash a stock image that removes any trace of root before taking it in just to avoid the hassle of explaining yourself. Sometimes it's better to just play dumb.

 

[Cory Streater]

Rooting does void your warranty, but they can't say it was the cause of a broken screen.

LOL!

 

[k2caliguy]

here you go!!!

repairuniverse.com has the fascinate screen about $100 before shipping.

go to their website, buy the screen, watch there video on youtube for the fascinate, it will answer all your questions, here is what I learned in addition with my phone:

its comes with this blue plastic tool to remove the glue around the casing to separate the screen. you need this tool, (a metal flat head will scratch your phone casing). fingernail works everytime after you use the blue tool in the future.

you need a micro screwdriver kit, there are 6 phillips screws holding 3 pieces of the phone together.

they have blue locktite on the screws, when replacing try to get some of that off, its likes to bind up sometimes, and you don't want to strip the head of the screw, when putting it back together.

don't use glue!, way to messy, you scotch tape. make tiny loops of sticky tape to connect new screen to the metal middle part, and the corners, and the 4 buttons. It will not slide, and works perfect.

easy to remove also if you need to adjust the bottom button pressure.

use the micro flat screw driver, to remove the old broken screen that is glued. be careful but also be forceful to remove it. The glass will into shards getting it off.

hope that helps, verizon won't fix it, and if you have insurance, you will be mailed a refurbished unit.

-John

 

[jnewell]

I'm wondering if anyone who's tried this repair has any comments (did it work? if not, why not?). The video certainly does make it look easy but I have the same concern about reassembly.

 

[nickf126]

If you have insurance, why not just say that you lost the phone, throw it away, and get a new one. I know that it is a bit dishonest, but they truly have our arms tied by unreasonable agreements.

 

[crakedparrot]

Don't use repairuniverse.com, it's BS, just a link farm. I really hate it someone tries to make money from someone else's misfortune.

Coned any 911 widows lately @$$hole

 

[ezas]

Rooting does void your warranty, but they can't say it was the cause of a broken screen. It's still a good idea to flash a stock image that removes any trace of root before taking it in just to avoid the hassle of explaining yourself. Sometimes it's better to just play dumb.

This is VERY true:

This is actually the root (see what I did there?) of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

Warranty cannot be denied because of an unrelated modification and you can't be denied warranty for not using OEM consumables. So for a phone you couldn't be denied warranty for using an after market battery (only consumable on a phone I could think of) and couldn't be denied warranty if you used an after market case and had a software problem.

But warranty and insurance are two different things. But just thought I'd throw this out there.

 

[anon(40232)]

I'm curious as to if anyone else has done this yet besides the spammer. I need to replace my screen (no insurance, didn't expect it to crack mysteriously, oh well), and was curious as to what to expect.

 

[Chris Kerrigan]

I've cracked screens on other phones in the past, but I've never replaced it myself. I've always just ended up buying a new phone or getting an insurance replacement. I'm too afraid I'd waste the money and screw something up.

 

[jnewell]

Well, I am going to give it a shot. We have a phone that got a crack in a freak accident and is not insured. I have some background in electronics...basically, I recognize I'm making a ~$100 bet on whether this will work or not. As Chris said earlier, getting it apart doesn't look hard. Getting it back together, and keeping it together, might be another matter. I will report back. If I get really inspired, I might even do stills or a vid while I'm working...no promises, though. Parts will be here later this week and I'm thinking I'll carve out some time over next weekend to do this. Wish me luck.

 

[k2caliguy]

I'm really sorry about posting that link, I forgot the "S." Repairs, not repair. I should have checked that link when writing that post....

iPod Replacement Screens, iPhone LCD Repair, BlackBerry, Zune, PSP & HTC Replacement Screens and Batteries <--- this is the real website, screw repairuniverse!

I've taken the phone apart about 50 times. its easy.... just the first time getting the glue off you have to be careful.


YouTube - Samsung Fascinate Disassembly Screen Repair & Replacement

here is their repairsuniverse.com video on dissembly, this video is why I bought from them.

I do remember a searching google and I think a company in wisconsin, were you mail your phone and they fix it for you. I want to say it was about $140...

The glue is harder than they make it out to be.

Johnny S

I paid $121.98 with 2 day air shipping in December.

 

[jnewell]

Thanks, two questions...

1. Did you use anything special to reassemble it (adhesives/tapes)? I ordered some of their adhesive strips.

2. Have you had any trouble with dirt/dust getting into the phone? I've googled up some posts about that being a problem after reassembly.

Thanks
John

I'm really sorry about posting that link, I forgot the "S." Repairs, not repair. I should have checked that link when writing that post....

iPod Replacement Screens, iPhone LCD Repair, BlackBerry, Zune, PSP & HTC Replacement Screens and Batteries <--- this is the real website, screw repairuniverse!

I've taken the phone apart about 50 times. its easy.... just the first time getting the glue off you have to be careful.


YouTube - Samsung Fascinate Disassembly Screen Repair & Replacement

here is their repairsuniverse.com video on dissembly, this video is why I bought from them.

I do remember a searching google and I think a company in wisconsin, were you mail your phone and they fix it for you. I want to say it was about $140...

The glue is harder than they make it out to be.

Johnny S

I paid $121.98 with 2 day air shipping in December.

 

[uglyyeti]

$79 with free shipping from HK...

Super Amoled Screen Verizon Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate - eBay (item 120627785529 end time Mar-28-11 08:32:20 PDT)

Haven't had to try it, but I've had pretty good luck with HK eBay sellers.

 

[k2caliguy]

I used every day scotch tape(loop it so both sides are sticky) placed under the bottom 4 buttons, and the corners were the screen sits, so it doesnt slide when you touch the screen. Havent had dust issues. The tape holds, but comes right off if you need to adjust it, which I did a few times.

 

[jcdrepair]

One quick word of warning when replacing this yourself: Be very careful when removing the bottom of the screen. It's adhesived very tightly to a ribbon cable that connects those bottom 4 navigation buttons to the motherboard. If you just pull the screen off, it's pretty easy to tear that and then your home/back/menu/search buttons won't work anymore.

Tip: Use a heat gun to separate the broken screen (or a hair dryer if you don't have access to a heat gun). That will make the screen come off much, much easier. Be very liberal with the heat on the bottom (by the nav buttons) and just go slow.

I've fixed a lot of phones and the Fascinate (actually all the Samsung Galaxy S phones), is one of the easier ones to fix. Just go slow, use a heat gun, and be especially careful with the bottom.

As to reattaching your new screen, the new screen itself should come with some adhesive on it, but that will just be on the LCD portion. k2caliguy is right: Small strips of double sided tape at the top and bottom should make sure it sticks nice and tight.