iPhone 5 vibration motor repair guide

The vibration motor isn’t working

In this guide, we show you how to replace a defective vibration motor. You need this repair if your phone doesn’t vibrate or only barely vibrates.

Required tools

For storing screws

For storing screws

We recommend storing your screws so you don’t mix up the various screws and small parts.
from €10.99 on Amazon
Menda ESD Spudger

Menda ESD Spudger

You need a flat plastic prying tool to disconnect the various plugs and connectors.
from €26.38 on Amazon
Tweezers

Tweezers

We recommend using tweezers to remove screws and various small parts from your device.
on Amazon
Pick Set

Pick Set

You need a flat but stable tool such as a pick to pry out parts that are glued in place.
from €14.99 on Amazon
Steel Laboratory Spatula

Steel Laboratory Spatula

You need a flat and sturdy prying tool to disconnect glued parts.
on Amazon
Pentalobe PL1 screwdriver

Pentalobe PL1 screwdriver

You need the right screwdriver for removing pentalobe PL1 screws.
on Amazon
Phillips PH00 screwdriver

Phillips PH00 screwdriver

You need the right screwdriver for removing PH00 screws.
from €10.84 on Amazon

Required replacement part

iPhone 5 Vibration Motor

iPhone 5 Vibration Motor

on Amazon

Show all replacement parts for the iPhone 5

Steps

9 Steps

Removing the enclosure screws

Step 1

Lifting the display

Step 2

Disconnecting the connectors

Step 3

Disconnecting the battery connector

Step 4

Replacing the vibration motor

Step 5

Installing the battery

Step 6

Attaching the display

Step 7

Fastening the enclosure screws

Step 8

Setting the time

Step 9

Getting started with the repair of your iPhone 5

If you get stuck or have questions, you can post a comment. We’d be happy to help.

9 steps

Removing the enclosure screws
You need a pentalobe screwdriver to open the iPhone 5.

Remove the two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure. They are located to the right and left of the Lightning connector. LPut the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
2 x 3.6 mm pentalobe screws
Lifting the display
Put your iPhone 5 on a soft, clean surface to avoid scratching the back.

To lift the front panel, you need a suction cup and the hard plastic pick. If the screen is severely cracked, cover all of it with packing tape.

Place the suction cup over the Home button (if possible) or next to it (see figure 1). While lifting the screen with the suction cup, insert the hard plastic pick between the aluminum frame and the display frame and press down the aluminum frame. Also use the hard plastic pick to raise the screen (see figures 2 and 3). This usually takes several attempts.

As soon as you can lift the screen a little bit (see figure 4), you have to carefully work your way around the outside until it’s loosened on both sides (see figure 5).

Once the display is fully detached, you can flip it up at the Home button. Note that the display cables are still connected to the logic board (see next step).
Disconnecting the connectors
First remove the three Phillips screws from the silver cover (see figure 1). Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
2 x 1.2 mm Phillips screws
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (not magnetic)

Now you can disconnect the following three connectors (see figure 2). Be very careful.

Place the pointed tip of the spudger very slightly below the contact and lift it up. Make sure you don’t break off the resistors that are soldered onto the logic board. In later batches of phones, the resistors are protected by a black plastic film.
LCD
Touchscreen
Front camera/sensor/earpiece
Disconnecting the battery connector
Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the Phillips screws on the battery connector (see figure 1). Then lift the cover using the spudger (see figure 2). Put all the parts in the same compartment of the organizer tray.
1 x 1.8 mm Phillips screw (funnel head)
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw

Now carefully lift off the battery connector by inserting the pointed tip of the ESD spudger slightly below the connector (see figure 3). If you don’t have a spudger, you can also try using your fingernail.

Replacing the vibration motor
Remove the three screws that hold the vibration motor and its support frame in place.
1 x 1.8 mm Phillips screw
1 x 2.4 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.5 mm Phillips screw

Now remove the vibration motor, detach it from the support frame and insert the new vibration motor with the old support frame.
Installing the battery
Now put the battery back in the iPhone and position it as close to the logic board as possible.

Click the battery connector back into place.

Then put the cover on and screw it in.
1 x 1.8 mm Phillips screw (funnel head)
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw
Attaching the display
Now reconnect the connectors (see figure 1). The LCD connector sometimes comes undone when you connect the touchscreen connector.
LCD
Touchscreen
Front camera/sensor/earpiece
Reattach the battery connector and fix the coverplate again.

Start your iPhone as soon as the connectors are securely attached. Check the function of the LCD, touchscreen, proximity sensor, front camera and earpiece.

Now attach the cover and screw it in place (see figure 2).
2 x 1.2 mm Phillips screws
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (not magnetic)

Then carefully fold down the screen. Make sure that the edge of the screen where the cables are clicks into place properly. Now carefully press the screen on toward the Home button until it’s properly installed in the frame. (See figure 3).
Fastening the enclosure screws
Now screw in the two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure.
2 x 3.6 mm pentalobe screws
Setting the time
When the battery is removed from the device, the iPhone loses the time and sets itself to 1:00 a.m. on 1/1/1970. You could have trouble connecting to the cellular network if the time isn’t set.
After a repair, complete the following steps:

Synchronize your iPhone with iTunes or connect to a WLAN network and wait until the time is set.

Remove the SIM tray with the SIM card and reinsert it.

Activate airplane mode on the device and then deactivate airplane mode.