Samsung Galaxy S3 vibration motor repair guide

The vibration motor isn’t working.

In this repair guide, we show you how to replace your Samsung Galaxy S3’s defective vibration motor on your own. You need this repair if your phone doesn’t vibrate or only barely vibrates.

Required tools

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
Plastic prying tool

Plastic prying tool

You need a flat plastic prying tool to disconnect the various plugs and connectors.
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
Phillips PH00 screwdriver

Phillips PH00 screwdriver

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

Show all replacement parts for the Galaxy S3

Steps

17 Steps

Removing the back cover

Step 1

Removing the battery

Step 2

Removing the SIM card

Step 3

Removing the speaker/headphone output

Step 4

Disconnecting the connectors

Step 5

Removing the logic board

Step 6

Removing the vibration motor

Step 7

Installing the vibration motor

Step 8

Installing the logic board

Step 9

Connecting the connections

Step 10

Installing the speaker/headphone output

Step 11

Attaching the plastic cover

Step 12

Inserting the SIM and microSD cards

Step 13

Installing the battery

Step 14

Attaching the back cover

Step 15

Removing the plastic cover

Step 16

Final test

Step 17

Getting started with the repair of your Galaxy S3

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

17 steps

Removing the back cover
Insert the spudger into the gap next to the headphones. Carefully lift the back cover. There are 16 clips on the outside under the back cover. You have to disconnect them by moving the spudger around the entire smartphone one time. Alternatively, you can detach the back cover using your fingernails.

Then you can take off the back cover.
Removing the battery
If your Samsung Galaxy’s still on, turn it off now by holding down the standby button for about three seconds and following the prompt on the display.

Now use the spudger or your fingertip to lift the battery (see figure 1) and then remove it (see figure 2).
Removing the SIM card
Use the spudger or your finger to push the SIM card all the way into the slot (see figure 1). After a gentle click, the SIM card will come out (see figure 2).

Now you can pull it out with your fingers.

Repeat this process if you’ve installed a microSD card.
Removing the speaker/headphone output
First, disconnect the connector on the speaker/headphone output cable.
Speaker/headphone output
Make sure you don’t break off the resistors that are soldered onto the logic board.

Place the pointed tip of the spudger very slightly below the contact and lift it up (see figure 1).

Now use the spudger to carefully lift the speaker from the side (see figure 2).
Disconnecting the connectors
Now you can disconnect the following four connectors. Be very careful (see figure 1).
LCD
Volume controller/earpiece
Front camera
Wi-Fi
Make sure you don’t break off the resistors that are soldered onto the logic board.

Place the pointed tip of the spudger very slightly below the contact and lift it up (see figures 2 to 5).
Removing the logic board
Unscrew the screw holding the logic board in place (see figure 1).
1 x 3.0 mm Phillips screw

Now you can carefully lift the logic board using the spudger (see figure 2) and remove it by hand (see figure 3). The rear camera sometimes sticks a little bit. Be careful.
Removing the vibration motor
Now remove the vibration motor. Insert the pointed tip of the spatula or spudger below the vibration motor (see figure 1). It’s sometimes glued firmly in place. If you still can’t detach the vibration motor, you can use a heat gun to warm it slightly and soften the glue.

Once the motor is detached, you also have to detach the cable. Carefully insert the pointed tip of the spatula below the cable and detach it (see figure 2).
Installing the vibration motor
Now put the vibration motor in the appropriate position.

The old glue is usually enough to hold it. If the vibration motor is too loose, use new glue. If it’s not attached securely enough, your phone’s vibration will be weaker.

Installing the logic board
Now put the logic board back in the frame. Start with the rear camera connected to the logic board. Once it’s fitted correctly, you can install the rest of the logic board (see figure 1).

Make sure the LCD cable and front camera cable don’t get under the logic board.

Use the picture to check whether your logic board is aligned correctly (see figure 2).

Now fasten the screw for the logic board (see figure 2).
1 x 3.0 mm Phillips screw
Connecting the connections
Now plug the following four connectors into the corresponding connections. Use your finger to carefully press them into place. Only use as much pressure as you need for the contacts to gently click into place.
LCD
Volume controller/earpiece
Front camera
Wi-Fi
Installing the speaker/headphone output
Now put the speaker back in (see figure 1).

If it’s fitted properly, you can connect the connector (see figure 2).
Attaching the plastic cover
Now put on the plastic cover and make sure that it clicks into place properly (see figure 1).

Then screw it on (see figure 2).
10 x 4.0 mm Phillips screws
Inserting the SIM and microSD cards
Now slide the SIM card and the microSD card, if you have one, back into the corresponding slots.
Installing the battery
Put the battery back in. The +/- symbols have to be touching the contact point.
Attaching the back cover
It’s very easy to put the back cover back on. Put it on in the correct position and press it on all the way around the phone until all the clips have clicked into place.
Removing the plastic cover
Remove the 10 Phillips screws that hold the plastic cover in place (see figure 1).
10 x 4.0 mm Phillips screws

Use the spudger or your fingernails to lift the cover from the inside. Only insert the spudger about 2 millimeters (see figure 2) and carefully lift the cover until it’s detached (see figure 3).
Final test
Start your Samsung Galaxy S4 and enter the following key combination:
*#0*#

Then press the call button.

Now you can check all the functions.