Home Guides iPhone 5c iPhone 5c Audio Control and Power Button Cable Replacement

iPhone 5c Audio Control and Power Button Cable Replacement

This procedure details how to substitute the iPhone 5c’s upper assembly cable, which incorporates the flash, microphone, volume controls, and sleep/power button functionalities.

  • Before proceeding, disconnect power by extracting the battery.
  • For battery removal, the preferred technique involves using adhesive strips to minimize risk, although this will leave the battery without its original adhesive backing; to maintain secure placement during operation, apply a segment of double-sided tape when installing a replacement battery.
  • To prevent movement and noise, secure the battery within the device using adhesive tape.

Step 1 | Taping the display glass

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Begin the process by carefully disconnecting the 12V power supply, ensuring all static discharge precautions are observed, then use a 5mm hex key to loosen and remove the four retaining screws (M4 x 8mm) securing the fan assembly to the chassis, noting that the fan blade is sensitive to damage and should be handled with care.
To avoid injury and contain shattered fragments while repairing a cracked display glass, secure it with tape.
Apply strips of transparent packing tape across the iPhone screen, ensuring complete coverage by layering them until the entire display surface is protected.
To prevent glass fragments from scattering and maintain stability during the display separation process, this technique is essential.
To safeguard your eyes from potential glass fragments that may detach during the repair process, always use safety glasses.

Step 2 | Removing the Pentalobe screws

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Using a 5/32-inch hex key, carefully loosen the four screws securing the fan assembly to the motor housing; be sure to support the fan to prevent it from dropping and potentially damaging the impeller.
To prevent potential fire or explosion hazards during repair, ensure the iPhone's lithium-ion battery is depleted to a level below 25% prior to beginning work; a fully charged battery poses a significant risk of combustion if damaged.
To prevent electrical shock or damage, ensure the iPhone is completely de-energized prior to starting the repair process.
Using appropriate tools, detach the two screws, each measuring 3.8 mm in diameter and featuring a P2 Pentalobe head, located on both sides of the Lightning connector.

Step 3 | Starting the iSclack Opening Procedure

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Using a 5/32-inch hex key, carefully tighten the three retaining screws on the motor assembly to a torque of 3.5 inch-pounds, ensuring not to overtighten and potentially strip the threads.
For those performing multiple iPhone 5, 5s, or 5c repairs, we suggest utilizing the iSclack to safely separate the device; the following two procedures illustrate its use, but if you prefer an alternative method, proceed directly to Step 5.
Actuate the iSclack handle to release the clamping force of the suction-cup jaws.
Position the iPhone's lower edge between the suction cups, ensuring it contacts the plastic depth gauge.
Position the uppermost suction cup so that it hovers slightly above the home button.
To secure the iPhone, position the suction cups centrally and apply consistent, firm pressure to both the upper and lower surfaces, ensuring the iSclack jaws are closed by manipulating the handles.

Step 4 | Finishing the iSclack Opening Procedure

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Using a 5/32-inch hex key, carefully tighten the retaining screw on the motor assembly to a torque of 3.5 Nm, ensuring the motor shaft remains aligned and observing the warning against over-tightening that could damage the threads.This specialized tool allows for controlled separation of the iPhone's components, creating a gap sufficient for disassembly without risking damage to internal wiring.
Carefully detach the two adhesive suction cups from the iPhone's exterior.
Proceed directly to Step 8, bypassing the subsequent three steps.

Step 5 | Manual Opening Procedure

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Using a 5/32-inch hex key, carefully tighten the four M4x8mm screws securing the fan assembly to the heatsink, ensuring a torque of no more than 0.5 Nm to prevent damage.
Secure a suction cup to the display surface, positioning it directly over the home button area.
Ensure full contact between the cup's rim and the screen surface to guarantee a secure seal.

Step 6 | Start lifting the front panel assembly

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Using a 5/32-inch hex key, carefully tighten the four M4 screws securing the fan assembly to the motor housing, ensuring each is snug but not over-tightened to prevent damage; observe polarity when reattaching the connector, and be aware that static discharge can harm the component.
Secure the front panel assembly to the suction cup, ensuring a strong bond.
Using one hand to secure the iPhone, lift the suction cup vertically to gently create a small gap between the front panel and the device's back cover.
Exercise caution and use steady, even pressure when installing the display assembly, as its fit is considerably more snug than typical device components.
Using a plastic opening tool, carefully separate the rear case from the display assembly by gently levering it upwards, simultaneously lifting with a suction cup.
To release the front panel assembly from the rear case, carefully detach the multiple retaining clips, potentially requiring the coordinated use of both a suction cup and a plastic opening tool.

Step 7

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Using a 5/32-inch hex key, carefully tighten the four mounting screws securing the fan assembly to the motor housing, ensuring each is snug but not over-tightened to prevent damage; observe a torque of 6 in-lbs per screw.
To detach the suction cup, extend the small plastic projection to break the airtight hold.
Detach the display assembly's suction cup.

Step 8 | Opening up the phone

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Using a 5/32-inch hex key, carefully tighten the four mounting screws securing the fan assembly to the motor housing, ensuring each is snug but not over-tightened to prevent damage; observe a torque of 6 in-lbs per screw.
To expose the connectors located near the top edge of the device, gently raise the front panel, beginning at the home button end.
Carefully position the display at a 90-degree angle, then secure it in a supported position to prevent movement during the repair process.
As a temporary substitute, an unused, sealed can of soda can be employed to support the display.
To avoid stressing the display's wiring during the repair process, secure it with a rubber band.

Step 9

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Using a 5/32-inch hex key, carefully tighten the three retaining screws securing the motor assembly to the gearbox housing, ensuring each is snug but not over-torqued to prevent damage; observe polarity markings during reassembly and heed the warning regarding potential pinch points.
Using a Phillips #000 screwdriver, detach the metal battery connector bracket from the logic board by unscrewing the two 1.6 mm screws that hold it in place.

Step 10

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Using a 5/32-inch hex key, carefully tighten the four mounting screws securing the fan assembly to the motor housing, ensuring each is snug but not over-tightened to prevent damage; observe a torque of 6 in-lbs per screw.
Detach the bracket securing the battery connector using a tri-point screwdriver.

Step 11 | Disconnecting the battery connector

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Carefully lift the battery connector away from its corresponding socket on the logic board, employing a spudger or a similarly non-marring tool.
Exercise extreme caution when releasing the battery connector, focusing your leverage solely on the connector; applying force to the logic board socket or the board itself risks socket destruction or damage to adjacent components.

Step 12

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Using a Phillips #000 screwdriver, detach the bracket that holds the front panel assembly cable by unscrewing the screws that fasten it to the logic board.
Use two screws, each measuring 1.3 millimeters.
A screw with a 1.7-millimeter head diameter is required.
A screw with a 3.25 mm diameter is required.
Carefully manage all screws during this stage to ensure correct reassembly; incorrect screw placement, such as using a 3.25 mm screw or a 1.7 mm screw in the bottom right hole, will severely damage the logic board and prevent the device from powering on.
Avoid applying excessive force when tightening screws; if resistance is encountered during installation, verify they are the correct size and do not attempt to force them.

Step 13

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Detach the cable bracket securing the front panel assembly cable to the logic board.

Step 14 | Disconnecting the front panel assembly cables

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Carefully detach the front camera and sensor cable connector from its socket using a plastic pry tool or your fingernail.
Avoid applying lifting force to the logic board socket; direct all prying action solely to the connector itself.

Step 15

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Prior to either detaching or reattaching the cables in this procedure, ensure the battery is disconnected.
Carefully detach the LCD cable connector from its socket using a plastic pry tool or your fingernail.
Because the LCD and digitizer share a single cable connection, lifting the LCD connector will simultaneously release both connections. Ensure complete separation of both cables prior to display removal.
If the display shows a blank screen or white lines during reassembly, the LCD cable might have become disconnected from its connector; to resolve this, firmly reseat the cable and restart the device by briefly removing and reinstalling the battery.

Step 16 | Separating front panel assembly and rear case

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Detach the front panel assembly by disengaging it from the rear case.

Step 17 | SIM Card

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Power off the device entirely to ensure safe SIM card and tray removal.
Using a SIM card eject tool or a straightened paperclip, gently push into the tiny aperture located on the SIM card tray to release it.
Using the SIM card eject tool, depress it fully to release the SIM tray.
Applying considerable pressure might be necessary.

Step 18

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Using the SIM eject tool or a similar small, sturdy item, depress the SIM tray release button located on the side of the iPhone to release and extract the SIM Card tray assembly.
When putting everything back together, verify the SIM card's alignment within the tray, matching its position to the intended design.

Step 19 | Battery

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Using a spudger, carefully separate the battery from the headphone jack by releasing the adhesive securing the battery tab.

Step 20

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Carefully detach the battery's adhesive pull tab to release it from the device.

Step 21

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Using a sharp blade, sever the black battery adhesive tab by slicing through the two white adhesive strips that hold it in place, thus disconnecting the tab.

Step 22

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To prevent the strips from adhering and tearing, maintain their flatness and avoid creases throughout this step.
Gently peel back one of the battery's adhesive strips, moving it downwards along the device's base.
To remove the strip, apply consistent, even force while guiding it out from the space between the battery and the rear case; ensure the pulling angle remains at 60 degrees or less to facilitate smooth extraction.
Maneuver the adhesive strip along the battery's edge, ensuring it follows the corner and extends up the side, while avoiding contact with other internal iPhone parts to prevent damage.
To release the strip completely, gradually extend it far beyond its initial size; reposition your grip closer to the battery as needed to maintain tension and ensure the whole length separates.

Step 23

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Perform the same procedure again to detach the remaining strip.

Step 24

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Disconnecting the iPhone's battery is necessary for this repair; ensure you follow all safety precautions and use the appropriate tools to avoid damage.
Should any adhesive strip(s) become damaged and fragments are inaccessible for retrieval using tweezers, avoid attempting to dislodge the battery; proceed directly to the subsequent steps for safe battery removal.

Step 25 | Battery removal with latent adhesive

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To loosen the adhesive securing the battery, carefully introduce a small amount of isopropyl alcohol with a concentration of 90% or higher beneath it, allowing the liquid to spread across the adhesive. This high-concentration alcohol functions as a solvent and evaporates completely, preventing any potential damage to the iPhone.
Using a plastic card, gently insert the edge between the battery and the device casing, positioning it closest to the logic board.
Applying force to the logic board can result in device damage.
To prevent damage to the upper component ribbon cable, do not apply force when separating the battery from the device near its top edge.
To release the battery, advance the card along its length, directing it towards the device's casing edge, starting from the battery's top.
Should the need arise, perform the identical steps again on the battery's opposite face.

Step 26

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To release a battery adhered to the device housing, apply heat using the iOpener method described in our instructions, or alternatively, use a hair dryer to soften the adhesive that holds the battery in place against the back cover.
Position the iOpener horizontally against the iPhone’s rear casing, aligning it to the right of the camera module, ensuring full surface contact between the device’s back panel and the iOpener.
Allow the desiccant bag to remain in contact with the iPhone for roughly 90 seconds prior to battery removal.
Apply warmth to the rear casing of the iPhone with a hairdryer or heat gun, ensuring the surface reaches a temperature just beyond comfortable touch.
Avoid direct application of heat to the battery.
Exposure to excessive heat poses a risk of battery ignition within the iPhone.

Step 27

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Carefully detach and extract the iPhone's battery.
To prevent damage, ensure any residual alcohol solution is completely removed by wiping with a clean cloth or by permitting full evaporation prior to battery replacement.
Confirm the connection is free of any obstruction; if the battery is still adhered, apply more heat with the iOpener and repeat the separation process.
Carefully discard the protective plastic packaging that accompanied the new battery by gently separating it from the ribbon cable.
To guarantee correct positioning within its designated space, briefly plug the battery connector back into the motherboard socket prior to securing the new battery.
Secure the battery in place, then sever its electrical connection before proceeding with the remaining reassembly steps.
To secure a battery lacking pre-applied adhesive, follow the instructions in this guide to install replacement adhesive strips.
Following reassembly, execute a complete system reset to proactively avoid potential problems and streamline any subsequent diagnostic procedures.

Step 28 | Logic Board

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Carefully detach the Lightning connector's ribbon cable from the logic board socket using a spudger.
Carefully separate the Lightning connector cable from its protective shield on the logic board by gently lifting it with the spudger's flat edge.

Step 29

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Carefully raise the Lightning connector cable, ensuring it does not obstruct access to the logic board.

Step 30

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Carefully detach the antenna connector from the logic board's lower section.

Step 31

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Employing the flat spudger tip, carefully separate the audio control cable connector from the logic board's corresponding receptacle.
Carefully detach the connector for the rear camera cable from the socket located on the logic board.

Step 32

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If a strip of tape is covering the logic board's grounding clip, carefully detach it with tweezers.

Step 33

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Detach the logic board grounding clip from the rear case by unscrewing the screws that hold it in place.
Use a Phillips head screwdriver, size #000, with a 1.2 mm tip to access the top side-wall.
Use a Phillips head screwdriver, size #000, with a shaft diameter of 2.5 millimeters.

Step 34

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Employing tweezers, detach the logic board grounding clip.

Step 35

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Using the appropriate screwdriver, detach the logic board from the rear case by unscrewing all listed fasteners.
Use two Phillips screws, each measuring 2.3 mm.
Use three screws, each measuring 2.7 millimeters in diameter.
To extract standoff screws, utilize a specialized standoff screwdriver or driver bit; alternatively, a small flathead screwdriver may be employed, but exercise heightened care to prevent slippage and potential harm to nearby parts.

Step 36

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  1. Carefully maintaining a horizontal orientation for the device, raise the logic board’s lower edge until you can comfortably secure a grip on it.
    Carefully separate the logic board from the rear camera assembly, creating only enough space to reveal the gold contact cap located at the board's upper edge.
    Carefully detach the gold contact cap from the threaded post located on the rear case, ensuring it is stored safely.

Step 37

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  1. To access the antenna connector, rotate the logic board upwards, positioning it so the volume control buttons face upward.
    Avoid detaching the logic board from the rear case at this stage; it remains secured by an antenna cable located on the rear side.

Step 38

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  • Carefully detach the antenna connector from the logic board's rear panel.

Step 39

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  • Carefully detach the logic board from the rear case.

Step 40 | Audio Control and Power Button Cable

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  1. Using a Phillips #000 screwdriver, detach the rear camera cover from the rear case by unscrewing the two 1.5 mm screws that hold it in place.

Step 41

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Carefully detach the rear camera cover.

Step 42

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Carefully detach the rear camera assembly.

Step 43

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Using the appropriate screwdriver, detach the vibrator motor from the rear case by unscrewing the designated fasteners.
Use a Phillips head screwdriver, size #000, with a tip measuring 1.2 millimeters.
Use a Phillips head screwdriver, size #000, with a shaft diameter of 2.2 millimeters.

Step 44

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Disconnect any wiring harnesses attached to the vibrator motor, then detach the motor from its mounting points using a socket wrench to loosen the retaining bolts, and carefully extract the component.

Step 45

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Detach the upper assembly contact bracket from the rear case by unscrewing the designated fasteners.
A screw with a 3.0 mm thread diameter is required.
Utilize a Phillips head screwdriver, size #000, to tighten or loosen a 1.5-millimeter screw.

Step 46

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Detach the contact bracket, which secures the upper assembly, from the rear case.
During reassembly, be mindful that the tiny rubber bumper affixed to the bracket's upper surface could detach; ensure it is retained.

Step 47

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Carefully detach any foam tape that is covering the screws located close to the camera housing.

Step 48

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Using a Phillips #000 screwdriver, detach the power/sleep button bracket by unscrewing the two 1.4 mm screws that hold it in place.

Step 49

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Carefully leverage the power/sleep button bracket away from the rear case's upper edge using the tip of a spudger, applying gentle force to fold it downwards.
Employing tweezers, carefully detach the button.
Ensure the metal bar aligns level with the button's lower edge during reassembly.
To access the power button from within the device's enclosure, gently depress it outward using a spudger.

Step 50

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Using a Phillips #000 screwdriver, detach the mute/silent switch bracket by unscrewing the two 1.6 mm screws securing it.

Step 51

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  1. Carefully detach and temporarily store the bracket clip securing the mute/silent switch.
    When putting everything back together, position the bracket clip so it covers the mute/silent switch bracket, making sure the angled side faces rightward.
    Carefully use the pointed end of a spudger to depress the mute/silent switch bracket, pivoting it downwards.

Step 52

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  1. Employing tweezers, carefully detach the mute/silent switch.
    Ensure correct reassembly by aligning the button so its red marking faces upward; simultaneously, position the switch's rear notch to correspond with and engage the cable's mechanical switch.

Step 53

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  • Using a Phillips #000 screwdriver, detach the volume rocker bracket from the side wall by unscrewing the 1.6 mm screw that holds it in place.

Step 54

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  1. Carefully use the spudger tip to depress the volume rocker bracket, pivoting it away from the side wall.
    Carefully detach the volume rocker assembly.

Step 55

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  • Carefully separate the power/sleep button cable from the rear case housing using the pointed end of a spudger.

Step 56

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Carefully use a spudger to detach the flash assembly cable from the device, applying gentle pressure.

Step 57

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Carefully lift the upper assembly cable, moving from the right side towards the left, to release the adhesive securing it to the case.

Step 58

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When separating the cable from the phone, exercise caution to avoid damaging the vibrator contact at the cable's termination.
To avoid corrosion and ensure proper electrical contact, refrain from physical contact with the metal contacts.
Carefully detach the assembly from the device.
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