Xiaomi Mi3 - Broken SIM slot

[Boro]

Hello to everyone,

thanks to my lack of knowledge and stupidity I ended up with broken pins on SIM card reader (yes ... micro SIM adapter). I'd like to ask whether there is some easier fix for this problem than replacement of complete motherboard?

Thanks for your replies

 

[mephistozap]

Micro Sim adapters are very bad avoid them I've almost broken a few phones with them. Its worth it just to get a new Sim card.

Sent from my MI 2 using Tapatalk

 

[pathfinder]

This article explains how to disassemble the phone which seems to be a straightfrward, once you have accessed to the SIM slot then anyone with some soldering skills can replace or repair the SIM slot

http://en.miui.com/thread-7633-1-1.html

Please let us know how you get on.. good luck

 

[Boro]

Thanks guys for your replies ... I was looking at the this article but I'm just hesitant to do so . If there will be no other way I think I'll be desperate enough to open it.

 

[Boro]

The surgery was made ... it was hell of a job but the SIM reader PINs, riped out from old phone, are in place now and everything is working. I can confirm the perfect build quality inside . After this I'm sure I'll remember not to put empty micro SIM adapter into SIM slot .

 

[pathfinder]

Hi Boro,

Glad you have managed to sort you phone, do you fix yourself ? Also did you have to do any soldering ?

 

[Boro]

My father in law is the soldering expert . He had to take out the motherboard, lift SIM reader's metalic cover by heating it up and then he had to solder 5 new pins into the reader

 

[IRS]

Hello. I had the same problem and now I have to do the same thing. But I would aprecciate if you could tell me if the Sim card slot you used is the same as in this link.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/for-...tor-Junctor-Replacement-Parts/1720005035.html

Thank you very much.

 

[Brian Taing]

Hi everyone, I made the same mistake using a sim card adapter and now my sim card slot is not reading my sim card.

I am hoping someone here can help me - how do you take off the back cover after removing the two tiny screws from the sim card slot? Those pictures on the internet that shows the disassembling of the phone don't illustrate how the back cover is removed. Would someone mind posting a video of how they did it?

 

[se0067]

Hi everyone, I made the same mistake using a sim card adapter and now my sim card slot is not reading my sim card.

I am hoping someone here can help me - how do you take off the back cover after removing the two tiny screws from the sim card slot? Those pictures on the internet that shows the disassembling of the phone don't illustrate how the back cover is removed. Would someone mind posting a video of how they did it?

This might be of help: http://miui-germany.de/forum2/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=6861

 

[Brian Taing]

This might be of help: http://miui-germany.de/forum2/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=6861

Thanks for the link. I looked at it, but it looks like the same tear down pictures we've seen before. There isn't a picture that hows how to remove the back cover after removing the two screws from the SIM card slot.

Can anyone help? I really really would be so grateful. I basically have an over priced small tablet until I fix this...

 

[Ulver]

Which SIM card adapter did you use? I'm using one by Mediadevil and I've changed it a couple times without issue.

Sent from my MI 3W using Tapatalk

 

[Brian Taing]

Which SIM card adapter did you use? I'm using one by Mediadevil and I've changed it a couple times without issue.

Sent from my MI 3W using Tapatalk

I don't know which one I have because I threw away the packaging. The adapter actually worked just fine...the problem is I left the adapter in the SIM card tray without the SIM card, so when I pulled out the tray later, it got stuck. I had to force it out with some pliers. Some of the paint on the pliers came off, which means it is probably stuck on the pins inside. I want to take it apart to try and clean the pins so that it can come in contact with the SIM card again.

 

[Xelael]

I ran into the same issue.... stupid me. Didn't realize what I just did when I threw in the empty sim converter until I tried to pull it out and got stuck. Did the whole taking apart my phone thing and it looks like I'm missing all 6 pins

Here are the pictures of my SIM slot with no pins

 

[Brian Taing]

I ran into the same issue.... stupid me. Didn't realize what I just did when I threw in the empty sim converter until I tried to pull it out and got stuck. Did the whole taking apart my phone thing and it looks like I'm missing all 6 pins

Here are the pictures of my SIM slot with no pins

View attachment 7699View attachment 7701 View attachment 7702 View attachment 7703

OMG...so sorry to see that happened!!!

How did you take off the back plate? That's the part I can't figure out...seems impossible :-( If you could tell or show me I'd be so grateful.

 

[Xelael]

I used an exacto knife down by the charging port to get between the screen and the case. Once I got a small seperation between the two, I used a piece of plastic to lightly pry the plastic away from the screen until the 3 little notches came unhooked. I went around the phone doing this until it it came right off. No visible damage.

 

[etoh]

I guess Im facing the same problem. Unintentionally broken some pins while taking the adapter off. Since warranty doesn't work here in Malaysia, wonder if some DIY May do the trick. Any step by step guide to do this?

 

[The Biker]

Same here in Hungary! BUT I did it 2x! I'm so so stupid! First time my friend could repair it but next time he could't..... I lost my 4 pin.... He didn't dare to heat a sim reader because same part are very close ... Everybody has experience with the service in China? Or how can we replace the whole sim reader? My friend has a partner in China and he has a the original warranty card of this phone. Is it possible to change this sim reader in China Service Center? How much is it about?

Thx for help!!!!!

 

[joey mady]

Hi guy, i am new to xiaomi and have broken the pins also on my sim reader. My local repair centres will not touch the MI-3 because they have never fixed one before. I s there currently any repair centres in Europe, or what may be my best plan of action??

 

[The Biker]

Hi guy, i am new to xiaomi and have broken the pins also on my sim reader. My local repair centres will not touch the MI-3 because they have never fixed one before. I s there currently any repair centres in Europe, or what may be my best plan of action??

Hi,

Where are you living? There is a "not official" Miui Service (ibuygou) center in Bulgari. They can change the WHOLE mainboard. The cost is 220 USD + 20 USD for repair.... I think it is very very expensive


Best regards,

Robert

 

[CESA]

Hi Boro,

Do you managed repairing the SIM slot?

Can I ask you a question Xelael? Can you post some pictures (almost in the same angle that you did in the SIM slot) in the other side of the PCB, more or less in the same position where the SIM slot is?

Kind regards.

 

[Robert Huybrechts]

I ordered this to use a micro sim on my mi3. I didn't receive it yet, but I hope it will work better as a sim adapter.
http://www.xiaomiworld.com/micro-sim-card-slot-tray-holder.html
I received it and works perfect with micro sim!

 

[CESA]

I would appreciate if someone could post the photos of the other side of the PCB, more or less in the same position where the SIM slot is.

I want to check something.

 

[IRS]

Hi. I had the same problem with the SIM slot, some of the contact pins got broken when removing the tray. I bought a card reader holder connector and a friend of mine who's experienced in welding small hardware parts, manage to weld the connector very carefully and using a special welding iron and lots of patience and a microscope. The hardest part of this process was to unweld and weld again the metalic cover of the SIM slot because it's very close to the components that could melt in a second.
After this I can happily say that my Xiaomi is fully working but I only advise you to try this "surgery" at home if you have lots experience and steady hands. I will leave some links to help:

- Card reader holder connector:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/for-...tor-Junctor-Replacement-Parts/1720005035.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281301099933?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
(this connector is a Nokia connector but it's exactly the same as the Xiaomi mi3)

- Videos about how to open your Xiaomi Mi3:
http://v.pps.tv/play_3BF3IR.html

http://www.56.com/u59/v_MTAyMTY1MDU2.html

-And this is the MICRO SIM slot that I bought and using currently without any problems.
http://www.xiaomiworld.com/micro-sim-card-slot-tray-holder.html

 

[CESA]

Hi,

I managed to repair my Mi3 without removing the metal holder. If you're interested in knowing how, just say.