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Comment RSSHow To Fix T-Mobile G1 Phone Creak Or Creaking Noise
11.11.08 # 11:47 # Featured # 15 Comments
The “creaking” noise that many G1 owners are experiencing with their screen was at first quite alarming…as many thought they would have to go as far as returning the phone for a newer one. Then, people started to realize that the only people really having this creaking problem were owners of the black version of the phone.
Interesting, right?
Well, it turns out that because the finishes of the black G1 and the “bronze” (brown) G1 are slightly different, and because of that, the owners of the black version were experiencing the creak because of a tiny offending ridge of plastic underneath the screen above the end/power button. The reason that the owners of the brown version weren’t getting the creaking noise is because the paint was a little smoother than the black version, as the black version is more of matte finish – causing more friction, which caused the creak.
Thanks to “TechGuru” over at the official T-Mobile Forums for diagnosing this and letting us know how to get rid of it!
Instructions on how to get rid of the infamous G1 creak:
I was certain it was the screen rubbing on the phone body. I diagnosed the problem using a very thin piece of paper…like a credit card receipt (super thin thermo-paper). I slid the paper in between where the screen bezel meets the phone body (above the menu key) and moved it back and forth and up and around the screen hinge, and that’s were I found the tight spot of the screen touching! …there’s a tiny ridge on the far left side that you can see if you hold the screen open (see picture) ~ half way. I believe this raised was intended to keep the screen from slamming into the phone body itself and preserve the case?! I didn’t care, I wanted the darn squeak to stop!
To modify the little nub/ridge, I first used a small object to hold the screen open slightly to give clear access to it. Then, I used an Exacto knife to cut the smallest sliver from the nub and PRESTO! No more creak!
My wife has the brown G1 and it does NOT make any squeaks or creaks, but I think its because the paint finish is glossy smooth while the black one has more of a matte or flat finish to it.
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It also creaks on the bronze G1′s. FYI
I have not had that problem and I have a black one, still this is a good information, just in case that my phone start doing this annoying noise !
I found that a narrow jewelers type file does the trick quite well also!
Just fixed my “creak”. Tried using electrical tape at first. It made the phone nice and solid. Then I found the “nub” you were talking about. Its really hard to se at first. Took a razor blade to it and presto, no more “creak”. Thanks! I might put the electrical tape back on to keep the solid feel!
Thanks for the tip! I just fixed my creaky G1.
Mine still squeeks!!!
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Tried it and it worked. Only I was a little confused about what you were talking about with the nub. if your phone is flat on a table screen up, its on the right side towards the edge. Its runs from the top above the power button to the top part of the keyboard.
tape works just as good
I have a white one, I put a small piece of scotch tape just over the nub, it worked great. thanks for pointing this it was extremely annoying, especially when I only had it for two days.
I’ve sliced off the entire ridge on mine. Good as new. No more squeaks.
Thank you for the advice. The sound was starting to annoy me and any day soon I would go and replace the device. No need for that now.
Yes you can try small rubber feet you can buy at hardware store.or small electrical tape worked.
B U T
BUT I STILL AM BOTHERED BY THIS MINOR FLAW EVEN THOUGH I SILENCED IT. THIS ISNT A REMOTE CONTROL OR A CALCULATOR…THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HIGH-END MOBILE. I MEAN THESE ARE SELLING ON CRAIGSLIST WITH NO BOX-MANUAL/HAS SCRATCHES OR SCREEN CRACKED FOR OVER 300 STILL. WE SHOPPED AROUND DECIDED ON THE G1-PAID GOOD MONEY TO TREAT OURSELVES FOR ONCE WITH THE CELL THAT TURNS HEADS. I LOVE THE G1, ITS AWESOME….SCREEN CREAKING QWIKLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE THAT LOVING FEELING…ALREADY LUSTING AT THE OTHER “G1 COMPEDATOR PHONES”
MMMMMMMMMM SAMSUNG ANDROID
been looking for something like this all day
thanks.