How to fix a blown or distorted earpiece in an iPhone 4S

If you've got an iPhone 4S and you're having issues hearing callers through the earpiece or there is no sound at all, you could have a blown earpiece. If you didn't opt for AppleCare+ and your 1-year warranty is up, a DIY repair isn't too tough and will cost you quite a bit less than a replacement iPhone.
Follow along after the break and we'll walk you through from start to finish.
Disclaimer: As with any repair, neither iMore nor The Pod Drop can be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It?s also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don?t feel comfortable opening your device, don?t. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.
Not comfortable with DIY repair? Leave it to the pros
If you aren't comfortable performing a DIY repair on your own, don't. It is possible to cause more damage or run into issues you aren't ready for. In this case, it's probably better to either pay the money for a replacement device from Apple or use a local or mail-in service that will handle the repair and any issues that may arise for you.
The Pod Drop has many locations in the midwest and is a rapidly growing company. You can check for a Pod Drop location near you, mail it in, or use another third party repair service. For more information on mail-in repairs or possible Pod Drop locations near you, you can visit their website.
If you are comfortable with repairing your own device, put your ninja pants on and keep reading!
What you'll need to DIY replace a blown earpiece
PXLFIX recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like eTech Parts. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs. You will find links to the specific parts you'll need for this repair in the list below.
- iPhone 4S (any variant)
- Replacement earpiece - Link to part
- #00 Phillips screwdriver - Link to part
- Security screwdriver - Link to part
- Spudger tool - Link to part
- SIM removal tool or paperclip
Video walkthrough
While the video walkthrough adds even more detail, it is meant to be used in correlation with the written steps below. It will show a complete breakdown of the device but smaller steps for each individual repair will be listed with high quality images in the actual guide below.
Power off your iPhone 4S

Before performing any repair you should always power off your device before opening it up.
Remove the back plate
- Using your security screwdriver, remove the 2 screws on either side of the dock connector port.



Remove the battery and grounding clip
- Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the battery in place.





Remove the top logic board shields
- Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws that hold the top silver shield in place and the one screw that holds the small black shield in place.



Unclip the top logic board cables & remove the rear-facing camera

Using your spudger or pry tool carefully disconnect all the cables at the top of the logic board. There are seven cables total. One of the cables lies underneath the bottom most cable so you'll need to disconnect the cable over it before folding it back and revealing the shorter cable underneath.

Once you unclip the seven cables, you can lift the rear-facing camera directly out of the iPhone. It was only connected by one cable.
Disconnect the dock connector
- Using your #00 Phillips screwdriver remove the shield that is covering the dock connector cable towards the middle left of the iPhone. Remember which screw came from where as they are different sizes. Gently lift the shield out of the iPhone and set it aside.


Pry up the Wi-Fi antenna
- Using your spudger toolcarefully pry up the round connection for the cellular antenna. It should come up easily so pry up gently.

Remove the SIM card and tray

Using a SIM removal tool or a bent paper clip, eject the SIM tray and set it, and the SIM card aside.
Remove the logic board

- Remove the three #00 Phillips screws at the top, middle, and bottom left of the logic board with your #00 Phillips screwdriver. The top screw has a piece of tape over it you'll need to peel back. After removing it you'll also notice a gold grounding clip underneath it. Make sure you don't lose it as you'll need it for reassembly.

Remove the bad earpiece assembly
- Carefully use your pry tool to pull up the earpiece assembly from the midframe. It is held in with a foam type of adhesive.


Install the new earpiece assembly

- The new earpiece assembly should come with adhesive and foam already installed. Just peel the backing off of the adhesive.
- Place the earpiece assembly carefully into the iPhone making sure you're placing it the correct way so the prongs are pointing in the right direction.
- Gently push down on the earpiece to make sure that the adhesive has attached on the underside.
Reassemble your iPhone 4S
To reassemble your iPhone 4S, you can either follow all these directions in exact reverse order or view our reassembly video guide above which will walk you through how to reassemble it from screen to turning it back on and testing it. For an earpiece replacement you'll need to watch the video from about 5:30 to the end.
And ...done!
Once you've finished reassembling your iPhone 4S you can go ahead and push the power button to turn it on. If all went well your iPhone should boot up and show the Apple logo. Unlock your iPhone and place a test call to make sure the earpiece is now functioning correctly.
Want to know how to perform another type of iPhone repair or modification? Send me suggestions and questions to ally@imore.com. If you had issues performing this repair, our DIY and mod forums are a great place to start. If you still can't find an answer, you can contact me at the e-mail address above.
To inquire about mail-in repairs through The Pod Drop, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or e-mail us directly!
Additional resources:
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/VEr3rG97jOM/story01.htm

