After screen replacement, proximity sensor is not functioning.

After screen replacement, proximity sensor is not functioning.

Okay guys and gals, I've got a tough one for y'all. I've tried every possible solution I can think of. Usually i can rely on my prior knowledge or google to provide me with an answer but I'm stuck. I'm the lead device repair technician at my local batteries plus bulbs. I say that to address that I am experienced in fixing all models of iPhones and have not had this issue with any iPhone 7 or 7 Plus. So a customer brought her iPhone 7 plus in today to be repaired, for the second time in the past month... Everything is tested in front of the customer before the repair and after. First repair was a complete success. So when she brought it back in, I was like, yes this will be so easy. No adhesive holding the frame down, then having to remove all that adhesive, easy peasy right? WRONG. After installing the screen, proximity is not working. Okay little annoyed at this point, instinctively I assume the flex cable is seated improperly. Re-seat the cable and still unresponsive. As the frustration builds, I think maybe there's something wrong with the alignment of the proximity sensor and the small hole on the back of the bezel. So I transfer only the proximity/camera/ambient light sensor cable to the screen, ensure that each cable is properly seated and the issue is still present. Went back and re-seated everything and at that point I just wanted to run and hide. I did notice that the proximity sensor was more of a tanish tent, instead of a pinkish/purple tent. I've seen the color change a couple times. One of those time being when I was a noobie and held the proximity over the heat gun just a little bit too long. I've never needed to use the heat gun with the iPhone 7 series proximity cable. So yes the obvious thing to do would be to replace the proximity cable, but my warehouse hasn't started stocking them yet and the one on here is 39.95... Okay lets hear some ideas. Replacing the proximity will be the easy fix, but small things like this bug the mess out of me. Thank you all!

Asked by: Guest | Views: 282

Total answers/comments: 6

Comments display order:

Guest [Entry]

"I just solved this issue! The problem is not that the screen is ""somehow"" rendering the proximity sensor useless, the problem is that, if you look closely enough, you will see that the transparent holes on the screen that the proximity sensor use are not ""centered"" in the socket. Therefore, the proximity sensor is not working.

With a sharp point, remove the holes (not all the way to the edge of the socket) and paint with a black permanent marker. The proximity sensor works again!

Surely, this relates to poor manufacturing!"

Guest [Entry]

"Well you've got the right idea. Sounds like a new cable. However, have you tried a different display? Maybe that's the issue. Also yeah, $40 sucks, but it's a small price against someone who demands you buy them a whole new phone. But if you're the lead at a batteries plus, sounds like it won't be coming out of your pocket. Your boss should be understanding. No one is perfect

Hold on I just wanna see

iPhone 7 Front Camera and Sensor Cable"

Guest [Entry]

in my experience almost always if the prox sensor you took off the old screen isn't damaged, it's the new screen that's causing the issue, try one or two other screens and you'll find one that works. I have no idea what about the screen causes that issue, but I've even taken the screen that the prox wouldn't work with and put it on another phone and it worked just fine.

Guest [Entry]

"It's the aftermarket screens that are causing this issue!

Scratch off the eyelets gently and should do the magic. White screens will need white out."

Guest [Entry]

Having the same issue. It seems like it is a common problem. You'd think by replacing thr FFC that would solve the it.. I replaced the front facing camera on two different i7+ and still the proximity sensor does not work! Very frustrating!

Guest [Entry]

"Hello,

I had the same issues after replacing a screen I could not figure out what was the problem but there is a detail I change to make it work again, I have added back the steel shield the one that come with 3 screws that Im not use to put back especially with iPhone they make those screw so tiny.

So I dont know maybe it is a bug or Im lucky"