Dropping your Honor V30 Pro can lead to serious hardware damage, particularly to the motherboard, even when the screen remains intact. If your Honor V30 Pro not booting after a drop, this guide will walk you through the repair process, step-by-step. We’ll focus on identifying motherboard issues, replacing damaged components, and getting your phone back in working condition. Whether you’re a repair professional or a DIY enthusiast, this guide will help you solve this frustrating issue.
Device Details
Model: Honor V30 Pro
Announced: 2019, November
Defect Phenomenon
After being dropped, the Honor V30 Pro cannot be booted. A diagnostic at the official service center reveals that the screen is intact, but the motherboard is damaged.
Troubleshooting
1: Initial Inspection
Begin by carefully inspecting the motherboard. You notice that the housing cover has a visible gap, suggesting that the phone was disassembled before. Aside from that, there are no visible cracks, deformation, or other traces of drop damage.
2: Test for Charging
Connect the phone to a charging cable. There is no charging current at all, indicating an internal hardware issue.
3: Disassemble the Phone
Since the phone has been previously disassembled, we can open it again without needing to apply heat.
- Protect the Cameras: Place stickers over the cameras to prevent damage.
- Remove Screws: Carefully unscrew and remove the motherboard.
4: Motherboard Check
Upon inspection, the motherboard appears physically intact with no signs of deformation, water damage, or previous repair attempts. However, the Honor V30 Pro uses a double-layered motherboard, making it more prone to internal issues from drop damage.
5: Connect to DC Power Supply
Solder a wire onto the motherboard to easily connect it to a DC power supply. Use tweezers to trigger the boot process. The boot current is only a few milliamperes, indicating that the CPU is not functioning properly.
6: CPU and Power Supply Check
Since the CPU is not responding, the next step is to inspect the CPU and related components for any issues.
Repair Process
1: Remove the CPU Shielding
Remove the shielding cover and clean off the thermal paste from the CPU. Visually inspect the CPU, but in this case, the cosmetic appearance seems fine.
2: Separate the Motherboard Layers
Use heat to separate the double-layered motherboard and expose the components related to the CPU’s power supply.
3: Inspect Components Around the PMIC
Use tweezers to gently push the components around the Power Management IC (PMIC). You’ll find that one of the inductors is loose and can easily be dislodged.
4: Replace the Damaged Inductor
Apply tin paste to the PCB pads and solder a replacement inductor in place of the damaged one. Even though the new inductor looks different, it has the same specifications as the original and will function properly.
5: Test the Motherboard
Connect the motherboard to the DC power supply again and check the boot current. This time, the current appears normal, meaning the CPU is functioning as expected.
6: Resolder the Layers
- Solder the Middle Layer: Use a solder wick and soldering station to reapply the solder to the middle layer.
- Reball the Upper Layer: Reball the pads on the upper motherboard layer to ensure proper connections.
- Recombine the Layers: Use a hot air gun to reassemble the two layers of the motherboard.
Assemble and Test
Reassemble the phone, ensuring all components are securely connected. Boot the phone and test its functionality. This time, the Honor V30 Pro boots normally, and the charging function is working properly. The issue was successfully resolved by replacing the damaged inductor.
Conclusion
By carefully inspecting the motherboard and replacing the damaged inductor, you’ve successfully fixed the Honor V30 Pro not booting after drop issue. This guide demonstrates the importance of detailed inspection, especially with double-layered motherboards that can easily sustain damage from impact. Remember to always check the CPU and PMIC components after any significant drop. The phone is now fully operational, including its charging functionality.
