Motorola G30 screen replacement

ID: 170809

Description: Guide to replace a broken screen on Moto G30...

Steps:

  1. Remove the SIM card tray with a pin or a small pointy object
    2. Step image
  2. Unclip the plastic back cover using any tool you like (mediators, sprudgers, Jimmy...)
  3. Be careful not to lift the cover too far from the phone, it has to be lifted cautiously because a cable is attached to it
    4. Step image
  4. Slighly move the back cover in order to unscrew the plastic piece behind it
  5. Remove the 9 small Philips-head screws inside
  6. You will also have to remove small black adhesive pieces to be able to remove the part completely
    7. Step image Step image
  7. Once the black plastic cover piece is removed, unplug the cable holding the back panel
  8. Once this flex cable unplugged, lift the back panel completely
    9. Step image
  9. Unplug both battery and display connectors
  10. Battery on the right
  11. Display in the middle
  12. You can use the opening tool as lever.
    13. Step image
  13. Very carefully unglue the battery
  14. Adhesive is quite strong here, and the battery is not very rigid, so this is a complicated operation. It would be dangerous to head the battery cell, be patient and careful.
    15. Step image
  15. Unscrew the cover at the bottom of the phone
  16. 7 small Philips head screws to remove
  17. A little black adhesive to peel off around the edges
  18. Unplug the connector
    19. Step image
  19. Detach the display flex cable from the back of the chassis
    20. Step image
  20. Steps 9 and 10 are only useful if you order the display without its frame. Move on to step 11 if you intend to order the display with its frame
  21. Heat up to help unglue the screen
  22. Battery has to be removed first, heating batteries is dangerous
  23. Unglue the display from the chassis
  24. I could not properly unglue with a cutter blade on the side. My technique is simpler and more brutal: I pushed the display away from the connector hole, with a rigid tool.
    25. Step image Step image Step image
  25. Remove the glass shards still glued around the frame
  26. Put some gloves on, because glass shards are dangerous!
    27. Step image
  27. Replug the battery pack
  28. Test the battery voltage on the test point to the left of the connector (the ground is everywhere on the metal chassis): it must be between 3.6 and 4.2 V
  29. You can also test the motherboard with a Linux-based computer
  30. Unglue the screen-USB-motherboard flex cable from your broken screen, and replug the bottom USB board with the top motherboard
  31. Turn on phone with Power On + Up buttons
  32. Plug it to the computer with an USB-C cable
  33. Type "lsusb" in a shell
  34. If you can read something like "22b8:XXXX Motorola PCS moto g(30)", congratulations: your motherboard still lives
    35. Step image Step image
  35. Once your phone has been successfully torn down and tested, it is time to order the replacement screen
  36. The part will cost you around 15-20€. You can find it here for instance
  37. Two choices: ordering the display pre-assembled on a new frame, or ordering it without
  38. I recommend pre-assembled display, it will be more sturdy and less subject to breaking
  39. While waiting for your order, don’t forget to store your parts and small screw properly
    40. Step image Step image
  40. If you ordered the display pre-assembled on a frame, you will have to move all the components from the old chassis to the new one
    41. Step image
  41. You will find the small button panel on the chassis side, unglue it carefully
  42. Start by ungluing the black tape covering it
  43. Unplug the button connector from the main PCB
  44. Unglue the button flex board carefully
  45. Glue it on the new chassis
    46. Step image Step image Step image
  46. Unscrew both PCB
  47. The top one is held by 2 screws
  48. The bottom one is help by one screw
    49. Step image Step image
  49. Slide the top PCB out of the chassis
  50. Under it, there is a small undefined module, and an opaque sticker
  51. Get the module out of its casing
  52. Unglue the sticker under it
  53. Replace both module and sticker on the other side
    54. Step image Step image Step image
  54. Remove the bottom PCB
  55. The haptic module is under it, unglue it carefully
  56. Start by the connector side
  57. Once the connector side is lifted, it is easier to get to the rest of the module and unglue it
    58. Step image Step image
  58. Try to salvage the stickers and glue them back to the new frame
  59. You can also use new stickers
  60. The pink sticker is a very thin thermal pad, you can replace it by thermal paste
  61. The orange sticker is a tape copper foil
  62. I don’t know how to replace the metallic grey thing, it is probably use for a better RF shielding
    63. Step image
  63. Insert the top PCB into the new frame
  64. Don’t forget to move the button PCB small connector out of the way, it could get stuck under the board
    65. Step image Step image
  65. Plug the elements back
  66. Top and bottom screen module connectors
  67. Right-side antenna cable
  68. Small button PCB connector
  69. Screw the boards back in place
    70. Step image
  70. Replug the back cover connector
  71. A step you don’t see on the pictures because I forgot
  72. Rescrew the two PCB covers
    73. Step image Step image
  73. Clip the cover back in place
  74. Insert the SIM card holder
    75. Step image
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