Troubleshooting Kindle 3 blank screen of death

HWTest · 11-03-2021, 12:26 PM

I have a Kindle 3 (3G, Wi-fi) and I realized the screen is blank.
I thought the battery is discharged, but when I plugged it to charge, the yellow LED came up for a couple of seconds and that was it.
When I connect it to a PC, the PC doesn't see it.
I opened it, removed and measured the battery voltage 3.7V.
I fully charged the battery on an external charger.
Put it back in, the green LED came up for a couple of seconds and that was it.
I tried to hold the power button for 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 seconds and nothing.
Then I tried to hold the power button for random, mostly short times and sometimes the green LED came up for a couple of seconds and that was it.
I bought a new battery - that didn't help too.
I visually inspected the flat cables, they seem fine.
I used a little bit of contact cleaning spray on the power switch and nothing.
I even tried the Kubrick ISO but it doesn't detect the Kindle.
Are there any other things I can try or is it dead?

shalym · 11-05-2021, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HWTest

I have a Kindle 3 (3G, Wi-fi) and I realized the screen is blank.
I thought the battery is discharged, but when I plugged it to charge, the yellow LED came up for a couple of seconds and that was it.
When I connect it to a PC, the PC doesn't see it.
I opened it, removed and measured the battery voltage 3.7V.
I fully charged the battery on an external charger.
Put it back in, the green LED came up for a couple of seconds and that was it.
I tried to hold the power button for 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 seconds and nothing.
Then I tried to hold the power button for random, mostly short times and sometimes the green LED came up for a couple of seconds and that was it.
I bought a new battery - that didn't help too.
I visually inspected the flat cables, they seem fine.
I used a little bit of contact cleaning spray on the power switch and nothing.
I even tried the Kubrick ISO but it doesn't detect the Kindle.
Are there any other things I can try or is it dead?

Leave it plugged in to an electrical outlet (not a computer) for at least 24 hours. Don't look at the indicator light, just leave it plugged in.

Shari

HWTest · 11-05-2021, 09:49 AM

Thank you for your answer.

Done
Now I'll wait till tomorrow ...

HWTest · 11-06-2021, 10:46 AM

Nothing changed after the 24 hour "charging".

I did some more "brutal" troubleshooting.
I did warm up the Kindle mainboard (battery removed) with a hair dryer.
After that I got a short sign of life, the green LED blinked and the "tree" appeared on the display - and that was it.
I tried to warm it up again (a little bit more), hoping it will at least start to boot, but nothing.
My wild guess is, that some solder joint(s) of some of the bigger chips cracked.
My main suspect is the CPU.
Should I try to reflow it?
Any other suggestions?

katadelos · 11-09-2021, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HWTest

Should I try to reflow it?
Any other suggestions?

Sounds like it's pretty much junk at this point, there's no harm in trying. If you don't have access to a reflow oven, try baking the PCB in an oven preheated to 180C for 10 minutes. I'm not sure how heat-tolerant the plastic parts on the PCB will be though, so, YMMV.

HWTest · 11-17-2021, 04:44 PM

I was using a hot air rework station.
I did a reflow of all the chips, it didn't help.
Then I tried again to warm up different parts of the PCB and I found out, that warming up the e-ink controller area (SN92009 and KCRE7000 chips) makes the Kindle able to boot and work again for some time - from minutes to a couple of hours.
I saw a YT video where a guy "fixed" a Kindle with a hair dryer and the discussion under the video confirmed, that it works for some people but not permanently.
My conclusion so far - it's a pretty common problem but no permanent fix.
I would like a more permanent fix.
The only idea I have is - try to reflow again the whole area (I already did the chips).
Any ideas?

eddie.t.h · 11-17-2021, 05:59 PM

In K3, balls under the processor very often break. Most often, reflow helps, but in extreme cases reballing is needed.

HWTest · 11-17-2021, 06:11 PM

It doesn't seem to be the CPU - warming up the CPU doesn't help, warming the e-ink chips does - or am I wrong?

eddie.t.h · 11-19-2021, 08:36 AM

I repaired a dozen K3 and 99% of the faults were balls under the processor or a damaged (short circuit of the contacts) power switch. This does not mean, of course, that your case cannot be different.

HWTest · 11-19-2021, 10:13 AM

Ahh, thanks the info.
I assume, the symptoms were the same or at least very similar?

eddie.t.h · 11-19-2021, 10:42 AM

Yes, very similar. Measure if you happen to have a constantly shorted power switch. This causes similar symptoms.

HWTest · 11-19-2021, 05:17 PM

The power switch is OK.
I have measured continuity between the upper pair and the lower pair of contacts and it's open circuit in resting position and closed, when you press the switch.
It seems I'm out of luck.
I'm not able to do a proper reballing ...

eddie.t.h · 11-19-2021, 06:23 PM

The easiest way out is probably to buy a reader with a broken display and transplant the motherboard from it.

HWTest · 11-20-2021, 03:38 AM

Yes, that is my line of thoughts now.
Thanks for all the help.

11-03-2021, 12:26 PM	#1
HWTest Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2021 Device: Kindle 3	Kindle 3 blank screen of death I have a Kindle 3 (3G, Wi-fi) and I realized the screen is blank. I thought the battery is discharged, but when I plugged it to charge, the yellow LED came up for a couple of seconds and that was it. When I connect it to a PC, the PC doesn't see it. I opened it, removed and measured the battery voltage 3.7V. I fully charged the battery on an external charger. Put it back in, the green LED came up for a couple of seconds and that was it. I tried to hold the power button for 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 seconds and nothing. Then I tried to hold the power button for random, mostly short times and sometimes the green LED came up for a couple of seconds and that was it. I bought a new battery - that didn't help too. I visually inspected the flat cables, they seem fine. I used a little bit of contact cleaning spray on the power switch and nothing. I even tried the Kubrick ISO but it doesn't detect the Kindle. Are there any other things I can try or is it dead?

11-19-2021, 10:42 AM	#11
eddie.t.h Addict Posts: 201 Karma: 123456 Join Date: Jan 2018 Device: Too Much Kindle :-)	Yes, very similar. Measure if you happen to have a constantly shorted power switch. This causes similar symptoms. Last edited by eddie.t.h; 11-19-2021 at 11:22 AM.

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11-05-2021, 09:49 AM	#3
HWTest Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2021 Device: Kindle 3	Thank you for your answer. Done Now I'll wait till tomorrow ...

11-06-2021, 10:46 AM	#4
HWTest Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2021 Device: Kindle 3	Nothing changed after the 24 hour "charging". I did some more "brutal" troubleshooting. I did warm up the Kindle mainboard (battery removed) with a hair dryer. After that I got a short sign of life, the green LED blinked and the "tree" appeared on the display - and that was it. I tried to warm it up again (a little bit more), hoping it will at least start to boot, but nothing. My wild guess is, that some solder joint(s) of some of the bigger chips cracked. My main suspect is the CPU. Should I try to reflow it? Any other suggestions?

11-17-2021, 04:44 PM	#6
HWTest Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2021 Device: Kindle 3	I was using a hot air rework station. I did a reflow of all the chips, it didn't help. Then I tried again to warm up different parts of the PCB and I found out, that warming up the e-ink controller area (SN92009 and KCRE7000 chips) makes the Kindle able to boot and work again for some time - from minutes to a couple of hours. I saw a YT video where a guy "fixed" a Kindle with a hair dryer and the discussion under the video confirmed, that it works for some people but not permanently. My conclusion so far - it's a pretty common problem but no permanent fix. I would like a more permanent fix. The only idea I have is - try to reflow again the whole area (I already did the chips). Any ideas?

11-17-2021, 05:59 PM	#7
eddie.t.h Addict Posts: 201 Karma: 123456 Join Date: Jan 2018 Device: Too Much Kindle :-)	In K3, balls under the processor very often break. Most often, reflow helps, but in extreme cases reballing is needed.

11-17-2021, 06:11 PM	#8
HWTest Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2021 Device: Kindle 3	It doesn't seem to be the CPU - warming up the CPU doesn't help, warming the e-ink chips does - or am I wrong?

11-19-2021, 08:36 AM	#9
eddie.t.h Addict Posts: 201 Karma: 123456 Join Date: Jan 2018 Device: Too Much Kindle :-)	I repaired a dozen K3 and 99% of the faults were balls under the processor or a damaged (short circuit of the contacts) power switch. This does not mean, of course, that your case cannot be different.

11-19-2021, 10:13 AM	#10
HWTest Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2021 Device: Kindle 3	Ahh, thanks the info. I assume, the symptoms were the same or at least very similar?

11-19-2021, 05:17 PM	#12
HWTest Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2021 Device: Kindle 3	The power switch is OK. I have measured continuity between the upper pair and the lower pair of contacts and it's open circuit in resting position and closed, when you press the switch. It seems I'm out of luck. I'm not able to do a proper reballing ...

11-19-2021, 06:23 PM	#13
eddie.t.h Addict Posts: 201 Karma: 123456 Join Date: Jan 2018 Device: Too Much Kindle :-)	The easiest way out is probably to buy a reader with a broken display and transplant the motherboard from it.

11-20-2021, 03:38 AM	#14
HWTest Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2021 Device: Kindle 3	Yes, that is my line of thoughts now. Thanks for all the help.

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