How Do I Fix a BlackBerry Stuck on Vibrate?

The BlackBerry vibrate motor is designed to operate whenever you get a call or message, as long as you have the device set to vibrate. If the vibrate motor is constantly operating, it's a sure sign that your device has some internal damage. Usually, this is cause by water damage and, while there is no guaranteed fix, if you clean the damage it can sometimes get the BlackBerry back into working order.

Things You'll Need

• T6 screwdriver
• T4 screwdriver
• Pry tool
• Small, stiff brush
• Isopropyl alcohol

Instructions

1. Take your BlackBerry's battery out, wait a few seconds, then place it back in and wait for the device to power up again. If the vibration stops, the issue could have just been a software glitch. If the vibration starts up again as soon as you put the battery back in, the device will need to be repaired.

2. Remove the battery cover, battery, microSD card and SIM card from the BlackBerry before you attempt any kind of repair.

3. Unscrew the T6 or T4 screws on the back of the device. On some BlackBerry models, such as the Pearl 8100 or the Bold 9700, there will also be screws on the face of the device. To get to the screws, you may need to pry off a plastic cover at the top or base of the BlackBerry. Once the screws are out, pry off the device's faceplate and remove the plastic keyboard.

4. Pry up the BlackBerry's control board and remove it from the device.

5. Inspect the entire control board for signs of water damage, which will appear as a brown or green growth on any metal parts of the control board. Take special care to inspect near the vibration motor, which is a small, cylindrical device attached to one side of the control board. One end of the vibration motor will have only half of a cylinder and that half will rotate slightly if you touch it.

6. Dip your brush in isopropyl alcohol and scrub away any corrosion or rust that you have found on the control board. Also scrub the area around the vibration motor, regardless of whether you found any damage or not.

7. Allow the device to sit and dry for about a minute after cleaning, then reassemble the BlackBerry to see if you fixed the problem.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't want to open your device, your only other option is to take it in for repair or to contact your wireless provider to procure a replacement. Be warned that a technician will inspect your device for water damage and will charge you for replacing the device if she found any.

• Opening a BlackBerry to perform a repair will void any warranty you have on the device. If you know that your BlackBerry has water damage, the warranty is already void, so opening the device won't effect your warranty status. However, there is always a danger of damaging your device when you open it, which may cause the BlackBerry to no longer function at all.