BlackBerry Curve 8330 Not Charging through wall or car charger -usb/pc will charge though.

[ambersun]

Ok here we go again (posted about this before and I can't find my previous post -sorry around 11/2009). 

This is my second BB Curve 8330 in 4 months.  Bought my first one and within the month having charging issues w/ data cable and wall charger...they would both work sometime then maybe one or the other and I got fed up...got the wall charger exchanged and the same thing...then went back to store and got phone exchanged....still not quite right, but data cable will charge....ordered car charger some weeks ago and it wont charge the device and neither will the wall charger.  I didn't have time to go into the store so i called b/c  i need my wall and car charger to work or at least one since i'm not around a computer all the time.  i called verizon and they will replace the wall and car charger b/c my device is still charging by the usb cable....in about 2 days when i get them, we will see.

i hope i don't have to exchange my device again...really, but if i do, do i have to get the same phone...don't get me wrong  i love my curve but do i have to get the same model/version again?  i really don't want another one if i will keep having this problem....and yes, i did plug up the wall charger in a different place to make sure it wasn't my home electricity.....fingers crossed...please offer advice/thoughts...thanks.

[Geocritter]

This is almost sounding like a software issue more than a charger issue.  If the usb/pc charger is working, then it's letting voltage in.  Shouldn't make any difference what supplies the necessary voltage (for example, a lot of BB folks use motorola chargers as well as blackberry chargers, because they're pretty much the same thing), UNLESS it's just simply SEEING it differently, which would be controlled by software.

Just for the record, have you updated your phone's operating system?  It might be something that Verizon/RIM has already patched and released a fix for.  Most current is 4.5.0.175, and you can check it through the Blackberry Desktop Manager.

[ambersun]

Thanks for the response.  I was thinking about updating the software.  I will have to look at my desktop manager software when i get home and see, right now on my phone it's showing v4.5.0.138 through my options menu.  I'm not sure if that's the same that you're talking about.  I will definately go home and make sure I have the latest update.  *I'm surprised the technician I spoke w/ didn't mention anything about software.*  oh well, i know they know their stuff

[StreetDocRN]

Hey,

That is the OS you were looking at.  As the other post mentioned, get the latest download from http://vzw.smithmicro.com/blackberry/ and install according to the directions.  I will tell you this...backup, backup, backup.  It is very important to do this BEFORE you install an OS upgrade.  This will make a copy of your contacts, calendar, etc.  You can backup through Blackberry Desktop Manager.  By the way, the wireless upgrade option will probably show in the Options on your device.  I highly recommend not using this method to upgrade an OS.  It can be a disaster if your Wireless connection is broken during download and installation.

Doc

[ambersun]

Thanks so much - I will definately back it up tonight and install the updates through my pc and see what happens!

[jnestell]

I have seen a couple times now where one of the charging cables will actually damage the USB port on the phone itself and by bending some of the pins.  What is interesting about this is that it made a couple of the charging options i.e. data cable, wall charger, useless, the car charger worked just fine. 

I would look at the USB port just to make sure none of the pins are bent upwards.  If they are, then you have a bad connection with one of the charging devices and is damaging the phone.

[StreetDocRN]

Hi,

I agree with jnestell.  It could be part of the problem.  One workaround if a USB port is bad is to get a charging cradle or dock as they are called.  You can charge your device with that just as well as with the USB port. 

Doc

[ambersun]

I've thought about a charging cradle, I'll see - thanks!

[Geocritter]

I thought the docking cradles for the 8330 still utilized the usb side port?  I've seen one that is basically just a stand with a cable coming out of it that you plug into the usb port on your phone, and then another that the phone kind of slips into sideways, which still plugs in that same port.   So I don't see what would be gained, really, unless I'm missing something.  Now, some of the docks DO have a battery charger, where you can put a spare (or take out your battery in use) and charge it that way, as well as the usb thing.

I think it's a good idea to check the port, but I don't really see how pins could get all bent up and work for one charger and not another, since there's generally only 1 +dc, and 1 -dc pin.  If either of those gets buggered up, then it doesn't seem that ANY charger would work.  However, maybe there's something I don't know about (entirely possible). 

Since he's changed units, charging cables, etc in different combinations...I dunno, it just seems unlikely to me that a "bad" cable would immediately damage a port, without something being very obviously visible.  Again, I admit that I could be wrong...I'm just saying that it doesn't seem reasonable to me.

My money is still on software.  He's got .138; so there is an update.  AND indeed, backup backup BACKUP.

[StreetDocRN]

Geocritter, I'm with you on the OS thing.  I'll bet that will clear things up.

Doc

[Geocritter]

I just did some looking around...evidently, this is a problem that's been discussed at blackberry.com and other forums...along our same lines of thinking.

One thread about a bent pin was

http://supportforums.blackberry.com/t5/BlackBerry-Pearl-BlackBerry-8100/Lost-my-USB-connection-on-an...

And in another thread, one poster seemed to have figured out that there may well be TWO +dc inputs, one for one type of charger and one for another.

If that's correct, then it certainly MIGHT be the case that he's got a bent pin.  They said you can straighten it with a small pin or needle.

And if so, then I humbly stand corrected and e-du-macated!  🙂   I never consider learning from being wrong to be a bad thing...I just do the best I can to help and think things out.

OH, by all means, if you find and fix a bent pin and everything is working just hunky dory, please let us know.  AND, yes, you still should update!  It cleaned up a lot of bugs!

[jnestell]

I learned the hardway on this issue.  I had a BB user with the same issue on not being to detect the BB from their desktop so I tried my Curve and it worked fine.  Later that day, I tried to charge my phone and low and behold, I now had charging issues and found the bent pins.  I did try to bend the pins with a push pin but I could not bend them enough in my case to to be in their orginial position. 

Lesson learned here is if it appears the USB port is damaged, do not try the suspect cable on another phone as that may now become damaged  

Also I always suggest applying any updates once they have been out for at least a week ( I don't like to be the guinea pig on any new software).

[ambersun]

Copper, this was my impression too of the charging cradle....that i still had to use my charger and the cradle was just so that it could sit upright....but I was gonna look into it to see if there was another kind availalble since they mentioned it...i've had one with an older phone...much older back in the 90's where the cradle had a charging port built into it and you just plug the cradle into the wall outlet.....i will keep everyone posted on what happens, thanks!

[ambersun]

This actually sounds logical....will definately check it out-thanks!

[ambersun]

LOL, well, I didn't get a chance to update the software last night, however, before I left work yesterday, although reluctant, I noticed one  of the pins wasn't in line with the others in the charging port on my device.  So, I took a stick pin and gently pushed down on the pin to straighten it out.....and that did it! 

I immediately plugged it into the wall charger and viola- it worked!  Got in my car after work to use the car charger-everything A OK!  My daughter did use my phone to tether on the pc last night and everything went well.  I plugged it up again this morning and everything worked fine.  I am going to take a look at the usb cable connection pins and see how they look - that cable may be the culprit.  I'll back up my data and update the software tonight too and let you know how that goes.....so for now....looks like straightening out the pin (if needed) is what did the trick! 

Thanks for all of the advice...I'll report back tomorrow and close this up, I just want to watch and see if everything keeps holding if you know what I mean!

Also, Verizon is sending me a replacement wall charger and I can get a replacement car charger at the store b/c they didn't have them in stock where he was shipping them from.  I think I will keep the wall charger they send me after comparing it to the one I have now b/c the connection pins look warn out and I only had it since November 2009-idk...I don't think I need a new car charger.....anyways wish me luck! 

[StreetDocRN]

Hi,

I just love happy endings.  Glad you got it working. 

Doc

[Geocritter]

OUTSTANDING!  Glad you got 'er fixed!! 

I guess I'll chalk one up to the 'ol learning "Curve", eh?  [I know, I know...BOOOOO.  It's okay.  My puns usually suck]

Seriously, though, I'd have never guessed that it was such an issue. I wonder what in blue tarnation would get the pins bent up inside the thing like that? Just out of curiosity, check your old chargers and see if you see anything fishy, like maybe a stuck piece of debris, worn out piece of metal, something.  It would be great to be able to know what to watch for in our "repertoire" of things that can go wrong.

-dan

[jnestell]

The issue we ran into was that the cable of issue was routinely put into a bag that also contained pens, pencils, screwdrivers, papercips, etc and my belief is that one of these objects got jammed into the port and damaged starting the chain reaction.