Trouble charging Droid Charge

pru1979
Newbie

I can't charge my Charge!

I've had this phone for about a year, and for the past few weeks, when I plug it into the charger, the phone doesn't always "recognize" that it's connected to the charger. Same with the USB to computer, as well as with other chargers. When I plug it in to charge, the phone constantly beeps, indicating that it's connecting and disconnecting every few seconds with the charging device. So, it's not getting a consistent charge and I can't get it up to 100% and the beeping is

Is it the Micro USB port on the droid itself? What can be done? I do not think that I caused this damage...

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JerryF
Specialist - Level 1

Chances are it's the battery itself.  Can you try another battery just to see if the battery is shorting out?  If it is swelling up it's a goner.

If you don't have one you could go to a Verizon store and ask to use the one in their demo Charge phone.

I hope it's your battery because that is the easiest and quickest fix!!!

JerryF

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vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Hello pru1979,

The low battery beep is certainly an unfavorable sound. I can just about imagine how frustrating it can be to not be able to hear the beep when plugged into the charger. It will be my pleasure to assist you with your Droid Charge connecting properly to the charger. May I ask are you using the original charger and battery that came with the device? Also, is there any physical or liquid damage on the phone? I suggest removing the battery and plugging the device into the charger without the battery installed. If you get an electrical feedback from the device’s screen then the charging port is functional and the issue may be the battery. If you do not get any feedback then the issue could be the charging port. In either case, I’m sure that we have a resolution for you once your provide the results of this testing. I’m looking forward to your next reply.

Thank you…

ArnettH_VZW
VZWSupport
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

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pru1979
Newbie

Hello Jim,

Thanks for your reply.. I did what you said and I did not get any

electrical feedback when plugged in, so I'm guessing it's the port. I am

using the original charger for the phone as well as the original battery.

Is there any fox for this other than a new phone?

On Sun, Mar 3, 2013 at 1:00 PM, Verizon Wireless Customer Support <

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mgreen360
Newbie

I am also having the exact same issue as pru1979. Except my battery will not charge at all. I would say prior to my battery/port finally giving out, I had this issue for about 3 months or longer. I am currently seeking third party solutions, as I believe I am outside of any warranty period.

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JerryF
Specialist - Level 1

mgreen360,

Did you try a different battery?

JerryF

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mgreen360
Newbie

Hey JerryF,

I have not tried out a new battery yet as I did not have anything on hand that matched the current battery. However, I have purchased a couple of 3rd party batteries and an external charger, those should be coming in tomorrow night, I believe this should do the trick.

I will report back after these batteries and charger come in

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JerryF
Specialist - Level 1

One more thought.  Put one of the new batteries on the wall charger for 3-4 hours BEFORE you use it for the first time just to make sure it's at FULL charge.  I always do this.

If you use one battery immediately without pre-charging it try this way just to ensure that the phone has enough power.  By power I mean AMPS and not Voltage.  Install the battery, plug the phone into the charger, and then boot the phone while keeping the charger plugged into the phone.  After the phone is running you can see if the battery is being charged.

Best of luck,

JerryF

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pru1979
Newbie

JerryF,

Glad that you found a solution for mgreen (seriously, good for her! lucky

lol).. but my port is like still being nonfunctional. Is there any way I

can get it fixed without having to buy a whole new phone? I don't know what

the point of the Verizon Asurion insurance is if I can't get one thing

fixed on my phone without having to pay...

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mgreen360
Newbie

Pru1979,

Besides trying to modify the usb port and/or the cord, which I have had some limited success with at home, a local cell phone repair shop might also be able to help you out with the micro usb port.

As I am only going to need the phone for a few more months, I went with a complete workaround from the usb port, and will be trying out the product below tomorrow.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00579Z4OG/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- Mike

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JerryF
Specialist - Level 1

I don't know anything about phone repair but here is one more idea.

With a bright flashlight and a magnifying glass look into the socket on the phone's charging port.  Do the same for the plug at both ends of the charging cable.  Try to clean them out.  Blow air into them.

Also, is this the EXACT SAME charging cable that worked before?  If not it may be the cable.  Not all cables work with the Chage phne.

Plug it in again and while watching the to see if it shows that it's charging wiggle the cable first at one end and then at the other end right up close to the plug.  I have had cables fail (break) at that connection point to the plug.

Clean out the chargers port.

JerryF

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pru1979
Newbie

Thank you both Mike and JerryF. Mike, I might go your route and while I'm

waiting for that item to ship try Jerry's thing. Thanks guys!

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mgreen360
Newbie

Took the advice about the batteries and charging, thank JerryF. I can also report back that the solution noted above is working. I recommend the external charger for the batteries as a last resort, and a temporary solution for those phones that no longer have a functioning micro usb port. There are a couple of annoyances that come with this setup.

The battery, upon installation, says that it is not an approved battery, but quickly this message goes away and does not return. Secondly, every time you want to charge up the battery (keep the phone functioning), you have to pop in the spare charged battery. This means you are constantly shuffling between batteries and the charging station.

This solution seems to work so far, and will make my decision to buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 that much easier.

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pru1979
Newbie

Mgreen, Thanks for the update and for sharing your experience with the

external battery charger. Though it's a last resort, it will have to be my

primary resort because I don't have an upgrade for like a year! Ugh. Thanks

for all the info - I wish I didn't have to shuffle batteries, but good to

know it works.

Good luck w/ your Galaxy - I'm jealous!

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junebugz
Newbie

Found the fix! Cleaned the port out with a toothbrush. Works fine now.

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