LG ENV3 shutdown problem fix?

[onipar]

I just called customer service at LG concerning the problem many people seem to be having with the LG ENV3, namely the phone shutting down by itself.

I really want to get this phone, but the issue worried me, so I called to do some research. The man was very helpful and said the issue is actually a "power cycling" issue that occurs when the user puts in a 16GB card (or other large micro SD card) and loads it up with downloaded apps and files from the web.

He said it's partly a problem with the phone trying to access the data, and partly that the things downloaded from the web may contain spyware/viruses/etc.

So in order to try and access the data the phone starts to shut off on its own.

My question to those of you who have the phone and experienced this problem is simple: Does this explanation sound plausible?

In other words, if you experienced this, did you in fact have a lot of downloaded music/games/apps installed on a large capacity micro SD card in the phone?

If so, this man's information is correct. If not, his explanation may have simply been rhetoric the company is spewing.

Either way, I'd like to know before I go out and buy the phone. So please, chime in.

Thanks!!

[PG]

I just got the LG enV 3 (2/4/10) & it shut down several times, always when unlocked & it beeped once as it shut down.

I have the Verizon leather case & found if I squeezed the unit as I put in my pocket, it powered down.

THE FIX was to cut out the clear plastic over the END/pwr button.

[mcmallett]

The SD card has nothing to do with the shut down problem.  I'm on my 3rd phone with a different model replacement on the way.  I've have not had an SD card in any of them.  Also the software upgrades do not solve the problem.  In fact, after the upgrade on my latest phone this past Friday, the problem was much worse.  The rep at the store assured me that this upgrade addressed the problem-----NOT!   As far as the battery, I don't know.  I did not notice anything loose on my phones and the problems started at different times with each phone.   The 1st and 3rd phone after a few weeks, the 2nd phone after a few days.   I believe the model to be a lemon that Verizon or LG refuses to acknowledge.  Its really a shame because I really liked the phone.

[BroMoney]

The shut down problem has nothing to do with the SD card.  I'm on my 2nd ENV3 and I can replicate the shutdown problem all day long my lightly tapping the bottom of the battery where the latch is - with or without and SD card inserted!!  There is definately some issue with the battery or contacts, as even slight taps can cause it shutoff.

[RSAUER]

I have had my enV3 sine June and I have not had the problems discussed. Mine have been quite minor. Also, I did just do an at-home update to firmware v06 to see if my GPS software accuracy gets better.

[Rocko73]

Not all shut down problems are from the battery. Many are software/hardware related. If your phone shuts down during the night or when it's not being touched/used, it's prob. not the battery.

[greg54js]

My Env3 does not even have a memory card in and it still shuts down. I believe it is a whole long problem that LG needs to fix now. I am hopefully going to recieve a new phone but i can't go to a store because Ibought on line.

[RGrochow]

ENv3 shut down: so i keep mine in back pocket and even though keyboard on double (2 click) lock, the phone manages to shut down or dial a number etc; which means that the OK button is getting hit twice and then the "end" or "send" or some other button is being hit; what a pain in the "**bleep**" (no pun intended); verizon thought a silicone case would help which i tried and as i was driving, it dialed my friend-so i guess that is not a fix either; what they need to do is have a lock that requires a specific code to reactiviate the key pad, i.e. a few numbers in a specific sequence rather than the OK button; at least the odds of sitting on those specific keys in a specific order should greatly reduce the problem.

[onipar]

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RGrochow wrote:

ENv3 shut down: so i keep mine in back pocket and even though keyboard on double (2 click) lock, the phone manages to shut down or dial a number etc; which means that the OK button is getting hit twice and then the "end" or "send" or some other button is being hit; what a pain in the "**bleep**" (no pun intended); verizon thought a silicone case would help which i tried and as i was driving, it dialed my friend-so i guess that is not a fix either; what they need to do is have a lock that requires a specific code to reactiviate the key pad, i.e. a few numbers in a specific sequence rather than the OK button; at least the odds of sitting on those specific keys in a specific order should greatly reduce the problem.

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One user actually found that when certain buttons are pressed all at the same time, it inadvertently unlocks the phone.  I don't remember what button combinations they were anymore, but I did  test this and find it to be true back when I read his post.  It must be a bug of some kind that I imagine can't be fixed without an upgrade.

To try and combat this problem, maybe you could keep the phone in a different pocket?  Personally I'd be afraid that keeping it in my back pocket and sitting on the phone all the time would break it.  I like to keep mine in my jacket pocket during the winter, and a loose front pocket during the summer, unless I have a bag with me, in which case I leave it in the bag. 

Just a thought.

[bikeridertim]

Sounds Like B.S. to me! I have EVERY UPDATE on 3 phones WITHOUT CARDS  even in them and they ALL still shut off!!!!!!!!!

And to be honest I dont think Verizon cares!!!!!!!!! 

[bugfixer]

Hi folks.  I believe I've figured out at least one reason that this happens.  Just so you know you can trust me:  I'm an electrical engineer who has spent 25 years in test engineering, focused on electro-mechanical device function, quality and reliability.  I've worked in aerospace, commercial and medical device industries.  I've seen alot of different kinds of problems like this.  So when my wife and I bought twin env3's last fall, and she started to have shut down problems, I took a look.  Including researching this problem online.  Which led me to this site.

What I found was pretty simple.  I had 2 phones to look at.  One with the problem, one w/o it.   I started by looking at the attachment of the battery.  I found that her battery was not held as tight to the contacts as mine was.   Both phones had clean contacts.  You can see if this is your problem by looking at your phone from the right side where the battery rolls over the edge.  Hold the phone closed as if you were going to make a call.  then flip the top toward you and then turn it to the left.  The parting line between the battery and phone s/b tight to the case. You should have an even gap from the left to right in that view, between the phone and battery.  When you push down on the battery by the release latch, it should not move much.  Mine did not move much, my wife's did.  There is a noticable difference.

So this seems to be a simple mechanical fit problem between the battery, its latch, and the phone.  That reduces the force between the battery and phone contacts, which limits the current and voltage the battery can apply and probably causes the phone to shut off.  Its clearly a mechanical design defect, and all affected phones s/b replaced free of charge.  I can't tell if the fit problem is on the phone or battery side.  That would take precision measurement equipment that I don't have access to.  So it is possible that a new battery may fix this.  Regardless, it is up to the phone manufacturer to determine the root cause and provide a fix.  And then up to Verizon to provide that fixed hardware free of charge to anyone with this issue, since the phone does not perform as any customer would reasonably expect.

I'm going to Verizon this week to show them what I found.  I'm also going to try and contact LG and share this, to see what they might be willing to do.  Regardless, I'll try and monitor this site and post my findings when I get them.  In the mean time, **bleep** like hell and don't take no for an answer.  This kind of problem was predictable, preventable, and needs to be completely owned and resolved by the manufacturer and service provider.

[noyzsource]

I too am an electrical engineer and came to the exact same conclusion today. I used sticky notes temporarily to wedge the battery tighter so it can't push the contacts down as much. I think the contacts lose connection inside the phone when pressed too much.

I believe there is more than one reason for the shutdown problems but this one so far has fixed my issue.

LG enV3 VX9200 phone power off shut down problem.

My phone has been randomly powering off for about a year. Everything on the web says it’s software, hardware, and various things fix it.

I normally store my phone in my jeans pocket which gets pushed, squeezed, twisted, and lots of different pressures during the course of my day. I would pull my phone out and realize it was shut off. I found that if I pushed on the battery near the bottom of the phone (close to charger connector) the phone would shut off instantly. My solution was to put sticky notes between the battery and the phone.

1) Remove battery.
2) Put 10 sticky notes in the battery slot. No folding, cut to size. Don’t cover the metal springy contacts.
3) Try to reinsert battery. It shouldn’t require a large squeeze to get it to latch.
4) If it is too hard to latch remove a sticky note and try again.

I kept going until I had 6 sticky notes in there. Now when I push on the battery it doesn’t shut off the phone. I think that solved my problem. Your mileage may vary.

My Fix for the enV3

[HKFAN]

Hi all. I found and read through this thread while I was trying to decide whether or not to get this phone. I decided to go for it and I've had the phone since yesterday. I love it so far !! I checked it over and the battery seemed to be tight, it didn't really move at all. I did also check right away and it did have the version 6 on the phone and it didn't say anything about updating the firmware when I activated it so I'm assuming that it was just made with this version. I'll keep checking in to let everyone know how it's going. I do have a coworker who has this phone and hasn't had any issues with it. Her son on the other hand also had this phone and had the shut off issues, he has had his replaced and hasn't had any issues since. I'm almost wondering if these issues have anything to do with where they're made. Almost as if one of their factories just has terrible workmanship. Not sure, but like I said I'll keep updating. Thanks

[acraftylady]

I too wonder if it has to do where or who made it.  Glad yours is good, mine was too and still is.  Mary

[TheGreatOne]

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acraftylady wrote:

I too wonder if it has to do where or who made it.  Glad yours is good, mine was too and still is.  Mary

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That's good to know!! Still am wanting the Env3.

[HKFAN]

What really made me think of the different factory thing was that originally I had ordered a Motorola Rival but before it even got to me I decided that I really wanted the EnV3. The Rival shipped out of California however when it went back I noticed that it went to Texas. With the ENV3 that I have now it came from California. It would be interesting to see what region most of the people are in who have the issues or even where the phone is shipping from. Again, though, it's just a thought and I could be waay off LOL

[acraftylady]

I still had my shipping box so checked and mine came from Texas.  Mary

[jenn244]

i think that answer you got is a load of crap.  i have been having problems with my LG ENV3 phone since this past Christmas.  it just keeps shutting off for no reason.  i don't download anything to my phone.  i took my phone to the verizon store this past January and they said that i needed some type of software update and that should take care of the problem.  well, it didn't.  about a week after that, it started shutting off again.  a few weeks ago, i took the phone back to verizon and told them that it shuts of randomly and told them that i already had the software update done.  come to find out, my battery was loose for some reason.  so, they took the phone and supposedly fixed the issue.  yeah, they didn't.  it still shuts off whenenver it feels like it. i'm not the only one that has had this same problem. a couple of my friends have had their phone replaced atleast 2 times.  my boyfriends stepdad has the same phone i do and since this past October he had 5 different phones because it kept on shutting off.  verizon finally replaced his phone back in January.  i really think they need to come up with a better solution to fix this problem.

[HKFAN]

Well Mary, I guess that blows the theory regarding where the phone is coming from LOL It's strange though, either people with these phones have no issues or the phone is terrible. I don't think I've heard someone say that they only had one little problem with the phone. So far I still haven't had any issues. My phone was fully charged Friday and last night I was down to 1 bar so that's basically 5 days. It was off this a.m. but considering how low it was last night I think it's a legitimate shut off. With my old phone I only charged it about every 7 days so 5 isn't too bad and I honestly texted a LOT those first couple of days. I'll keep you all posted but so far so good ! I honestly wish that Verizon and LG could figure out what the issues are though because obviously something is going on for a lot of people and there's nothing worse than having an unreliable phone.

[cthunder067]

HKFAN,

you're right on with your comment "either the people with these phones have no issues or the phones are terrible. And that is exactly the case with my sister and her husband. While her phone turns off at times he phone absolutely has no problems. At least for my sister her shutoff problems aren't as bad as some of the users here. I really liked this phone and was my first choice, but since I use my phone as my landline the Env3 wouldn't work for me. Couldn't have a phone that constantly shuts it's self off nor did I want to risk the chance. So I settled for the Touch and I couldn't be more happier with my decision.

[acraftylady]

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cthunder067 wrote:

HKFAN,

you're right on with your comment "either the people with these phones have no issues or the phones are terrible. And that is exactly the case with my sister and her husband. While her phone turns off at times he phone absolutely has no problems. At least for my sister her shutoff problems aren't as bad as some of the users here. I really liked this phone and was my first choice, but since I use my phone as my landline the Env3 wouldn't work for me. Couldn't have a phone that constantly shuts it's self off nor did I want to risk the chance. So I settled for the Touch and I couldn't be more happier with my decision.

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My phone is my landline too now so I am lucky to have no issues with it.  Mary

[jrb061]

Has anyone tried using the extended life battery and did that stop the auto shut down problem?