Google Pixel 4a Vibration Motor Replacement - Google Pixel 4a

Step 1 | Eject the SIM card tray

Insert a SIM eject tool, ejector bit, or a straightened paper clip into the SIM tray hole.

Press directly into the hole to eject the SIM card tray.
Remove the ejected SIM card tray.

Step 2 | Precautionary notes

Pry the screen carefully, taking note of the seams and cables.

Identify the screen seam, separating the screen from the rest of the phone.
Avoid prying at the frame seam, held in place by screws.

Do not insert the opening pick deeper than instructed near the screen flex cable.

Be cautious with the orange ribbon cable under the lower-right corner of the screen.
Pry only within the adhesive perimeter to avoid damaging the OLED panel.

Step 3 | Heat the right edge of the screen

Apply a iOpener to the right edge of the display for one minute to soften the adhesive.

A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate can also be used, but:

Be careful not to overheat the phone.

The display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.

Step 4 | Insert an opening pick

If display is severely cracked, apply clear packing tape for suction cup adhesion or use very strong tape instead.

Place suction cup near right edge of screen for optimal lifting point.
Lift suction cup with steady, firm force.
Insert opening pick into screen seam, no more than 1 mm deep.

Step 5 | Guide the opening pick under the OLED panel

Insert the pick carefully before slicing the adhesive.

Pivot the pick upwards to a steep angle, with it 1 mm into the gap.
Push the pick in at a steep angle for approximately 6 mm (1/4 inch), below the OLED panel.

Stop if you feel resistance; try angling the pick and attempting again.

Step 6 | Cut the adhesive

Slide the pick along the right edge of the screen to cut the adhesive.

Do not insert the pick more than 1/4 inch (6 mm) or you may damage the screen's flex cable.

Leave the pick in the top right corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 7

Screen adhesive may be weak, but excessive heat can cause damage; apply gentle heat for one minute if needed.

Insert an opening pick into a gap at the right edge of the phone at an angle to prevent OLED panel damage.
Slide the pick along the bottom of the phone to cut the adhesive, keeping it angled downward and inserting only 2 mm or less.

Be cautious of a delicate cable under the bottom-right corner; if your pick snags, remove it and try again.

Leave the pick along the bottom edge to prevent re-adhesion.

Step 8

Insert an opening pick into the bottom edge at a gap, angled to avoid OLED damage.

Use the pick to slice through the left edge.
If the screen is hard to slice, heat the left edge for one minute and try again.

Leave the pick inserted along the left edge to prevent re-sealing of the adhesive.

Step 9

Careful not to damage or lose the mesh covering the earpiece speaker on the top edge.

Insert another opening pick into the left edge at an angle, near the existing gap, to protect the OLED panel.
Slide the pick around the top edge to cut the adhesive.
If slicing is difficult, heat the top edge for one minute and retry.

Step 10

Carefully lift the right edge of the screen to open the phone.

Do not remove the screen yet.

Use an opening pick to carefully cut through remaining adhesive.

Step 11 | Flip the screen over

Avoid applying stress to the ribbon cable.

Lift the screen from its top edge.
Swing the screen over the bottom edge until it rests glass-side down.

Step 12 | Disconnect the display

Peel up the black tape covering the screen connector bracket using a pair of tweezers.

If the tape is damaged or worn out, replace it with a new piece of electrical tape during reassembly.

Step 13

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 2.1 mm screws securing the screen connector bracket.

Keep track of each screw to ensure it is properly reinstalled in its original location.

Step 14

Use a tweezers to carefully remove the screen connector bracket.

Keep this part for reinstallation.

Step 15

Use the tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the screen flex cable.

To reattach, align the connectors carefully and press down on one side until it clicks into place.

Repeat on the other side; do not press down in the middle.

Misaligned connectors can cause permanent damage to the pins.

Step 16 | Remove the screen

Remove the screen.

Replacement Screen: Check for pre-installed speaker mesh and top edge adhesive.
If both are present, skip applying additional top edge adhesive.
Apply clear liner to screen (not frame) with larger cutout aligned to speaker mesh; follow custom-cut adhesive guide.
Refer to third photo for correct positioning of adhesives.

During boot-up, do not touch the screen during calibration sequence or risk improper touch calibration and issues.

Step 17 | Remove the midframe screws

Remove the eight 4.3 mm screws using a T3 Torx driver.
The screws secure the back cover to the midframe.

Step 18 | Spring contact information

Examine the image showing the midframe components behind the back cover.

Avoid inserting the opening pick more than 2 mm to prevent damage to the spring contacts.

Step 19 | Separate the back cover from the midframe

Insert an opening pick between the midframe and back cover, angled steeply downwards.

Do not insert the pick more than 2 mm into the seam to avoid damage.

Slide the pick along the bottom edge to release the plastic clips securing the back cover.

Step 20

Insert the opening pick along the left edge of the phone and gently slide it downwards to disengage the plastic clips holding the back cover in place.

Step 21

Slide an opening pick along the top and right edges of the phone to disengage the remaining clips.

Step 22

Swing the back cover from the bottom up, rotating it over the top and around the back.

Lay the back cover on a work surface.
Rest the midframe lightly on the back cover, avoiding stress on attached ribbon cables.

Step 23 | Remove the motherboard bracket

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the seven screws securing the motherboard bracket.

Remove three 2.9 mm-long black screws.
Next, remove three 2 mm-long screws.
Finally, remove one 4.1 mm-long screw.

Step 24

Use the tip of a spudger to carefully release the motherboard bracket at the upper-right and lower-right corners.

Step 25

Use tweezers to remove the motherboard bracket.

Step 26 | Disconnect the battery

Disconnect the battery cable by gently prying it loose with the flat end of a spudger.

Step 27 | Remove the back cover

Use the tip of a spudger to carefully release the two flexible cables connected to the fingerprint sensor and buttons.

Step 28

Remove the back cover.

Step 29 | Remove the headphone jack

Disconnect the headphone jack cable from the motherboard using the tip of a spudger.

Step 30

Insert an opening pick under the headphone jack and twist to release it.

Continue twisting until the headphone jack is released from its adhesive securing it to the midframe.
Remove the headphone jack.

Step 31 | Remove the front-facing camera

Use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry up the front-facing camera connector from the motherboard.

Step 32

Remove the front-facing camera using a pair of tweezers.

Step 33 | Remove the loudspeaker

Remove the T3 Torx driver from your toolkit and use it to unscrew the two 4.1 mm screws holding the loudspeaker assembly in place.

Step 34

Insert the spudger tip underneath the loudspeaker assembly.

Avoid puncturing the white membrane surrounding the speaker, as damage may occur.
Flip the loudspeaker assembly over and rest it lightly on top of the battery.

Step 35

Disconnect the antenna flex cable from the loudspeaker assembly using the tip of a spudger.

Step 36

Avoid damaging the white membrane when removing the loudspeaker assembly.

Pry the loudspeaker assembly up from the underlying tape using a plastic tool.

If you plan to reuse it, be careful not to puncture the white membrane on either side of the speaker.

Once free, remove the loudspeaker assembly.

Step 37 | Disconnect the loudspeaker cable

Disconnect the loudspeaker cable using the tip of a spudger.

Step 38 | Remove the motherboard screws

Remove the T3 Torx using a T3 Torx driver.

Remove two 2.9 mm-long black screws
Remove one 2.1 mm-long screw

Step 39 | Remove the earpiece speaker tape

Peel up the earpiece speaker tape with the tip of an opening pick.

Step 40

Remove the tape covering the earpiece speaker with a pair of tweezers.

No need to reinstall this tape during reassembly.

Step 41 | Remove the motherboard

Place the tip of a spudger under the bottom edge of the motherboard.
Pry the motherboard gently until you can grip it with your fingers.

Step 42

Disconnect the motherboard from the system.

Step 43 | Remove the vibration motor

Use the tweezers to carefully pry the vibration motor from the midframe.

The vibration motor is held in place with light adhesive.
Once free, remove the vibration motor completely.