iPhone 5s vibration motor repair guide

The vibration motor isn’t working.

In this guide, we show you how to replace your iPhone 5s’ defective vibration motor. You need this repair if your phone doesn’t vibrate or only barely vibrates.

Required tools

Menda ESD Spudger

Menda ESD Spudger

You need a flat plastic prying tool to disconnect the various plugs and connectors.
from €26.38 on Amazon
Pick Set

Pick Set

You need a flat but stable tool such as a pick to pry out parts that are glued in place.
from €14.99 on Amazon
Plastic prying tool

Plastic prying tool

You need a flat plastic prying tool to disconnect the various plugs and connectors.
from €14.99 on Amazon
Steel Laboratory Spatula

Steel Laboratory Spatula

You need a flat and sturdy prying tool to disconnect glued parts.
on Amazon
Pentalobe PL1 screwdriver

Pentalobe PL1 screwdriver

You need the right screwdriver for removing pentalobe PL1 screws.
on Amazon
Phillips PH00 screwdriver

Phillips PH00 screwdriver

You need the right screwdriver for removing PH00 screws.
from €10.84 on Amazon

Required replacement part

iPhone 5s vibration motor

iPhone 5s vibration motor

from €30.99 on Amazon

Show all replacement parts for the iPhone 5s

Steps

10 Steps

Getting started with the repair of your iPhone 5s

If you get stuck or have questions, you can post a comment. We’d be happy to help.

10 steps

Removing the enclosure screws
You need a pentalobe screwdriver to open the iPhone 5s.

Remove the two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure. They are located to the right and left of the Lightning connector. Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
2 x 4.0 mm pentalobe screws
Lifting the display
Put your iPhone 5s on a soft, clean surface to avoid scratching the back.

To lift the front panel, you need a suction cup and the hard plastic pick. If the screen is severely cracked, cover all of it with packing tape.

Place the suction cup over the Home button (if possible) or next to it (see figure 1).While lifting the screen with the suction cup, insert the hard plastic pick between the aluminum frame and the display frame and press down the aluminum frame. Also use the hard plastic pick to raise the screen (see figure 2). This usually takes several attempts.
Do not lift the display more than two centimeters to avoid tearing the Home button cable below it.
As soon as you can lift the screen a few millimeters (see figure 3), you have to carefully work your way around the outside until it’s loosened on both sides (see figure 4).
Disconnecting the Home button cable
If the display is disconnected, only lift it a little bit. The Home button cable connects the display to the Lightning connector. This cable can tear if you lift the display too much.

Remove the silver cover over the Home button connector by placing the pointed tip of the spudger slightly below the cover and lifting it out (see figure 1).

Now you have to disconnect the contact from the connector.Carefully pull it off using the laboratory spatula or spudger.

Once the cable is disconnected, you can lift the display at the Home button. Note that the LCD/touchscreen cables are still connected to the logic board (see next step).
Disconnecting the connectors
First remove the four Phillips screws from the silver cover (see figure 1). Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray. Then lift the cover to remove it.
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screws (not magnetic)
2 x 1.2 mm Phillips screws
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw

Disconnect the following three connectors (see figure 2). Be very careful. Place the pointed tip of the spudger very slightly below the contact and lift it up.
Touchscreen
LCD
Front camera/sensor/earpiece/ambient microphone
Removing the vibration motor
Remove the three screws that hold the vibration motor and its support frame in place (see figure 1).
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (smooth head)
1 x 2.5 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw

Now remove the vibration motor (see figure 2) and detach it from the support frame glued to it.

Installing the vibration motor
Place the new vibration motor at the original location (see figure 1).

Fasten the cover and the vibration motor with the screws (see figure 2).
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (smooth head)
1 x 2.5 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw
Connecting the display
Reattach the connectors (see figure 1). The touchscreen connector sometimes comes undone when you connect the LCD connector.
Touchscreen
LCD
Front camera/sensor/earpiece/ambient microphone

Start your iPhone as soon as the connectors are securely attached. Check the function of the LCD, touchscreen, proximity sensor, front camera and earpiece.
If the connectors aren’t connected properly, stripes will appear on the display or parts of the touchscreen won’t work.

Now attach the cover and screw it in place (see figure 2).
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (not magnetic)
2 x 1.2 mm Phillips screws
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (magnetic)
Make sure you don’t screw the big 1.7 mm screw into a different thread because that could damage conductive paths on the logic board and cause a bluescreen.
Installing the Home button cable
This step is pretty tough. Use tweezers or the spudger to position the cable set’s connector and then use the spudger to carefully press the connector onto the connection (see figure 1).

If the connector is fitted correctly, put the silver cover over the connector. It’s easiest to position the cover using tweezers (see figure 2). Using the spudger, carefully press the cover on until it gently clicks into place (see figure 3).
Attaching the display
Then carefully fold down the screen. Make sure that the edge on the upper part of the screen where the cables are clicks into place properly. Now carefully push the screen on toward the Home button until it is properly installed in the frame.
Fastening the enclosure screws
Now screw in the two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure.
2 x 4.0 mm pentalobe screws