Ipod Video (5th Gen) No Sound / Heavy Static - Read This! - Quick Fix Found

I have the same problem as everyone else, if i press extra hard on the corner i can get sound for a minute, i am hoping apple will fix this problem at a reasonable price since so many seem to have the same problem. The guy at the apple store says it is going to cost me $179, give me a break i know electronics break but when you spend $300 bucks you would think it would make it for a few years not just 2 months past the warranty.

I've a 5th Gen Ipod Video and today I had the same issue of sudden loss of sound through my earphones with the meter still running & no problem with battery. The sound later returned via my docking speakers. I'm very careful with my Ipod and my custom made earbuds. Ironically last week a friend of mine with the same Ipod told me about this same issue with her 5th Gen Ipod. She is very fed up and has changed her mind on buying an Iphone. I share in her disappointment and I will try Customer Relations in hope that they can restore my failing trust in Apple. I am considering the Iphone but buying it in Europe so I wont get stuck with ATT service (that was a disappointing partnership).

Add me to the list of no sound! It started a few days ago. We are having a heat wave, btw.

Once I saw this thread I called Apple and while they were very nice, I got nothing out of it except a coupon for future purchases! I'm confused about the difference between it being a jack problem and the chip problem. If I push my earplug jack to the side, it works. Does that make it the jack or is it still the chip???
And if I send it to rapidrepair.com, will they just replace the jack, hence not solving the real problem?

If it is truly a problem with the chip and not the jack then they will replace. Call and make sure you get past the 1st line of defense (ie ask to speak with a manager or supervisor). Detail your problem and say how you've read on the apple boards that many others are having the same problem.

I was able to get a brand new 5th gen IPod and only had to pay $31 for the shipping even being almost a year over warranty. If they tell you you're only option is to pay $130 or whatever to repair, then they're lying and you tell them that phillylexis300 said so.

I'm having a problem with the headphone jack on my iPod. It's 30GB iPod video (5th G) Got it in August 2006. Recently, the issue I have had is that I am only getting audio out of the left headphone. I've tested multiple headphones and they all work fine on other iPods and various audio devices. If I want to get any sound out of the right head phone I have to push into the jack extra hard even though the headphones are all the way in. Any ideas on what to do? Should I call and will I have to pay the $30 or the $129? Any help would be appreciated.

Well, I to am having the same problem. Started about a week ago. I though it was the Belkin Tunebase I was using as I never listen to my IPod with headphones, but after purchasing a new one and it still not working, I started looking and found this thread. I put it in the fridge for about 20 minutes and it worked for about 20 seconds. I tried the pinching method but it only worked if I squeezed extremely hard and for only a second or two. Hopefully I can have the same luck as some of the others in getting it replaced as I'm about 5 months out of warranty. If they aren't willing to work with me, I guess I will have to look at another manufacturer as I'm not going to pay for a new one every year and a half.

Hey everyone, guess what? I'm also getting the same lack of sound! (surprise!)

It started this afternoon, after I had been on the beach a while. (Side-note: My job involves the beach, so it is not the hot temperatures.) It worked fine all morning, but later in the day, when I started it up again, the sound had disappeared, with everything else working perfectly. I wasn't freaking out, as I thought that it might be the headphones, since one wire was frayed, but later on, at home, I tested with another set, so I knew that the ipod was the problem. If I pushed really hard on the bottom of the headphones, I would get crackly sound for about 3 seconds, then it turned off the sound again. I've tried both the pinching trick and the refrigerator cool-down, but they only solve the problem for a few minutes. My 5th Generation ipod is a little older than 2 years, making it too old for any kind of warranty or protection plan.

I have the same question as everyone else- Since this seems to be a common problem with all 5th Gen users, (and since this seems to be happening to everyone at the same time) why isn't Apple providing some kind of plan or giveback solution to the thousands that have purchased this ipod? I know it may be a ridiculous amount of money for them to cough up, but isn't customer satisfaction important to the company? I just wish there was some other option besides sending it in for repairs, (which ends up costing what? Half the price of the original?) or buying a completely new ipod. (Full priced.) Maybe I'm naive in business practices, but I think this whole sound problem, and way of solving is just plain stupid.

I had the same exact problem. I push the side a it worked for a minute and did the fridge thing and that made it work for a song. Well Apple was no help since my warrenty expired. Adam with technical support stated, " The factory sometimes will make various errors (okay so it is your fault). I then said, "Well then how long should an Ipod with normal use last?" He said, "I have people that have theirs last 3-4 years." Um so why is this not a problem when mine is only 19 months old? He had no response and then again refered to the factory. Needless to say I will be buying some simple cheap mp3. I really loved my Ipod and will never buy another again if this is the answer I get and nothing in return.

My iPod of course is having the same exact problem and I am too afraid to open it up and try to tinker with it, which i would normally do with anything else. I tried the pressing thing and I can actually hear a little click of it popping in place I don't hear sound, but once in a while i get this really static so I assume it is still the same problem. I hope to post back with positive news.

I will admit I expected much more from an iPod, and thought my iPod was relatively decent until it did this crap to me. My dad was right mac just can't do anything correctly... I agree going zune, my boyfriend has one and he hasn't had a problem yet. Since, I do not have one however and do not want to shell out money for one I'm going to speak with an Apple rep. and see if I can obtain a new ipod at that low price of $30. My only other option is this place called Mission Repair they claim they keep their prices low and once recieving the ipod they call you to diagnose the problem, fix it, and send it back within 24 hours I hope that works.

I have the same problem, although I could only get the static when I squeezed it, at first. Now, nothing. I called Apple today with the hope that they would offer the replacement that others mentioned. I got through the electronic helper to a real person who stated that it was out of warranty, yes, I knew that. I told him about this forum and the results people got and he didn't know about it and I asked to speak to someone else. I got another person and he said my problem wasn't the same thing since I couldn't get it to play when squeezing but they could replace it out of warranty for $129. I decided to go for it, because it will be cheaper than a new nano or iTouch. Maybe I caved in too soon. Mine was 2 years old.

This same thing just happened to me a few days ago. I have had my 30g iPod video since Christmas of 2006. Years before i had an iPod that died after a hard-drive crash. At the time, i was in high school and had bought it with money I earned at my job. I took the bus to the mall to buy it, as i didn't even have a license. I didn't have an extra $50-$60 dollars to spend on an extended warranty...and I was unaware that ipods will inevitably break, even if you treat them with the utmost of care. My current ipod was a gift...very unexpected as i hadn't requested one, but i was super excited to finally have an ipod again. lord knows after the first experience i didn't want to blow more money on one myself. i was even scared to use the 30g lest it break like the first one...

I read forums for people with the same problem, this "(ill)logic board", and must say i called apple care optimistically and with high hopes. if others with expired warranties got replacements for $30, surely i could, too...

first of all, i was put on hold for around 30 minutes, twice the expected wait time. i thought this was perhaps because i told them i did not use a mac computer...the first guy i talked to was very nice, and seemed to truly want to get me a replacement. i told him how i researched it, the exact problem, and how others had the same problems and had received warranty extensions. he took it all down, called customer relations to explain to them, and then transferred me over. i told him much of the same. he put me on hold, "researched" some things, and returned to tell me there was nothing he could do. i tried to persuade him, telling him my story of the previous ipod, how i am a student and cannot afford an ipod a year, etc. he said he was sorry and all, but...

AN IPODS LIFE EXPECTANCY IS ONLY 1-3 YEARS.

i was shocked. disgusted! i asked him if it stated this on the packaging...he said of course not as there was no real way to measure...of course they don't write that on the box, because NO ONE WOULD BUY THEM!

i eventually became so frustrated that i just broke down. an hour and a half on the phone (mostly waiting) tends to do that...i started crying. while it might work on police officers, mr. customer relations didn't budge. he also claimed he had no supervisor i could talk to, as though the next up was the ceo/president of apple. he did tell me that i could write to the corporate office, which i might give a try.

Apple, Inc.
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014.

I love my ipod. i don't want to give it up just yet...but i don't want to spend thousands of dollars on ipods every year or two! more people need to call and try to get them to recognize this as a serious problem.

ALSO: anyone who got their warranties extended have a "case number"? i'm wondering if i call with a few examples of others i might be luckier...until then, i'm stuck with top 40 and talk radio....

Crocke, dont cry, dry you eye. I seriously hope you're a girl if you started crying on the phone over an Ipod. If you PM or email me I'll give you my reference repair number to use. I paid $30 to have a new Ipod, not just repaired, a new one. My advice would be to just keep calling until you get lucky with someone who will do something about it. The girl I talked to said that the engineers have flagged this issue and have asked the customer support people to forward these problems directly to them. Unfortunate though that they have not been consistent in handling this matter as evidenced on this board.

Dear Phillylexis300,

We have received your request for a replacement IPOD 5TH GENERATION. Your Repair ID is #########.

Serial Number: ###########
Problem Description: Device HW Issues - Sound quality (not ear buds)

Notice to Consumer: Please read important information at the end of this email message.

The total estimated cost of replacing your product is $31.75.

You will need to send your original to Apple before we can send you a replacement. We recommend that you pack it in its original packaging or a suitable alternative. Please note that if it is damaged in shipping as a result of improper packaging, it will not be eligible for service and will be returned to you unrepaired. Do not include any other items, such as headphones, as they will not be returned to you.

Please address the package as follows:

Apple Service Operations
ATTN: WUR Service, Repair ID ########
3011 Laguna Blvd., Building A
Elk Grove, CA 95758

Ship the package using a courier service that provides a tracking number and proof of delivery.


Your repair status is available online.


The Apple Repair Terms and Conditions govern this repair.

Apple

thank you!! i am indeed a female, but i think listening to someone in customer relations' condescending attitude and fake sympathy would be enough to make anyone flustered enough to that point...it may have been ridiculous, but i am still refusing to give up! i was planning on calling them again today, or at least writing that letter (although i doubt anyone would actually read it. Perhaps i am apple-support-discussion-handicapped, but i cannot find your e-mail. I made mine accessible, so if you could e-mail that to me i would greatly appreciate it. hopefully it will be enough to convince "the man" to give me a break.

and about the engineers flagging it...the man at customer support told me that he "researched" the issue and found nothing to suggest it was a viable reason for repair. he told me that out of the millions of ipod users, there simply weren't enough people experiencing the problem...i of course asked him how many people it took, to which he replied there was no way of him knowing, or that he could not divulge that information (code speak for, "i have already decided you are not getting this replacement, and am not giving in to my delusions of grandeur").

anyhow, thank you again! after i get the proof of similar situations occurring with better results, i will once again brave the seemingly endless hold music...

Thanks for your post, I am experiencing the same issue. Could you email me the hardware reference repair number so I can get mine repaired as well? I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Joshua

Apple,

What's the story. Do you have to be one of the lucky ones to get your Ipod fixed or what.