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iPod plays but no sound (not a volume issue)

So my iPod doesn't output any audio anymore. Whether I place it in a dock, connect it to an FM transmitter in my car, our use regular headphones, I get no sound. Even if the volume is cranked to the max on the ipod, still nothing. It still updates if I connect it to my computer, and still charges when connected to a dock or FM transmitter. If I select a song and press "play", it appears as if everything is normal, but no sound is there. I've tried restarting it and restoring it. Nothing. Any ideas?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on May 22, 2008 9:29 AM

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Posted on Aug 10, 2008 5:31 AM

I have read the other thread relating to this problem, if you are having the same static coming thru, and then no sound, the guy says to press the the lower right corner of the click wheel, and the sound comes back thru. I think it is a heat related issue, and like the other poster, i leave mine in the car 24/7...If apple wants more business, they need to stop messing around and stand behind their product/make better products...it's convenient for them to put that 1 year warranty out there and have their product take a crap on you after it's up. I'm going to attempt for them to service the iPood w/o charge, so wish me luck....
21 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 10, 2008 5:31 AM in response to norski87

I have read the other thread relating to this problem, if you are having the same static coming thru, and then no sound, the guy says to press the the lower right corner of the click wheel, and the sound comes back thru. I think it is a heat related issue, and like the other poster, i leave mine in the car 24/7...If apple wants more business, they need to stop messing around and stand behind their product/make better products...it's convenient for them to put that 1 year warranty out there and have their product take a crap on you after it's up. I'm going to attempt for them to service the iPood w/o charge, so wish me luck....

Jun 30, 2008 12:11 AM in response to norski87

Everything works (charging, plays music, plays videos play games,sync's and even reset it twice) but the sound, nothing comes out of the dock port or headphone jack. Volume is set to max just nothing comes out. I've try three different radio docks, five different headsets, and my computer dock and non of them get a drop of sound out of my Ipod. I've even tried squeezing the lower right corner and still nothing. Is this something that can be fix if I ship it to Apple Support? Please, help apple support!

Dec 18, 2008 10:32 PM in response to pduffyd

Well I seem to have fixed my 5th gen video ipod. It is only 2 days since I did this but it is working still, and I have be running it constantly
My Ipod would only give sound on my head phones if I pushed it on the right hand side of the thumb wheel. Like most, distorted, one ear bud, apply more pressure, clear audio both ear buds. Great!
After stripping the ipod down and removing the aluminum frame, front case, and then reconnecting all the electronics parts, and pushing play, I was able to trace the exact area mine had failed in. I could, with not much effort, get the fault to come and go at will, by using a very small non metallic pointy object and applying a small amount of pressure to an area of the board, to the right by around 5mm of the "Forward button".
I couldnt see any evidence of damage to the board, but there were some through board connections there. So I flipped the board over. On the other side, (now on the left as you look at it) there is one large chip on the left, just at the top right corner of this chip there are 3 very small black components about 1mm by 2mm, which look identical. The one closest to the top right corner of the large chip is the one we are interested in. I again fired up my Ipod with 3/2 volume so I could hear the ear buds on my desk, and applied a small amount of pressure to the bottom half of this small component, BANG instant clear sound!! Release pressure no sound. I confirmed this a few times by checking other components in the area by the same method with no joy.
Unfortunately for me these small components have a sealant around them, don't know what it is, its black and looks almost glassy, so direct soldering is impossable, lucky for me I have a hot air soldering station which I set to 360Deg C, and after disconnecting all the other components and battery from the logic board, I applied pressure to the component while I heated the component with the hot air tip for about 5 seconds, while still keeping positive pressure on the component for a further 10 seconds after removing the heat.
I reassembled my Ipod after initial testing and It appears to be fixed, at this stage.
I will keep you posted, I would like to post 2 small images of the logic board with the component identified. But cant here it seems.

Jul 30, 2008 6:08 PM in response to norski87

i am having the same problem. if i press on my ipod towards the right side of the wheel, i can get sound, but is very harsh, and sounds kind of like digital noise or clipping, and then it will sound like music, and then back to nothing and so on and so on. i am wondering if there maybe some sort of upgrade issue or something!?!? i looked at the dates for most of these posts and they are all from today. so magically, today all of us started having this problem? i take good care of my ipod, and can;t imagine what i might have done to harm the little thing.

please apple, helps us!!

Jul 31, 2008 9:00 AM in response to ROSEMARYROCKS

ok, i have fixed the problem, at least for now. i read on one of the millions of forums about this problem, that it may be a heat sensitivity thing. so i put my ipod in the refrigerator for an hour or so, and i kid you not... it seems to be working just fine. i used to leave my ipod in the car 24/7 (i know, i know this is bad). but, after having cooled it next to a head of lettuce and a jug of milk, it seems to be fine!?!?! just thought i would share. hope it helps some of you who are having the same problem.

Nov 26, 2008 1:43 PM in response to norski87

I have the same problem with me ipod classic 5. There is no sound coming out, but it is playing. I reset it a few times through iTunes, and nothing happened. Then I started whiping my finger around and around the toggle, playing with the volume control. It kept making noise like it really wanted to play, but it wouldn't. Then I noticed when I stroke the right side of it, it'll play for about 2 seconds, then stop. It's really freakin' annoying cause the thing cost so darn much. A kid I work with said if you bring it in to the shop, they'll give you a discount on a new one... Well, I don't want a new one, I want mine. I'm not going to shell out another couple hundred bucks to get another. Does ANYONE have ANY idea if this can be fixed at all?

Dec 13, 2008 7:28 PM in response to norski87

Sorry to hear of your plite, I also have the same problem 24 months for me, please refer on this forum;
Ipod Video (5th Gen) No Sound / Heavy Static - Read This! - Quick Fix Found
Posted: Aug 21, 2007 5:08 PM

I am going to take my iPod Video 5th gen apart, and really have a good look at the Logic board as I have access to surface mount rework soldering equipment, and x15 magnifiers to look at it.
When I find the answer I will post it on this forum and a show pictures.

iPod plays but no sound (not a volume issue)

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