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Can't *insert* SIM card in iPhone... stuck... ?!

A friend of mine has a new phone that I wanted to try out for a day or two.

I popped the SIM card out of my iPhone, it came out fine, just like normal.

But now when I try to re-insert the SIM card, the tray will go 95% of the way down and I simply can't press it down any more. There's some kind of mechanical obstruction on the side of the paperclip hole. The spring assembly seems stuck or broken. When I push a paperclip in, there's no action, it just hits a hard, immobile surface.

I have tried to use a flashlight to see what's going on, but the slot is too small for me to see anything meaningful. At least not when I don't know what I'm looking for.

Please help! Thank you!

iPhone 2G, Other OS

Posted on Sep 18, 2008 5:28 PM

Reply
6 replies

Sep 18, 2008 5:33 PM in response to motrek

Just use this article to verify you have the SIM and card holder lined up correctly.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1438

If you are lining it up correctly and the issue persists, the iPhone may need hardware repair. Make a reservation to have a Genius at a local Apple retail store take a look at it or call AppleCare.
http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/
U.S. iPhone technical support: 1-800-MY-IPHONE (1-800-694-7466)

Jason

Sep 18, 2008 5:54 PM in response to Jason L

I definitely have the card and tray lined up correctly. I've ejected it and reinserted it a dozen times before and nothing has gone wrong until now.

Ejecting it went smoothly this time too, I didn't get the impression that anything was breaking in the process at all.

It seems like if it was this easy to get it to spontaneously break, this must be a common problem?? Unfortunately I can't find any information about it elsewhere.

Oct 16, 2008 5:35 PM in response to motrek

I figured out the problem and it wasn't as obvious as I had assumed. A screw came loose in the phone and when I slid the SIM tray out, the screw dropped into the slot and lodged itself in there, preventing the tray from being re-inserted.

This problem seemed to occur simply through normal use of the phone, which is disconcerting.

Maybe I can offer some general advice to all iPhone users, which is don't take out the SIM card tray unless you absolutely have to, and if you do, maybe keep the device vertical while it's out.

Mar 26, 2009 7:45 PM in response to triksha

Sorry for the late reply guys, I wasn't "observing" this thread anymore.

I sent my phone to iResQ (iresq.com)... they took the phone apart and fixed the loose screw. I believe the total cost was under $50 but now I can't remember exactly.

I was not about to open the phone myself... I did some research and apparently it's almost impossible to open the phone without damaging the metal backplate. Even iResQ sent my phone back with a replacement backplate.

Can't *insert* SIM card in iPhone... stuck... ?!

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