iPhone 7 Lightning Connector Assembly Repair

deggie wrote:

I don't believe they can replace the Lightning connector itself, they would have to replace the entire iPhone in an out-of-warranty replacement. They can do that the day of the reservation. iPhone Repair - Official Apple Support

The Lightning connector on an iPhone 7 is on a part separate from the logic board. It's mostly a ribbon connector that with a connector to the logic board. It should be possible to just replace the part.

I don't believe they can replace the Lightning connector itself, they would have to replace the entire iPhone in an out-of-warranty replacement. They can do that the day of the reservation. iPhone Repair - Official Apple Support

Apple will almost certainly not do that repair. They will replace the device.

KiltedTim wrote:

Apple will almost certainly not do that repair. They will replace the device.

Why would they need to do that? It's a separate part consisting of a ribbon connector and the actual port. It's not like a Mac where all the ports are soldered to the logic board. It's in place using screws and adhesives and requires no soldering.

I get that full replacement used to be the way they would do it before the "Horizon Machines" were available at Apple Stores and AASPs, but now it's possible to do the required calibration in store.

In any case I'd suggest to the OP to just bring it in and get an estimate of the cost. Knowing what's in there, it shouldn't cost the price of a complete replacement because it's repairable with screwdrivers.

They would do that because store technicians are not trained in any repairs other than screen and battery replacement, and they have custom-built tools and jigs to do that. And it isn't as easy as you make it sound, because the repair guides you quote say it could take up to 2 hours. At standard technician hourly rates that's a couple of hundred $.

Apple's approach to anything other than a basic repair (which this is not) is to replace the device, then send the old device to a central depot for refurbishing.

Can you point to any repair pricing that Apple has published anywhere to replace a Lightning Connector? But my issue with it, and I think the Apple Store will be the same way, is the burnt pins on the connector. Just a failing assembly will not cause that and unless they could rule out the cables used, power adapter, or house electricity (and don't know how they would do the latter) that would point to a power IC on the logic board. And as we both know they won't work on that.

Mikemanges wrote:

I suspect the Lightning Connector contact pins inside the charging port in my IPhone 7 are burnt. I’ve had trouble charging the battery for quite some time now and have gone through several charging cables due to the (middle) contact pins showing signs of being burnt (black) as well. This is not corrosion nor am I able to clean them with say (baking soda).

Can the Lighting Connector Assembly be replace/repaired at the Apple Store during the same day of the reservation?

Thanks Mike

I think it can be repaired for less than a full replacement price. The unauthorized repair guides I've seen suggest it's a difficult fix that could take up to 2 hours. How long it takes depends on a number of factors including whether or not they have the part in stock or technicians available to do it. Maybe time of day, where later in the day means a greater possibility of a backlog of service requests. They might even offer "repair" as a complete replacement, although for whatever they might charge for an actual service of the same device returned to you.

However, everything I've seen about the Lightning connector on an iPhone 7 is that it's contained on a separate part which theoretically should be replaceable.

Good points, deggie. The current isn't high enough to cause arcing in the connector unless there has been some other failure in the phone or the power source is defective.

But are you sure that (1) and Apple Store will do this and (2) they can do so the day of the reservation?

I've replaced Lightning connectors but thank you for the information anyway, but I would also be very concerned with the burning on the pins and would want to explore further.

If you have had the problem with that many different power sources that reasonably narrows the problem to you phone itself. I would agree with your conclusion.

If you used a poorly designed power source or non-certified Lightning cable it could cause problems also.