iOS4 update - now iPhone now reboots during phone call (continued)

My 3GS in Australia on Vodafone has the issue.

My latest theory, which I'm part way through testing, which was posted here, is that turning off WiFi fixes it.

But you never remember to do that so it's hardly a fix.

I've only got a few months left on contract, I've given up worrying about it now.

Thanks again to Jonty for his original jailbreak fix.

Greg E

Just thought I'd confirm the current state of play...

If you're running iOS 4.x then I can send you fix details if you email me (see my profile).

If you're running iOS 5.x there is no current fix (although something is being worked on and tested).

I can safely say this (based on working with 1000+ 3GS owners); if your 3GS reboots during calls only then you have a battery which is not compatible with iOS 4/5 (due to logic and/or software issues). If your 3GS iPhone reboots at other times (whether random, frequently or whatever) then it's likely your battery is defective and needs to be replaced (and the reboot during calls fix will NOT fix this).

Still happy to help those who get in touch (who have a 3GS running iOS 4!)

Jonty.

Marty49,

My brother is having these issues. I have emailed Jonty for his fix but was wondering about the exchange that you did. Does the phone have to be shipped to Apple or can you just do the same thing by taking it into an Apple Store?

jem16

I expect you could get a swap over done at the Apple store if you had one handy (which I didnt). It also depends whether they have some recon iPhones availabe in stock.

I was easy to go online and arrange it using the method as I have previously set out.

Apple will send you a box in the post for the phones safe return and they will turn around the repair virtually by return of post.

It was a lot less painfull than an arguement at the Apple Genius Bar.

BTW my recon phone is still great.

good luck

Marty

Marty49

Thanks for the info.

I'll see what the fix from jonty involves but if it needs a jailbreak then I doubt it's for my brother. I'll give him the info on the swap out and he can see what he wants to do. He works in London so close to an Apple store.

However I wondered if they would literally just replace the battery and he would still have this issue or whether they would replace the phone?

Jem

From what I understand (and no one has proved me wrong yet) When you send your phone back to Apple they take a quick look to check it is servicable and then immediately authorise your replacement. The cost of tracking your phone through the repair process and returning the same phone would make the process longer and more costly. Much easier to just send a recon phone out to you and divert the faulty one off for reconditioning.

The recon phone will be as new with a new case, glass and components as required. You wont be ablle to tell it from a new phone. And it will come with 3 months of warantee.

If the Apple store says they will just replace the battery, then don't leave it with them, use the post to Apple method.

pay for a battery replacement but tell them that the old battery is causing the phone to lose calls.

Marty

Marty,

Thanks. I will pass this onto my brother.

Sorry to tell you guys, but my iPhone 3GS is also crashing during calls. 😟

As I have the phone only a few month, I'm still in the warranty.

So I did some phone calls with the AppleCare service and tried what they told me.

I restored the phone, I changed the SIM-Card... but the problem still exists.

So I send it in to AppleCare last week.

It came back today and I've been told, that the problem couldn't be found or reproduced. 😕

I did a call today after it came back, and... the phone reboots after a few minutes.

So I'm not perfectly convinced on Marty49's method.

Next thing I should and would try: Apple Store Genius Bar.

Hopefully this will help!?

Edit: By the way: iPhone is used in Germany with O2

Hello ListentoVolbeat,

you write you get your "old" iphone back, right?

Have you applied for a battery change?

I've tried marty49's idea. they have kept my old iphone and have sent me a refurbished iphone

it cost about € 86

Although it is an iphone 3GS but it is different than the old one. for example the on / off button is different.

what repairs you've requested?

Hi all,

Given the recent postings I just wanted to chip-in with my own feedback and awareness. To be honest I find the need to keep the knowledge 'ticking over' frustrating but it's only because Apple still refuses to acknowledge this problem with 3GS iPhones running iOS 4 (and 5 now). And please... should anyone want to question or talk about the following then that's exactly what this forum is for!

3GS owners have contacted Apple (shops and online) and either been told there is no such reboot fault or been given a replacement iPhone (note: the replacement 3GS is typically a re-con unit). Where a replacement unit has been provided the reboot during calls resolution is literally 50/50. I recall one such individual who was given a 4th 3GS only to find it still rebooted.

Some folk during the last 12-18 months have payed Apple to replace the battery in their 3GS (advising Apple that their device has been rebooting since iOS 4 was released). Again, typically this has resulted in the provision of a replacement 3GS iPhone as opposed to an actual battery change. The fix ratio is still circa 50%.

Unless the battery is defective then the most common fix is to make some software changes (email me for specific details). Where these changes have not worked it's transpired that the battery (or iPhone itself) have other issues and rebooting/crashes have occurred at other times (and this is where paying Apple or a DIY battery change are the last options).

I'm one of the lucky ones. When iOS 4 was released my 3GS rebooted during calls constantly. But I'm still running 4.2.1 and have no such issues! I'm echoing numerous posts but if you want to contact me directly then I'll email you details of what you can do to fix the problem (running 4, NOT 5!)

Jonty.

@ Fanta4:

Yeah, they send me my "old" iPhone back.

I haven't applied for a specific repair.

I spoke with AppleCareService-Hotline a few times and when I called them the third time (because the problem hasn't been solved with their first two ideas) they said, I should send it in for a repair, as I'm still having warranty. So, that's what I did.

And yesterday it came back with a notice, that they could not find "this problem". 😟

Maybe it's an idea to tell them to change the battery, but I would definately not pay only one cent for that! Cause first, I still have warranty (iPhone is only 2 month old!!) and second, if they build products with an error, they have to fix this error for free. That's what german law says (Mängelrechte bei Sachmangel bei Gefahrübergang) and that's what a healthy brain says. 😉

By the way, I'm running my iPhone with iOS 5.0.1 and it is (of course) not jailbreaked.

Has anyone ever talked to Apple (via hotline or at Apple-store) about this problem and confronted them with this thread? I'm really interested in, what they said!?

Regards,

Chris

@ Fanta4:

There are "crash reports"?

This is an amazing information! I didn't know that.

This is exactly what I'm looking for as an evidence for the problem.

Where can I find them? In the iPhone? How can i print them? Do I have to do a screenshot or is there a better way?

Thanks for this helpful information.

@ListenToVolbeat

What kind of computer do you use? a mac? Then you can find the crash report here:

/ Users / username / Library / Logs / CrashReporter / mobile device / iPhone name

On a windows pc I do not know where the reports are filed. G ** gle will help you find the file paths

The files are usually sorted by date and time (filename). There are several folders and files. If you know when was the last reboot,you can find the file.

I've printed out each of the last two reports and sent along with the iphone to apple.

I hope I could help you a little bit.

Regards

F.

iOS 5 / 5.0.1 fix is now available!

All,

Although this thread is specific to reboots during calls with iOS 4, I have received many emails where people have tried iOS 5 in hope the problem would go away (but it has not). Up until now there has been no fix!

After some testing with a few individuals it appears there's a fix for this same issue but which occurs with iOS 5. The fix routine however is still new and thus extensive feedback has still to be collated, but those running 5 who want to try can email me and I will forward all the details.

Jonty.