Level 1

1 points

iPhone 5s Power Button Loose/Rattling Noise

Today I had scheduled a Genius Bar appointment for my loose rattling power button. I can hear it rattle when I record video and move around, the video even records the sound and it interferes with the video. It is also bothersome, in general, to have a rattling noise on my phone. The "genius" had me unlock the phone (since I have a passcode/fingerprint I.D) and he took it to the back to take a look at it, came back and said there's nothing wrong and that it's the "vibrating motor." Yeah, sure. I place my finger on the power button and move my phone and it has 0 rattling, when I let go it rattles like a maraca. I then asked him if he could open it and try and fix it for me, and he told me that he had just opened it and everything checked out fine. Another lie, he gave me my phone back unlocked and into my settings. If he opened it it would have been turned off, and on again which would request my passcode which he doesn't have. My previous iPhone 3/4S/5 has never done this and I see it as a simple fix if they were to really open it. I have fully purchased a new iPhone every year for the past 3 years and when I encounter a problem I'm lied to and told there is nothing I can do about it. I'll be scheduling another appointment soon in hopes I get a different employee that will actually help me.

What I want to know is, is there a fix to this?
When I take videos it captures the rattling noises ruining the video.

iPhone 5s, iOS 7

Posted on Sep 22, 2013 9:46 PM

484 replies

Nov 17, 2013 2:20 PM in response to PMano

Pmano: Do you think it's possible for this issue to be resolved over the next few months? And if it were, how would we even go about getting new phones as our 30 days would be over..at least mine would.

PMano

Level 1

9 points

Nov 17, 2013 2:23 PM in response to jetsetter883

The Apple rep, in the apple store. Stated that this is a hardware/manufacturers issue and is covered for 1 year.

Nov 17, 2013 2:28 PM in response to jetsetter883

Hey there, here is a small tip for you to fix the issue:

I have put a drop of silikon spray around the button. Just a little drop... Then i pushed the button a few times, that the liquid can go between the button an the housing. After that I cleaned the button and the area around with a paper towel, so that there are no visible residues.

It works fine now for a few days since i did it... You can see or feel nothing from the spay, an the button don´t rattles anymore... And the silicon spray is electrically non-conductive!

This is no excuse for Apple! They still have to fix the problem! But it´s a small workaround that reduces the noice and the annoyance!

Greets from Germany

Maik

Nov 17, 2013 2:32 PM in response to BrandonD.

Hmm, do you think it is worth trying for a new one and possibly trading for yet another problem? As in, I'd love to get a unit without the rattle but my current device is pretty solid with the exception of the rattle. I'm a bit weary about trading for another which will probably have the rattle anyway and maybe another issue. I have yet to come across the perfect iPhone, some are just better than others. The OCD part of me wants to hit up the Apple store(s) for the next week until I find a good one, the logical side of me says it's a waste of time haha.

Nov 17, 2013 2:35 PM in response to Maik_Germany

Maik_Germany: Thanks for the tip! Just the type of ingenuity I'm looking for in place of Apple's misstep.

I am a bit confused on what silicon spray is used for and also wouldn't we want it to be electrically conductive instead of non? Pardon my ignorance :/

Jord2991

Level 1

0 points

Nov 17, 2013 2:46 PM in response to BrandonD.

Funny, i took mine to the apple shop and made him open 2 new phones, he insisted it was a hardware compensation for the iphone 5 becoming stuck. i went round with him checking all the models on display, all of them are flimsy and lose including this one.

Nov 17, 2013 3:20 PM in response to Jord2991

Ok, this is my experience after 2 days with iPhone 5s (gold, 32gb).

Since i plan to use iPhone as a camera, expecially for vlogs, today i've recorded many vlogs as i could and in various conditions (walking, moving iPhone in various direction while i was talking, etc).

Result: in normal videos, i cant hear the rattling noise.

I've recorded walking and without paying much attention to not move the iPhone, then i've sent and listened videos on my PC to have a better audio quality, and there was no rattle.

If i shake and record, the rattle is there, of course, but during NORMAL records audio quality is not compromised at all.

At the beginning i was very upset, but after 1 day of tests i have to say it's not so worrying.

Phone calls are clear and "NORMAL" records are too, so i think im gonna keep my iPhone.

Buttons should not do that, i know, and i feel that we should not accept this because we're talking about a premium device... BUT I dont want android, and it seems like 95% of iPhone 5s does have the rattling noise, so i think you should test your iphone, like i did, to see if the noise compromises a real record or not.

Nov 17, 2013 3:36 PM in response to jetsetter883

Silicone Spray is a kind of oil, but it lasts longer and is less liquid when it is dry after a few minutes...

Just look for it on Amazon or any "Home Improvement" Store...

You DON´T want a conductive liquid inside your iPhone!!! It could make a short circuit between any parts, so i wouldn´t try any other oil that could be conductive!

You just want to get something between the button and the housing that reduces the noise, so in my opinion silicone spray is the best way to get that!

Nov 17, 2013 3:38 PM in response to Maik_Germany

Maik_Germany: Thanks again for the info! I've looked up silicon spray to see if it is safe for electronics but I'm having a hard time determining this. There is one place where the author recommends against it on electronics but perhaps that's only when larger quantites are used than would be needed for the purpose we're using it for. Do you know what type you used, and is it considered safe for electronics?

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/32561835

Nov 17, 2013 3:55 PM in response to jetsetter883

I used this one. It´s a German Product, and it´s specially for isolate electrical parts....

Here is the description, if you can translate the text for yourself ;-)

I have never made bad experience with this spray. I´m an onsite engineer for a big amerikan computer manufacturer, (not Apple ;-) ) and we use it for example to make noisy cooling fans in PC´s or notebooks running more quietly

Nov 17, 2013 4:01 PM in response to Maik_Germany

Perhaps i should say that the text on the can says, that you have to wait till the solvent is completly dried up before you start an electrical device.... This normaly takes a few minutes... I have not turned the iPhone off before i applied it... but if you want to be safe....

Nov 17, 2013 4:25 PM in response to Maik_Germany

That's extremely helpful Maik, thank you!

It appears that there are multiple types of silicone sprays some which appear to be for more industrial applications and some which are "electrical grade". Would you mind taking a look at these links and letting me know if any of these might work? I didn't see the number "72" on any of them such as the one you have but I don't know if that has any significance.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRC-2094-Silicone-Lubricant-16-oz-Aerosol-Can-/221189746 302?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337fefae7e

http://www.emisupply.com/catalog/sprayway-electrical-grade-silicone-spray-p-1003 0.html?utm_source=googprod&utm_medium=product_search&utm_campaign=google-product -search-us-en&utm_term=SWI-948&gclid=CMOUwPCH7boCFZNlOgodEBgAWA

Nov 17, 2013 4:33 PM in response to jetsetter883

I think the Sprayway 948 with the electrical grade should be fine!

Consider, you don´t want to drown the iphone in a barrel of it, just a small drop around the power button! ;-)

Nov 17, 2013 4:53 PM in response to Maik_Germany

Thanks again 😀

For what its worth the CRC looks to be electrical grade as well: http://oi44.tinypic.com/rlbbs1.jpg Do you think this would work just the same? I only ask since it seems the brand is very trusted in this industry but I suspect they will both work about the same. And yes, definitely just a dab! I will probably use a small needle or something to apply, unless there is a better way haha.

Nov 17, 2013 5:11 PM in response to jetsetter883

This clear case that shows off the iphone and stops the rattling works and its cheap. it feels great,

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DRJTY44/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&p sc=1

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iPhone 5s Power Button Loose/Rattling Noise