HT202033: Get started with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

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markfromlos angeles

Level 1 (13 points)

iCloud

Q: How can I fix my (3rd party refurbished) iPhone 5s that became bricked?

I bought an unlocked iPhone 5s from a 3rd Party Vendor while in the U.S. I set it up with a T-Mobile PAYGO SIM and used it for two weeks in the U.S. and two weeks in Mexico. On or around the day the T-Mobile month expired, the iPhone ceased functioning. It won't start up(screen goes on, but is blank/dark), and attempts to do a factory reset with iTunes have failed.

I haven't yet bought a SIM from a local vendor in Mexico. Is the SIM the problem or is it the phone? What additional steps can I take to reset it? Are there diagnostic tools that will run on Mac OS X or Windows?

iOS 9.3.2

Posted on Aug 15, 2016 8:16 AM

I have this question too

javaliga

Level 4 (3,175 points)

iCloud

It sounds like you do indeed have a hardware problem. Here is Apple's response to your error code (but I doubt it will be of much help):

If you see error 9, 4005, 4013, or 4014 when you restore your iOS device - Apple Support

I think you have already tried the remedies they suggest.

Posted on Aug 15, 2016 11:27 AM

Q: How can I fix my (3rd party refurbished) iPhone 5s that became bricked?

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by Meg St._Clair,

Meg St._Clair Aug 15, 2016 8:19 AM in response to markfromlos angeles
Level 9 (58,274 points)

iPhone

Aug 15, 2016 8:19 AM in response to markfromlos angeles

The phone would still start up even without a SIM. I'd contact the vendor you bought it from and see if they warranty it at all.
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by Michael Black,

Michael Black Aug 15, 2016 8:19 AM in response to markfromlos angeles
Level 7 (23,942 points)

Aug 15, 2016 8:19 AM in response to markfromlos angeles

Whomever refurbished it should have offered some kind of warranty, so I would contact them. A failure to boot up will have nothing to do with the SIM (one need not even be present to just boot an iPhone). Apple will not service that phone if it's been opened and worked on by non-authorized service Techs. There are no user accessible diagnostic tools for iPhones.
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by markfromlos angeles,

markfromlos angeles Aug 15, 2016 9:10 AM in response to Michael Black
Level 1 (13 points)

iCloud

Aug 15, 2016 9:10 AM in response to Michael Black

Thanks. Unfortunately your answer wasn't helpful. The 30 day warranty expired and as I mentioned, I'm not in the U.S. at the moment (and won't be back until November, I should add). I tried doing a restore with iTunes using a Windows 7 computer in an Internet cafe, and got an error 4005 message.
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by Meg St._Clair,

Meg St._Clair Aug 15, 2016 9:14 AM in response to markfromlos angeles
Level 9 (58,274 points)

iPhone

Aug 15, 2016 9:14 AM in response to markfromlos angeles

markfromlos angeles wrote:

The 30 day warranty expired .

It would have been helpful had you included that information in your initial post. The more information you give, the better the responses you're likely to get.

Probably the best you can do at this point is see if you can find an independent phone repair store that seems trustworthy.
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by markfromlos angeles,

markfromlos angeles Aug 15, 2016 9:15 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
Level 1 (13 points)

iCloud

Aug 15, 2016 9:15 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

Thanks for your reply, but that won't work for me. The 30 day warranty expired before the phone stopped working and I'm currently outside of the U.S., as I mentioned. I won't be back until November. I've tried restoring using iTunes on a Windows 7 computer in an Internet cafe, but I got an error 4005.
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by markfromlos angeles,

markfromlos angeles Aug 15, 2016 9:21 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
Level 1 (13 points)

iCloud

Aug 15, 2016 9:21 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

sorry my question was unhelpful to you. I probably also should have explicitly mentioned the Mexican customs regulations regarding shipping cellurlar phones back and forth between Mexico and the U.S. (20% tariff) or even mentioning that international shipping would be inconvenient might have made the question more helpful to you.

FInding an independent repair shop might be the next step. Do you know anything about DFU mode?
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by Meg St._Clair,Helpful

Meg St._Clair Aug 15, 2016 11:28 AM in response to markfromlos angeles
Level 9 (58,274 points)

iPhone

Aug 15, 2016 11:28 AM in response to markfromlos angeles

Try this article:

https://www.theiphonewiki.com/wiki/DFU_Mode

But, it sounds as if you have a hardware problem.
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by javaliga,Apple recommended

javaliga Aug 15, 2016 11:27 AM in response to markfromlos angeles
Level 4 (3,175 points)

iCloud

Aug 15, 2016 11:27 AM in response to markfromlos angeles

It sounds like you do indeed have a hardware problem. Here is Apple's response to your error code (but I doubt it will be of much help):

If you see error 9, 4005, 4013, or 4014 when you restore your iOS device - Apple Support

I think you have already tried the remedies they suggest.
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by markfromlos angeles,

markfromlos angeles Aug 15, 2016 11:28 AM in response to javaliga
Level 1 (13 points)

iCloud

Aug 15, 2016 11:28 AM in response to javaliga

Thanks!
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HT202033: Get started with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Q: How can I fix my (3rd party refurbished) iPhone 5s that became bricked?

All replies Helpful answers

by Meg St._Clair,

by Michael Black,

by markfromlos angeles,

by Meg St._Clair,

by markfromlos angeles,

by markfromlos angeles,

by Meg St._Clair,★Helpful

by javaliga,Apple recommended

by markfromlos angeles,

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Helpful answers

by Meg St._Clair,Helpful