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Help FIX for screen creak (No tools required)

DanielM426

DanielM426

Android Enthusiast
UPDATE 7/22: POSSIBLE FIX FOR SCREEN RISE TOO! (read further down the thread)
OK! So when I opened my new baby, I immediately squeezed the left side. And....Creak! :mad:
So I read threads and articles about tightening the screen screws or removing the foam. Obviously that has NOT WORKED. There were a few theories about the cause of the infamous left side creak.
-Lose screws
-That stupid piece of foam
-Bad glue application

I have concluded that the most likely culprit is here.
lbHAt.png

Gn85u.png


We need to put something in between the crevice where the plastic clip, and that black tape plastic meet. I used a heavy piece of paper about 1.5in long and 1/4in wide. And I just slid it in between the two points. The noise issue has been completely solved for me. As a note, my screen rise has been very little. Maybe a millimeter or so. PLEASE let me know if this solves the noise for you

EDIT 7/21
I think I'm close to solving the screen rise problem.
 

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Would snugging up the screws fix the "screen rise" AND the noise?

I've heard the screws are easy to strip so snug is as far as you'd want to go.
 
colchiro said:
Would snugging up the screws fix the "screen rise" AND the noise?

I've heard the screws are easy to strip so snug is as far as you'd want to go.
Click to expand...
Well I loosened all the screws and then redid them in a mirror pattern. Hard to describe, but sort of like how you tighten lugs onto a car wheel. Lightly tighten all and then torque the mirror opposite of each one. I don't think the screws can do much though. If you look step 20 on ifixit you can see that there is larger gap between screws where, not coincidentally, the lifting is showing up. So the problem is definitely in the original design. As for stripping the screws, you have to be really careful. Just used plenty of pressure when tightening
 
Did you use a torque wrench? :D

I'd do it the same way, just start snugging it a bit on opposite sides and follow up a second time around.
 
While I'm fortunate enough to have been spared these issues, it's still really cool when someone takes the time to investigate and share their findings.
Thank you.

I raise my coffee cup in salutation!
 
stridermt2k said:
While I'm fortunate enough to have been spared these issues, it's still really cool when someone takes the time to investigate and share their findings.
Thank you.

I raise my coffee cup in salutation!
Click to expand...

I agree; I have no issues, but having detailed photos to go along with the explanation is great. Nice solution, hope it stays fixed for you!

P.S. every time I see a tablet opened, it always astounds me how much of the area inside is battery, compared to the tiny little area taken up by the actual electronics. I know these chips are small, it's just funny to see.
 
I love how the N7 has great battery life. Granted there's no 4G radio to power (wouldn't that be nice tho), but my wife played a game with wifi on, for an hour and it was still at 97%.
 
Yea mines plagued too.....upper left creak but oh well I can live with it...would be weeks if I sent back to Google
 
Well the fix survived the night! Now I'll put my attention to locking down any screen rise. I thing some super glue will be in order...
 
binary visions said:
I agree; I have no issues, but having detailed photos to go along with the explanation is great. Nice solution, hope it stays fixed for you!

P.S. every time I see a tablet opened, it always astounds me how much of the area inside is battery, compared to the tiny little area taken up by the actual electronics. I know these chips are small, it's just funny to see.
Click to expand...
I know! The battery in this one is massive. The board is just a simple L shape
 
So last night I was closely examining the glass. I have concluded, almost without a doubt, the glass is rising because the surface that it was glued onto had a defect. Couple that with the heat in the back of a UPS truck and the screen lifts.
So last night (7/22) I had the idea to undo that process.
Basically what I did was apply firm pressure with the length of my hand on that left edge (Imagine a karate chop on the edge of the device). I had a theory that the warmth of my hand and the pressure would sort of re-set the glue and glass. I held my hand there for around 30 minutes. Then I made sure that my battery was very low (5%>) and turned off the tablet. I then plugged it in to charge. The reason I did this was because the tablet gets substantially warm when charging and off, which would soften the glue. I also made sure to put the spine of a heavy textbook on the left edge. Again, to try and set the glue with warmth and pressure. So as the tablet charged and stayed warm, the book would put enough pressure on to re-align the screen. After the tablet was charged I unplugged it and let it sit overnight and cool but still with the textbook on top. Finally, this morning I took off the book. The results:
My screen has stayed down the entire day and is approaching 12hrs of no lifting :D I can't say if it will stay like this, but it's nice not having the problem. I can only hope that the glue is really set now.
 
Jay Aristide said:
You're one handy hacker, man! Hats off to you! Personally, I'm just gonna RMA mine in a couple months, but this is good stuff, nonetheless..
Click to expand...
Thanks! I just like things to work, you know? I guess you'd be going through Asus? Since Google only gives 15 days...
 
stridermt2k said:
While I'm fortunate enough to have been spared these issues, it's still really cool when someone takes the time to investigate and share their findings.
Thank you.

I raise my coffee cup in salutation!
Click to expand...

not only that, but risk their original warranty for the greater good.
kudos OP.
 
I had the creak from day one but it wasn't enough to bother me.
It has gradually become a bit worse. I took the back off and tested all the screws and two of them were loose.
Nipped them up and everything else seemed ok.
Didn't make a point of messing with the screen, just used it as normal and about half an hour later started noticing a slight creak again.

I've had the N7 5 days now and if I press each side of the screen there is visible movement.
Not really sure what to do. Don't want to send it away and be waiting weeks (or even days) for another and what's to say the replacement won't have the same problem?

Absolutely love my Nexus but worried the issue is going to get worse.
 
DanielM426 said:
The results:
My screen has stayed down the entire day and is approaching 12hrs of no lifting :D I can't say if it will stay like this, but it's nice not having the problem. I can only hope that the glue is really set now.
Click to expand...

The test will come when you next charge it up form 5%. It will get warm inside again, and the glue may soften with no book to keep the screen down...
 
For all of those curious I have the same issue. I contacted Google's RMA (I bought it via the play store) and Google will ship me a new device before I have to return mine. They put a temporary hold on your credit card for the price of the full tablet in case you don't send the original tablet back in the allotted 3 week period.
 
RazzleFnDazzle said:
For all of those curious I have the same issue. I contacted Google's RMA (I bought it via the play store) and Google will ship me a new device before I have to return mine. They put a temporary hold on your credit card for the price of the full tablet in case you don't send the original tablet back in the allotted 3 week period.
Click to expand...
Did they give you an eta for the new one?
 
wibbly said:
The test will come when you next charge it up form 5%. It will get warm inside again, and the glue may soften with no book to keep the screen down...
Click to expand...
Agreed! It only really heats up when it's off and charging. I'm guessing that there's more electrical resistance when the device is not using any power but receiving it. At least it doesn't get too warm when it's powered on and charging.
Only time will tell though. At least I still have a few days to exchange it if the screen comes up again.
 
RazzleFnDazzle said:
For all of those curious I have the same issue. I contacted Google's RMA (I bought it via the play store) and Google will ship me a new device before I have to return mine. They put a temporary hold on your credit card for the price of the full tablet in case you don't send the original tablet back in the allotted 3 week period.
Click to expand...

This is also what I was told. Just waiting on a contact from a 'specialist'.
 
I just got off the phone with a Google Play rep because I am exchanging my device. I thought the creaking fix worked but it didn't and I would much rather have one with no issues. At least we can keep our device until the other one is sent.

jmar
 
Well, sadly my N7 screen has risen again. This time it almost seems to be lifting further from the center too. Time to begin the exchange :(
 
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