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[Verizon] Battery not charging -- not the usual USB problem either

S

Slubgob

Member
Is it possible to screw up a battery so that it won't accept a charge? I'm using the original battery, as well as one of those after-market super fat extended ones.

Briefly -- my phone started to have the issue where the USB port wasn't making a good connection and so wouldn't charge. I temporarily fixed it by tweaking the phone's USB connector up a bit, and Verizon sent me a replacement charger.

After another month or two it started to happen again. I started to use my wife's Droid Razr cable, which worked without a problem. Then we took a trip where she needed her cable, so I used the cable for bluetooth head set.

While using the bluetooth headset, I noticed the battery only partially charged -- somewhere between 30-50%.

I finally got the replacement phone from Verizon. Popped in both batteries so I'd have a good charge to return to stock, and nothing happened.

The phone says it's charging when it's off. When it's plugged in the battery menu says "Not charging." Unplugged, it says "Discharging." This occurs with both the Verizon replacement cable and Razr cable.

Thoughts? Only idea I've had is that once I'm shoveled out of Nemo is to go to a store and see if I can get a battery replacement, or buy a new one.

Thanks for the help!
 
Battery? Maybe.. easy to test with another new battery.

But the thing that stands out most to me is that the factory replacement charger/cable worked for quite a while then began malfunctioning.

That would point to the other issues as being peripheral, rather than causual. I'd just purhcase (or acquire free if you can) a new stock cable from the carrier and see if it repeated. If it does, over time, then the device itself is damaged or ill designed and is in need of replacement, imo.

The thing about moving the connector around in the port, using cables made for other devices, etc, all point back to the original cable issue (at first blush I thought we were talking about the port on the device, but other cables working ok moves the issue back to the cable itself, although not 100%, just "most likely"). Let me know if I'm way off on that.

Side note (personal opinion only ;)):

My response to having any device with an ongoing issue is to get the heck off that device and look around the forums and user ratings for a completly different phone/tab or whatever; I'd never stick with a device that had me wondering if it would charge right.. not for a week, let alone months on end.

Of course, fighting with the insurance people, or dealing with the carrier, manufacturer for refund etc, that's what holds most people back. I'd default to biting the bullet and paying plenty of cash for a proven new one with fewer reports of issues and consider the couple of hundred dollars the price I paid to learn a lesson.

Of course, that's me; I do not have a loyalty to any brand of Android, although I do have a loyalty to the Android OS (so many choices, etc). Some folks will never leave their Nexus or their S3 or whatever. ;)
 
Hmm TexDaddy, that looks interesting . . . .

The method I've been using for about ten years now for every cell phone I've owned is to buy an extra battery and a battery only charger. My batteries not only last longer overall, but they last much longer on each charge than if charged within the phone.

That tiny little USB port should (IMHO) only be used for file transfers and hacking.

my peso's worth. . . .
 
For the heck of it, I brought the battery into a store. Sure enough, it took on a charge.

So, it's either something with the phone they sent me as a replacement, or the chargers. I find it difficult to believe that three chargers are all kaput, especially as one continues to charge my wife's phone fine.

Guess I'll find out in a day or two when the second replacement arrives...
 
I had a problem very similar to yours - they sent me a new phone and it went away. Actually they sent me 2 new phones because the first replacement had a wonky screen.
 
The second new phone arrived and it charges fine. So I guess it was something about the replacement phone.

Now, to address my issue about getting back to stock without USB access...
 
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