[allenmarx]

Hey guys, I just got an 8900 about a month ago and I love it so far. A huge change from my old 8100. However, I'm already having a problem. I do have insurance on this phone, but I'm impatient. The trackball won't respond to clicks/presses, regardless of how hard I press. I've tried rolling the phone upside down on my desk to get dirt out and have tried blowing into the trackball (I don't have compressed air). I would take the trackball apart but it's not quite as simple as the 8100 I had. I wouldn't know where to start with taking it apart and it looks much more complicated. Anyone know how to fix this, or should I bring it in for repair?

Edit:

I forgot to mention, lately I've been messing with the engineering screens. Would that have any effect on it? I don't see any options in the screens for the trackball.

[allenmarx]

Shameless bump. No one knows how to fix this?

[unclefester]

If you have insurance on your phone, why in the world are you kicking yourself to try to fix this? Send it into Tmobile, they will replace the phone with no questions asked. Its always worked for me in the past when my trackballs quit working

[endure161]

If the device is covered under warranty I would not try to fix it.

I have had this problem with two different 8900's. The last one was not covered under warranty because I had unlocked it - to use a T-Mobile phone on ATT. T-Mobile, ATT, and RIM all refused to repair or replace it.

Anyway, the fix was to replace the trackball flex cable, which is the board that has the switch that gets pressed when you push the ball. It is also the interface for the other trackball functions. If the trackball is removed the board can then be pulled out. The connector on the main board first has to be disconnected for removal. Then the board and the cable fished out. The new board goes back in like the old one with the cable threaded through and connected on the other side of the main device board. I found my new replacement board on eBay for $20.