Repair My Cell Phone

Is your trackball on your your T-mobile Sidekick 3 or Danger Hiptop 3 not working very well?  Have you cleaned the trackball with IPA and haven’t seen much improvement? Can you not select with the trackball on the Sidekick 3?

Then this is the  repair guide for you. This procedure shows how to take apart your sidekick 3 and clean the trackball and the trackball pad.  

Will this fix all of your issues? Probably, It work about 90% of the time.

If you need a new trackball, then click on the following link to see what is available.

T-mobile Sidekick Trackballs for Sale

Items Needed:

T6 Torx Screwdriver (or small flat tip screws that can be inserted into grooves of screw head.

A thin guitar pick (you can also use a small flat tip screwdriver or your fingernail if you prefer)

IPA (rubbing Alcohol) and some q –tips

Directions:

1. Power down unit.
2. Remove back cover and take out battery.
3. Flip you sidekick screen halfway to access the two screws that need to be removed. One has already been removed in this picture. Remove the screws using the T6 torx driver.
4. While still holding the screen in the half flipped position, gently lift the screen up and out.

   Warning

   Be careful not to touch the copper contacts or the connector. The pins on the connector of the base unit are very fragile. 

5. Set the Sidekick 3 LCD screen to the side.
6. Use a guitar pick, small flat tip screwdriver, or your fingernail, pop off the silver covers on the sides of the sidekick.
7. Remove the 2 screws near trackball. These screws need a T6 torx driver or a small flat tip screwdriver.
8. Remove the 2 screws near the d-pad. These screws also need a T6 torx driver or a small flat tip screwdriver.
9. Lift up top cover of Sidekick 3. Lift from the d-pad side.  This makes it easier to get the cover over the USB port.
10. Remove cover over the trackball.
11. Loosen the clips holding the sidekick 3 trackball in place. There is one on each side.
12. Lift the trackball up and off. Take a look and make sure the metal piece on the bottom is still there.  If you can not select with your trackball, that may be the problem.
13. Clean the trackball with IPA (or Rubbing Alchohol) and a q-tip. Make sure to rotate and clean it well.  Take a look and make sure that there is debris inside.  Do not take the trackball apart.  There are sensors in there that are hard to get back together if disassembled.
14. Clean the trackball pad on the main board.  It can get very gunked up.  See the picture below for proof of that. Use alcohol and a q-tip to clean this as well.
15. Install the trackball back on the pad.  The white tab should be toward the outer edge of the phone. Line up the trackball as shown below.  
16. Once the trackball is in place, snap it down until it locks into place.  This may take a few tries.  Don’t give up, it will snap back in.
17. Install the trackball cover back into place. (yes, I flipped the picture from step 10. Thanks for noticing)
18. Install the top cover back down on the sidekick 3.  Start by putting it over the usb porn and snapping down.
19. Install the 4 screws removed in steps 7 and 8.
20. Install the Silver side cover panels removed in step 6.
21. Rotate the LCD screen flip assembly to the half flipped position and install the two screws removed in step 3 and tighten them down.
22. Install the battery and battery cover back on the sidekick 3.
23. Power up you phone and enjoy your Sidekick 3 with its newly cleaned trackball by texting your friends about this site!

If you have questions please leave a comment below.

P.S.  I know some of these photos are from www.repairmysidekick.org. I also run that site so I gave myself permission.  I promise! =)

Disclaimer: Disassembling your Sidekick 3 will void the warranty. Proceed with the preceding instructions at you own risk. www.fixmysidekick.com is not liable for any damage that may occur. This website is in no way related to or associated with T-mobile or Danger Inc.

Originally posted 2008-10-28 21:39:29.

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