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Tip for cleaning the fastport connector


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Posted by altemyr
Many of the problems related to the fastport connector is caused by dust or dirt or maybe oxide on the contact surfaces. A simple but effective method for cleaning the contacts is to use the tip of a sharp standard pencil. The carbon in the lead in the tip of the pencil may perhaps color the surface somewhat, but carbon is very conductive too, so it will not affect the connection.


Posted by yea g
3h or hb?

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[ This Message was edited by: yea g on 2008-09-27 10:13 ]

Posted by totalgsm
Depends on how much of Graphite you want there
I am sure it will start oxidizing and cause more problems in the future.
Best is cleaning it with Spirit Alcohol and tooth brush.

Posted by altemyr
The pencil works is good for removing things that are stuck to the surface. A follow-up with a cleaning with an alcohol based detergent is of course not bad, but many times, this is not what you have available at the time the contact does not work, at the office or in the car, for example.

About the question about 2H or HB, I actually wour prefer 2B, the softer tip the least risk that the contact are damaged.

Posted by sigea

A good pointed eraser rubbed over contact points to gently remove the acucmulated oxidaiton also helps

Posted by max_wedge

On 2008-09-27 10:20:12, altemyr wrote:
Many of the problems related to the fastport connector is caused by dust or dirt or maybe oxide on the contact surfaces. A simple but effective method for cleaning the contacts is to use the tip of a sharp standard pencil. The carbon in the lead in the tip of the pencil may perhaps color the surface somewhat, but carbon is very conductive too, so it will not affect the connection.

nice tip dude.

Posted by razec
I use a small brush (like an old too brush) to clean it. much safer than using graphite pens

Posted by max_wedge
I use contact cleaner, but the pencil is a good tip if you don't have immediate access to contact cleaner

Posted by groovepeppy
Pencil tip doing the job very fine in my case...

Posted by vivicav
Toothpicks is excellent!

Posted by Hek7or
a dry brushteeth... xD

It works! .... but make sure it is DRY!!

Posted by dennevhyn_31
I tried using a toothbrush and it removed the colored-green dirt. But after a few days, thd colored-green dirty thingy went back and then it started creating rust which causes problems when charging and using the headset to listen music. Sometimes only one earpiece works.

Posted by groovepeppy
spray a little amount of WD-40 on a clean floor and brush it using baby toothbrush.
make sure the toothbrush have a little amount of the WD-40 on the brush
brush the fastport gently and try to reach the corner and the plate thoroughly


Posted by dennevhyn_31
I was able to clean the fastport connector but I think some of the coated copper were removed. It really causes problems on USB connection, charging and using the headset.

@groovepeppy: What's WD-40? Sorry for my ignorance. Hehehe. :)


Posted by altemyr


@groovepeppy: What's WD-40? Sorry for my ignorance. Hehehe.



See http://www.wd40.com/ . I have used that too, but it gives the phone a somewhat unpleasant smell, and the phone may become somewhat clogged, if the spray is used too excessively.


[ This Message was edited by: altemyr on 2009-01-20 06:54 ]

Posted by dennevhyn_31
Oh ok. I will just clean the fastport of my phone using a pencil or alcohol. Because I don't know if WD-40 is available here in the Philippines. Maybe we have that on our markets here but I'm not really familiar. Thanks for the info guys! :)

Posted by max_wedge

On 2009-01-20 14:39:11, dennevhyn_31 wrote:
Oh ok. I will just clean the fastport of my phone using a pencil or alcohol. Because I don't know if WD-40 is available here in the Philippines. Maybe we have that on our markets here but I'm not really familiar. Thanks for the info guys!


go to a chemist and get "isopropyl alcohol" (NOT methylated spirits - it will eat the plastic). Also called "rubbing alcohol". It's ideal - it won't eat the plastic, it won't scratch or abrasive to the contacts, and it won't corrode circuit boards, and it evaporates leaviong no residue. Apply with a cotton bud.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropanol

You can even apply it safely to pcb's if you dismantle your phone and clean the pcb and all contacts (sometimes this can rejuvenate and old phone that doesn't work very well anymore)

Posted by gola
I think what we all really need is a 'tip' to remove the fast port connector and replace it with a mini usb port... Just an impossible thought

Posted by max_wedge
Sure that wouldn't be a bad thing, but the fast port is okay if you keep it clean occasionally. There are some advantages, namely it's a more robust connector than a usb mini port for a headset connector, so if was a choice between usb mini and no 3.5mm, or fastport, then I'd go fast port.

Posted by Logicbloke
Just let it take its lost electrons and everything will be fine . A chemist would say

This message was posted from a SGH-C180

Posted by aquared29
I got that problem lately. what i did is i use lighter fluid with a small brush and dont forget to remove the battery before doing it.

Posted by jdnodcam
@denn, we do have WD-40 here in the Philippines,
I bought mine at SM Supermarket for almost
P200.00

Posted by dennevhyn_31
@jnodcam: Oh ok. I'll try to look for one in SM Megamall. Hehehe I'm having some problems with my phone's fastport right now. The dirt is really causing problems on charging and connecting to the computer.

Posted by aquared29
@denn
w40 is use to loosen rusty objecj like bolt and nut it for industrial use not for electronics and it has oily component

Posted by dennevhyn_31
They said it can be used to clean the fastport of SE phones.

Posted by altemyr

On 2009-03-11 07:06:24, aquared29 wrote:
@denn
w40 is use to loosen rusty objecj like bolt and nut it for industrial use not for electronics and it has oily component


It's true that WD-40 contains a lubricant component, and of course, it gets greasy if used in excess. Also, there are other types of products that are more dedicated for pure contact cleaning, WD-40 is more like an allround spray. However, the good thing with WD-40, or CRC 5-56, or any other similar product, is that they are not electrically conductive, but has a cleaning and grease resolving effect, and the oily component will reject water and moist from ruining the connection, thus making the electrical contact between the socket and the plug better.
[ This Message was edited by: altemyr on 2009-03-12 07:47 ]



Posted by dennevhyn_31
@altemyr: Oh ok. Very well said. Thank you for the information. :)

Posted by rdnymllnsktr

On 2008-11-20 08:22:25, dennevhyn_31 wrote:
I tried using a toothbrush and it removed the colored-green dirt. But after a few days, thd colored-green dirty thingy went back and then it started creating rust which causes problems when charging and using the headset to listen music. Sometimes only one earpiece works.



If you had green colored dirt, that means you got the phone wet. It's not the issue of the toothbrush you used.

Posted by akupunye
thanks guys for the tips.
my phone cant detect the handsfree.
thought it was broken aldy.
i just clean the fastport using toothbrush.
and the handsfree works flawlessly.



Posted by aquared29
your lucky enough and it works

Posted by rion
I found the isopropyl alcohol and tootbrush trick worked MUCH better than rubbing the contacts with the lead from a mechanical pencil (which is an appropriately small 0.5mm wide). All working well again with charger and handsfree. But I didn't have any green stuff, which sounds like copper oxide, thankfully.

Posted by monbrye
may I know where to buy spare fastport connectors? or is there any?

Posted by mallaccra
"Perhaps what mallacra's refering to is probably using a needle to scrape off any residue that may have collected and hardened with humid air in between the pins on the fastport connector. Forgot to mention that works too, may sound a bit brutal but that's how SE technicians get rid of tough residues in between the pins, works like a charm every time"
quoted by mode

give a try, it works
[ This Message was edited by: mallaccra on 2009-10-09 20:47 ]


Posted by satanic_dude
I use a toothbrush. It works!

Posted by Kuchiyose
Where is the fastport connector?

Posted by goarthur77
kuch, it's the charger connector for all se phones.

Posted by Kuchiyose
Ah, thank you for the info.

Posted by goarthur77
I use wd40.

Posted by xxambad4fellaxx
thanks for these useful tips!:)

Posted by opexblue

On 2008-10-30 13:30:58, vivicav wrote:
Toothpicks is excellent!

I use that too, until now I never had any problem

Posted by VLADISLAUS
I always clean the fastport using like liquid balm or cajuput oil (what is it in english? i said 'minyak kayu putih' in indonesian)
Pour a piece of cajuput oil at the fastport (better use a cotton to put the oil to the fastport) then brush it slowly using toothbrush until they're look shiny
After that, clean the residue of cajuput oil in the phone casing using unused cloth (can make a corrosive if u don't clean it up)
Taraaa... The fastport is now clean

Posted by rochel.o8
Im Using needle.

Posted by yoyoatw
this is kinda off topic, but this might relate. My phone (w580i) used to connect to my comp fine. Then after a couple months, my computer started giving me this error: "Usb device has malfunctioned" . I tried different computers and different usb cables (all Sony Ericsson brand) , and it gives me the same error. I think its a problem with the fastport connector, will cleaning it make it work again or will i have to replace my phone?

Posted by mriley

On 2010-06-07 23:29:44, yoyoatw wrote:
this is kinda off topic, but this might relate. My phone (w580i) used to connect to my comp fine. Then after a couple months, my computer started giving me this error: "Usb device has malfunctioned" . I tried different computers and different usb cables (all Sony Ericsson brand) , and it gives me the same error. I think its a problem with the fastport connector, will cleaning it make it work again or will i have to replace my phone?


It says this all the time for me, just keep re-connecting and try tips here will fix it.

Posted by yoyoatw

On 2010-06-08 00:06:03, mriley wrote:

On 2010-06-07 23:29:44, yoyoatw wrote:
this is kinda off topic, but this might relate. My phone (w580i) used to connect to my comp fine. Then after a couple months, my computer started giving me this error: "Usb device has malfunctioned" . I tried different computers and different usb cables (all Sony Ericsson brand) , and it gives me the same error. I think its a problem with the fastport connector, will cleaning it make it work again or will i have to replace my phone?


It says this all the time for me, just keep re-connecting and try tips here will fix it.



thanks man. what specifically did u do to fix your fastport?

Posted by globularity
I found the wd40 tip worked very well but I had to de grease it with vinager afterward. Use very little, you dont want to short the electric. Just spray a tiny amount onto some grease proof paper then gently dab your DRY tooth brush in the WD40, Different toothbrush just dab a little vinager. Works really well. Was going to buy a new phone and I pod but my phone works as new now

Posted by sleep04
very good indeed. Thanks for sharing

Posted by tanishbel87
For the last month or so I've been having problems trying to charge my iPhone, having to position the charger in weird ways for it to work. Tried different cables without luck.

Turns out the lightning port was dirty full of lint! I removed so much stuff from the port using a toothpick (carefully) that I regret not taking a photo of it. Now it charges as new.

Not sure if it's a common problem but is worth giving it some maintenance.


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