vB Easy Archive - V300 in V400 housing complete!

Pages: 1

V300 in V400 housing complete!
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Thespis

I took the plunge and changed my housing.
I got a full V400 housing from Jesshopus on ebay for $19.00 shipped. It came with keypad, both exterior and interior screen, and lots of sticky pads. It did not have extra screws and was one screw hole plug short.
It took about an hour to change out the housing (with help from the thread on HoFo and the video at http://www.mkwireless.com/v300-video.html ) and another 45 minutes to troubleshoot the display switch which turns the display on and off when the flip is closed or opened. It turns out the keypad didn't quite fit, so I enlarged the opening with an Exacto knife and it works fine.
All in all, it was fun. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. In fact, I've already got my eye on a solid black housing...
I can post pictures of the finished project if anyone's interested, but it just looks like a V400 in a smoke housing.

Posted by: Cr@cker

sweet mod. My nephew just stuck one in a v551 housing and it looks pretty nice compared to a 300

Posted by: Iman07

plz do reply. i wanna have pics cuz i am proy gonna do it.

Posted by: Thespis

Posted by: Leglitch

I did pretty much the same thing with my v400. Except now my screens wont work!

Got my hands on a complete case (E-bay around 10$ for the front, back, middle and keypad) Everything was included, except for the kitchen sink... They even trew in a number 6 torx screw driver.

I wanted to keep the original keypad (looks nicer thant the one supplied) I put everything back together only to find out that some keys (buttom ones) were stuck together (not enough room in the new bezel) Everything else was working fine.

Soo I took it apart again, palced in the new keypad, all the keys work, but no display! Firts I figured that I might have broken the flex cable...

Even ordered a new one that should arrive shortly. Menawhile, I played around a bit, and just for fun I turned it on while holding the * and # keys... Surprise! I got the boot loader message displayed... Could it be a software problem? I tried reloading the flash and flex combo. Flash and flex went fine but still no display.

I know by now that the evidence points to the switch that tells the phone when the flip is closed, but a few clues tell another story. The keypad does light up when I opend the flip, and return to dark when it's closed. Th outer LCD displays light will go on when I receive a call, but it wont show anything (no carrier name, no Motorola logo)

Any Ideas? Anyone? Thanks....

Posted by: ivan300

Im thinking of doing the same thing. Your photos convinced me

but i have a 2 questions

Is the battery cover the "extended size" ?
Does it feel the same as the normal housing or does it feel "cheap"?
and
once you take the 4 screws on the back how exactly do you pull apart the two sides without it breaking.

Thanks

and Leglitch did you flash it with the same flash and flex combo.If you did try using a different one.

Posted by: Thespis

Quote:

Is the battery cover the "extended size" ?

No, the battery cover is the normal size.

Quote:

Does it feel the same as the normal housing or does it feel "cheap"?

It does not feel the same as the OEM housing in that it doesn't have that rubbery feeling. It does not, IMO feel cheap. It's obviously high-impact, clear plastic painted on the inside so it won't scratch off.

Quote:

once you take the 4 screws on the back how exactly do you pull apart the two sides without it breaking.

Watch the video I linked in my original post and search HoFo for how-to threads. Quickly, on the lower half there are two clasps that are easily undone with a pair of tweezers. The flip is done with a fingernail or credit card. Again, watch the video. Did I mention that the video is very helpful?

Posted by: ivan300

Quote:

Originally posted by Thespis
No, the battery cover is the normal size.

It does not feel the same as the OEM housing in that it doesn't have that rubbery feeling. It does not, IMO feel cheap. It's obviously high-impact, clear plastic painted on the inside so it won't scratch off.

Watch the video I linked in my original post and search HoFo for how-to threads. Quickly, on the lower half there are two clasps that are easily undone with a pair of tweezers. The flip is done with a fingernail or credit card. Again, watch the video. Did I mention that the video is very helpful?

If figured it out a few mins ago. the video is very helpfull but it would be better if it was soo bad quality

Im gonna buy two of the fully clear ones for my and my bros v400 and the only thing that was holding me back was the extended battery cover.

thanks

Posted by: trethacker

Quote:

Originally posted by Leglitch
Could it be a software problem? I tried reloading the flash and flex combo. Flash and flex went fine but still no display. ...

...Any Ideas? Anyone? Thanks....

I know you may have checked this anyways, but just in case, did you be sure to plug the screens ribbon back into it's socket on the back of the v300 MoBo again? and did you be sure it plugged in exactly the same and tightly?

If it worked before you remodified the keypad, then it prolly isnt a software error since you didnt change the software after you changed the keypad over... check our connection and mabe even the cable/ribbon.

just in case..

Posted by: tronkity

looks nice! i'm kind of weird and like the v300 buttons. i have a v400 and am contemplating getting the housing for a v300 just so i can have the buttons that are round.

maybe i will post photos. hehe

Posted by: Dustin-Noc1

I hope your little signature there isn't a stab at me.

Posted by: Dustin-Noc1

Oh, and now that I'm sure it is:
For clarification; you cannot take a Motorola V300, simply flex it, apply a newer flash, and have a Motorola V620.
This also holds true for any other Motorola Phone, other than the Motorola V620.
There's no stupid naming system to it. You have a Motorola V300, in all the piece of crap glory it is. Have fun.

// end Thread-Jack

Posted by: snearkologist

Hey trethacker i know you did a thing on changing the housing for a v300. Could you please help me out on changing mine. THanks alot. My aim sn is nikefeene51o

Posted by: dbirosel

Quote:

Originally posted by ivan300
If figured it out a few mins ago. the video is very helpfull but it would be better if it was soo bad quality

Im gonna buy two of the fully clear ones for my and my bros v400 and the only thing that was holding me back was the extended battery cover.

thanks

where are u getting this at? im pretty interested..

Posted by: ivan300

I got them from here
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...mMakeTrack=true

They came in the mail the other day, and ive changed both of the housing, Ill post pics tomorrow.

Posted by: young271

I got this one on eBay, it was very easy to install and included everything needed. Motorola Housing

Posted by: cjmedina

i also changed the housing now i cant hear anything from my ear piece everything else is fine any ideas

Posted by: anniei

I had a similar problem when I replaced my housing...everything seems to work except I can't hear the people on the line unless it is on speaker phone...did you ever find out how to fix your problem?

Posted by: cjmedina

anniei ya i found out my problem. there's this ushape [black] plastic that had thin strip of metal that goes over the speaker. it lets it connect to the strip on the board. i forgot to put it on and know it works fine. hope this helps.

Posted by: anniei

THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH! I was so proud of replacing the housing myself that I almost cried when I thought I would have to do it all over again! I had put the black piece back in but I had put it in backwards so it wasn't making contact...

Posted by: cjmedina

so im guessing it works

Posted by: anniei

My euphoria was short-lived...I went to charge it and it doesn't seem to be charging. The battery icon flashes red instead doing that creeping bar thing it should be doing...I'm researching the problem...any ideas?

Posted by: shortyd999

The video makes it look easy, BUT is it actually that easy.