BlackBerry® PlayBook™

[Carbon14]

I have a Playbook 16gb, about a year old which was working well until about 2 months ago when the micro usb port stopped working.  Turns out a pin was damaged, and I had to have a whole new port installed (cost $75.00) with a 30-day warranty.

Two months later, when the warranty had run out the same problem started happening.  I went to another repair shop this time and was told again, a pin was damaged.  I don't know if the first place gave me a damaged port or never removed the old one. I thought this was really strange, but could not dispute it and again had a new usb port installed ($45.00 this time, and a 90-day warranty).

So this time the usb port is working, and the charge comes across the battery icon to show that the battery is charging, except that it never charges up the battery.  Overnight charging later, the battery indicates the charge is still where it was when I originally started charging - but - I seem to be able to work on the tablet for many hours with the charger attached.  So, the charger does not charge the battery but it seems to work like an electrical cord and keep electricity going into the tablet for as long as I need to use it. Trouble is I can't take the tablet anywhere if I can't guarantee I will find a wall plug to plug into.

So I thought maybe the battery is the problem. I installed Battery Guru, but it says the battery health is 90%.  When I remove the charger the battery level starts to drop, but when I plug it back in, it does not increase, but doesn't decrease either.

Can anyone tell me what is going on?  I don't want to go back to the shop and have to spend more money without a guarantee anything will be fixed.

[Wolf359]

Are these shops authorized blackberry repair stores?  It sounds like it was never repaired properly in the first place.

[Carbon14]

Both advertise themselves as Blackberry (including Playbook), repair experts on the Internet and all over their windows and walls. Their display cases are full of fixed Blackberries, and other tablets and phones. I didn't think to challenge them beyond that.

[Wolf359]

I think thats fine.  This is a gray area since 2 companies have worked on it.  I don't think you should have to keep paying over and over to get the same thing fixed if it is breaking for no reason.  Is it possible for the last company that repaired it to contact RIM for a possible RMA or other repair options?

[Carbon14]

Yes, that is what I will have to do, I guess.  At least they offered a 90-day warranty, but they may say that the current problem has nothing to do with the last problem because the usb port does work now.

I was hoping someone here may have had a similar problem though so I have a heads up when i take it back for repairs.

[dbthundercat]

The playbook wont charge if plugged into a computer if thats how your trying to charge it? Could be a faulty charger though if you having that issue. Might not be pulling in enough current.

I work in repairs myself and we've had a few playbook ports not working. Were an authorised repair centre though so the devices just get exchanged under warranty

[knottyrope]

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Carbon14 wrote:

Yes, that is what I will have to do, I guess.  At least they offered a 90-day warranty, but they may say that the current problem has nothing to do with the last problem because the usb port does work now.

I was hoping someone here may have had a similar problem though so I have a heads up when i take it back for repairs.

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90 day support and 1 year warranty is what is offered

[Kryshu]

I have it plugged into an electrical outlet, just the same as I charged it many times before. I have plugged it in several different outlets, in two different cities, and on one moving train actually. The charger works like an electrical cord and it keeps the tablet on for hours, but it does not charge the battery.

[Kryshu]

Thanks, but I was referring to the place that last fixed it.  I can go back there because they gave me a 90-day warranty but now I don't trust their fixing abilities either.  I've had the tablet over a year, so no RIM warranty.

[Kryshu]

Sorry, forgot to add that I have also tried charging it with my Samsung smartphone charger, which has the same size usb, but nothing there either.  I used the Samsung a few times before and it worked as well as the Blackberry charger, but I was told it was responsible for breaking the pin in the first place because the Samsung usb is not as gentle as the Blackberry.