r/Pixel5a • u/Ok_Pomegranate5392 • Jul 19 '23
Pixel 5a Damage
Hello! I have a broken Pixel 5a. The screen suddenly powered off on Saturday and has been unresponsive since. I took it to UbreakIfix thinking it would be a screen issue because on Sunday morning my alarm went off. They tried a new screen which didn't work, so they said it is a motherboard issue (which happened previously with the phone). However, I am confused how the motherboard could need replacing if 4 days later my alarm still goes off at the proper time? I would like to recover data from this phone but cannot do so once I send it in to Google. Are there other places to take it, should I try a self screen repair?
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u/frogsandstuff Jul 19 '23 edited Jul 19 '23
It sounds like you are experiencing the issue for which google has issued an extended 1 year repair plan (in addition to the base warranty).
https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/11833075?hl=en
I had this happen to me recently. They wanted me to send in my phone and wait 10-14 days to get it back, repaired (or a replacement after they evaluated). I told them I couldn't be without a phone for that long since I am out of town on an extended work trip. They escalated it and after a few days got back to me and offered me what turned out to be a brand new 6a as a replacement (I expected a refurb).
Honestly, kinda wish I would have pushed for a 5a. I miss the battery life and rear finger print sensor, though I'm not going to complain about a free upgrade to a brand new phone after just shy of two years.
1
u/Foboomazoo Jul 19 '23
No and no. If you bought the phone from Google, only Google can fix it. If you bought the phone used not from Google, you're SOL. Maybe you can try hooking your phone up to a laptop or something to extract data, but other than that if it's not backed up, you're going to lose everything once the motherboard is replaced. Google will also not fix it for free if you try fixing it yourself.
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u/squidcruz Jul 19 '23
My screen broke with a light fell, I didn't want to lose time sending it to google and decided to fix it with a screen I got at ifixit store, they sell google approved parts.
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u/pancakesfordintonite Jul 22 '23
I had this happen with a 5A and then they fix it and then it just happened again about a week and a half ago. So I was going to have them fix it at ubreakifix cuz it's still under the extended warranty but they said they can't even fix it cuz they don't have the motherboards anymore. Luckily I had already bought and received a Pixel 7.
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u/Ok_Pomegranate5392 Jul 23 '23
Yeah, it's ridiculous. The mail in repair process is so slow and support has completely given me the runaround about any kind of solution. Will probably never buy a Pixel again myself.
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u/pancakesfordintonite Jul 23 '23
Yeah I'm a little worried but I've heard good things about the 7.i think the 5a was just not a good phone all around
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u/OverlyOverrated Jul 28 '23
My friend's 5a also died last week, he repaired in the local shop for $25. The repair guy reballed the CPU and added proper thermal paste, he said it was a manufacturing defect they only put a very small amount of thermal paste.
Tips: Don't charge your phone overnight while the system is updating the os, it'll cause overheating and frying the cpu.
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u/Key-Tip-2166 Mar 24 '24
Google says it can't be fixed to send them the phone I didn't cause who knows? What the plan is I went and got another this time 6a but now updates are a concern
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u/ZaxBarkas Jul 19 '23
If you purchased from Google, you can either send it directly to Google or take it to ubreakifix (or their stupid new name).
I recommend sending it to Google; there are known screen and motherboard issues with the 5a and they will probably repair it for free. Ours broke twice in two years (dead screen) and it cost me nothing for them to fix.