Failing Home Button: Tips On Fixing It

[Leesy]

Hi all,

My home buttons been going on my phone recently and I was wondering if anyone could take a rough stab at how tricky to fix it will be.

A while back I did a very stupid thing and as I was getting out of the car, I didn't notice my iPhone had fallen out of my pocket and onto the door frame. Until I shut the car door and wondered what was stopping it from shutting properly that is. My iPhone came out fully working but with a smashed back glass panel and it's now also slightly bent at the top of the phone (near the silent mode switch). That was a while ago and since then I've taken it off to the Apple Store to get it fixed & all was fine for a while.

But now my home button has stopped working. Sometimes it's fantastic and will work instantly. Other times, I just can't get the thing to respond no matter what I do. I'm trying a restore on my iPhone now incase it's somehow software related but I'm guessing the hardware's just taken one knock too many over the iPhones life.

So my question is - what do I do:
1) Take it into an Apple Store to see if they can repair it? Will they be able to?
2) Buy an iPhone 4S when I'm due an upgrade in December & hope that the iPhone 5 isn't released for another 18 months. Plus then try to see if I can get a decent price from a phone recycling site.

Suggestions anyone?

 

[PurpleHeart]

one weird tip that works :

flick the home button
with your middle finger like you'd flick someone
all the gunk that's caught between the button and the phone will leak out
repeat this few times and home button works better amazingly


note: try this at your own risk - I've heard from hundreds of people who have had this work, but some people have trouble controlling their power

 

[RossMacca]

Did you mention the faulty home button when you got the back repaired?
Im going tomorrow with a smashed back panel and a very dodgy home button, but I get the feeling they'll blame it on the drop my phone took which caused the smashed back. I can't see them replacing the phone for me when the back if it is shattered....

Ive tried loads of methods of fixing it, including multiple restores and taking a toothbrush to the dock port, but no luck. I really hope my genius is in a good mood and just replaces my phone for me!

 

[Leesy]

I didn't mention it as I didn't really start to notice it until after the repair. The flicking does seem to temporarily fix it but it soon goes back after a while. I've also heard rubbing alcohol can help so perhaps I'll try that next.

 

[lewys]

this happened to my phone and my friend and it wasn't dropped or anything