Tab4 won't turn on/charge/reset

[VirulentGunk]

Here's the deal. I've got a Tab4 that I got a few months back (I'd say it's under 6 months old), and it's basically a brick at this point. I was watching a YouTube video while cooking dinner last night, while charging the tablet at the same time. When dinner was done I shut off the screen and closed the case, left the tablet in the kitchen charging and we sat down to eat. After dinner I returned to pick up the tablet and it was off. I could not start the tablet. No amount of pushing the power button would activate the tablet, and it was still plugged in. I've tried to start it with and without the SD card, plugged in and not plugged in, still nothing.

I've been searching online for solutions but I'm at an impasse. I've tried the Hard Reset tactic, nothing. The screen won't activate. I'm noticing today that while the tablet is plugged in the area around the home button is getting quite warm, not quite too hot to touch, but it's getting there. I currently have it plugged into a laptop for a slow charge before trying to plug it into the wall again for a faster charge, but regardless of the charging source it gets quite warm.

I don't have the tools to get the back case off to try unplugging the battery or tinkering in there.

Thoughts? Solutions? Similar problems? I could use the help here.

 

[AnciusD]

Did you buy the Tab 4 new or refurb'd? Did you have any battery/power problems prior to the current incident?
When you did the hard reset did you wait/hold it a long time?
In any case, I don't think it should feel too warm.

 

[VirulentGunk]

I bought it new from a Wal Mart (can't find the friggin' receipt though).

I noticed no battery/power/heating problems before this. I had a Samsung Galaxy S3 that crapped out in a similar fashion, and afterwards it had trouble charging unless I had it propped up a certain way to force the connections, but nothing with the tablet.

I tried the hard reset today, a few times. I held the buttons down for 10 seconds, 20 seconds, a full minute, and nothing.

 

[AnciusD]

Could the port or cable be damaged? That might cause it to not charge properly. Check for dust, lint, crumbs in the port?

 

[VirulentGunk]

The port and connection on the cable seem fine, nice and shiney. No debris or obstructions (I know I use it in the kitchen, but I'm pretty careful with placement) I even used the cord on another device, it charged and worked, so I'm inclined to think it's a problem with the Tab4 rather than the cord. I'll see if I can't track down another cord and try that on the Tab4, but since I've ruled out this cord I don't think that'll have a positive effect.

I switched the Tab4 from slow charge on the laptop to fast charge on a wall plug - nothing, other than the heating up I mentioned earlier seemed worse, as in the tablet felt hotter to the touch than when on a laptop based slow charge.

 

[AnciusD]

Ok, I figured it out. If return is not an option, all you need to do is (VERY CAREFULLY) pry off the back of your Tab 4 with a credit card and/or a guitar pick. Once you get it off, you'll see the battery there. You'll see 2 flat copper wires attached. The small one, lift the latch and GENTLY pull it out. The fatter one, just GENTRY lift up with your fingernail. Then CAREFULLY restore them. Snap the back back on it and plug it in. Boom, battery charging screen!

From the thread below.

The port and connection on the cable seem fine, nice and shiney. No debris or obstructions (I know I use it in the kitchen, but I'm pretty careful with placement) I even used the cord on another device, it charged and worked, so I'm inclined to think it's a problem with the Tab4 rather than the cord. I'll see if I can't track down another cord and try that on the Tab4, but since I've ruled out this cord I don't think that'll have a positive effect.

I switched the Tab4 from slow charge on the laptop to fast charge on a wall plug - nothing, other than the heating up I mentioned earlier seemed worse, as in the tablet felt hotter to the touch than when on a laptop based slow charge.

Did you try a different charger too? Remember, it's a separate component from the cord (as I recall - most are).

 

[VirulentGunk]

By "two copper wires" did he mean the two bronze-ish coloured wires that look like circuit pathways? The only wires I see that I recognise as wires are 6 coated wires, 2 red, 2 yellow, 2 black. Travelling from the board to the battery.

There's a fatish copper looking wire[?] beside those six wires, and a thin one in the vicinity of the charger. Am I pulling those?

 

[VirulentGunk]

Umm... so guess what I just realised.

This whole time, it's the damn Tab A, not the Tab 4... I got the two confused... Same procedure?

 

[AnciusD]

That's hilarious. I bought mine almost two years ago. So I though it odd that you only got the tablet 6 months ago. Guessing that you don't have a cover on it, otherwise you'd have noticed the model.

Do you know what screen size your tablet is? Model #?

 

[VirulentGunk]

Right? I've got a Tab 4 as well, I just got the two confused in my head, the 4 is the smaller, the A is the device with the issue. I use a leather folder cover, no screen cover or anything, just one of those book cover like deals. The age is correct though, it can't be more than six months old. Oddly enough, when I use headphones with the 4 the sound is really quiet, I think the headphone jack became unseated and slipped down some.

It's a SM-T350NZAAXAC. 8" model, Smoky Titanium 16GB (the Tab A with the won't turn on issue)

 

[AnciusD]

when I use headphones with the 4 the sound is really quiet, I think the headphone jack became unseated and slipped down some.

I've seen lots of complaints about the Tab 4 volume, not sure if it's with or w/o headphones. Did you check the obvious and made sure the plug is in the jack fully? I seem to recall it needs an extra hard push to completely seat the plug.

 

[VirulentGunk]

Yup, even with multiple headphones. I'm not super concerned about that, it's mostly the Tab A issue I need help resolving.

 

[AnciusD]

I got nothing. Between the heat and not being able to reset probably best to have a professional look at it or wait to see if anyone else will chime in.