My Motorola Atrix 4G isn't charging. When I insert the charger, it's loose--it literally can be wiggled back and forth. So it's not making a good connection and, therefore, not charging.

I've tried to remove the VERY TINY screws on the back of the phone so I could get a good look at the port and its physical connection to the phone, but I could not remove the screws. My friend tried, too, but without luck.

This really isn't about the Atrix 4G, it's about its micro USB port. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to fix this myself? Like I said, we couldn't even get the screws off the back of the phone! They're odd looking screws--neither the flat-head nor Phillips-head screwdrivers we tried did ANYTHING.

 

No, that's not it. Good thought, though.

I'm using the same chargers for my Atrix 2 and Atrix 4G. It's definitely the 4G's port that's loose.

Thanks, but no, that won't help. I already have wall chargers and multiple other chargers, including one in my car; they all work fine with my Atrix 2 and DID work fine with my Atrix 4G until the other day when its port inexplicably became loose. New batteries won't help, either, if I can't get the phone to charge.

WHAT?! I don't like to admit defeat!

The thing is, once I transferred phone service from the 4G to the 2, I was still using the 4G. I keep my phones in airplane mode all the time except when I leave the house. They're connected to my wireless network. I was using the 4G for listening to music, playing games, whatever, and planned to continue doing that. And then this stupid thing with its port happened. It's pissing me off that I know it's perfectly usable...if only I could get it to charge...

 

Okay, I must be misunderstanding what you're talking about. What I'm calling wall chargers, and already have, must not be the same as what you're referring to.

 

I literally need a magnifying glass to see them. (My eyesight sucks as a result of brain surgery.) I just took pics of them [with my other phone], hoping that would help, but they're fuzzy. I should get up and get one of my Nikon DSLRs and take a decent pic with a zoom lens...but won't.

After looking at a chart of screw types, I *THINK* they're Torx or possibly Torx security. That's certainly the closest to what I think I'm seeing, which is basically a hexagram shape.

Sure would! I've never even SEEN these before. (That I'm aware of.) I've certainly never needed to remove any of these before. Given that we've already tried both Phillips- and flat-head screwdrivers, to no avail, I'm guessing it'll take a specific screwdriver, which I don't have.

 

See, I REALLY didn't want this moved here (since it's *NOT* an Atrix 4G problem, it's a micro-USB port problem), and I forgot all about it.

Anyway, I forgot about the phone, too, until yesterday. Here's some more info that may be useful.

When I plug it in, its little green light goes on--so it's clearly recognizing that it's plugged into a power source. After a few minutes the phone boots up, goes through the whole Motorola logo thing, then the AT&T thing, then my home screen. If I unplug it RIGHT NOW it'll stay on for a few seconds before shutting itself down. If I leave it plugged in, it IMMEDIATELY gives me the "Connect your charger" message. And, just like THAT, it shuts itself down.

So, what does this all mean?

 

The thing is, the phone did this when I first got it. I guess I had forgotten about it until now. It was exactly as I've described throughout this thread: the port was loose, the 'connect your charger' message would come on, it would shut itself down. I sent it in for repair [under its warranty] and--despite having explained both on the Motorola web site AND in a note I included with the phone EXACTLY what the problem was--it was returned to me untouched, with a notation that nothing was wrong with it. After complaining to Motorola, they escalated the issue and wanted me to send it in AGAIN. I didn't do it. (In case you're wondering, I've just gone back and reviewed my correspondence with them to refresh my memory!) After that it somehow 'fixed' itself. For over a year I had no issues at all with it charging. Then, just as mysteriously as it fixed itself, it UNfixed itself!

My long-winded point being I don't think it is the battery.