Help Samsung Galaxy s3 audio port keeps going bad

[Staceyjumps]

I just had my newly purchased Galaxy s3 completely replaced due to a bad audio/aux port. The problem started when I tried plugging the aux cable into my car and realized it was only playing out of the left side. I tried multiple cables and also the headphones that came with the phone, all resulting the same. Unfortunately, due to the design, they could not just replace the port. The entire phone had to be replaced. I have had the new replacement for less than a week. It worked for a few days and started doing the exact same thing.. Is anyone else experiencing this sort of issue? I guess I will just keep getting the stupid thing replaced over and over and over again until I get one that works. Irritating to say the least. This will be my 3rd one.

 

[davidmanvell]

Are you referring to the port where your headphones plug into?

 

[Staceyjumps]

Correct, where the headphones plug in.

 

[davidmanvell]

I don't think this is a common problem. Anyone heard of their port going bad?

Any chance you are trying to jam some sort of headphone into it that is not the correct size and damaging it? Any of your cables hard to insert into it?

 

[john_g]

I wonder whether your car socket might be at fault i.e. it's something that you are plugging into the phone that is causing the damage, and it couldn't be anything totally passive such as the earphones.

Having said that, I did have a problem just last week where I lost the left-hand audio channel, but I did a power-down and battery pull, and that put everything right again. Now that everything is digital, it is possible for software glitches to cause issues that have every appearance of being a hardware fault.

 

[Staceyjumps]

Thanks for the responses.. I am always careful when I plug anything into the phone. I never jam or force anything in. I also have an Otterbox on it so it's well protected. I have tried other devices in my car that work with no problem. I bought two new cables that work fine with other devices. Did the power down thing and tried a few different headphones including the ones that came with the device. I had an iPhone that lasted for almost three years and never had this happen. Perhaps, I was just unlucky enough to get a dud... twice

 

[illastrate]

Thanks for the responses.. I am always careful when I plug anything into the phone. I never jam or force anything in. I also have an Otterbox on it so it's well protected. I have tried other devices in my car that work with no problem. I bought two new cables that work fine with other devices. Did the power down thing and tried a few different headphones including the ones that came with the device. I had an iPhone that lasted for almost three years and never had this happen. Perhaps, I was just unlucky enough to get a dud... twice

I'm having the same problem with my s3. I only hear music out of 3 of my 4 car speakers. The front right speaker has no sound. However, when I plug in my iPhone 4s, it works fine. Also, when I use my earphones on the s3, it works fine. There's only an issue with the aux port in the car. Not sure what it is. Might have to replace my phone entirely.

 

[Staceyjumps]

So, here I am on my 4th Galaxy S3 replacement. When I took the third one back to the repair center, the guy told me a lot of these phones are being returned for the same reason.
I have come to the conclusion that Samsung cut one too many corners in the materials used on this cheaply made device. After about a month of daily use, each one of these replacement phones's audio ports crap out on me. I am assuming that this device just cannot handle the daily use I require from something that I spent top dollar on!! I could have gotten a cheap phone and an iPod and spent less money.
Not only this, but my Galaxy S3 can't even keep track of the time. It CONSTANTLY displays the incorrect time. Even a cheap flip phone can do that
SHAME ON YOU SAMSUNG!!!! Charging top dollar for a sub-par product. I am so disappointed. I had such high hopes for this phone Now I am just left with a POS!!!

 

[GTWalling]

I'm having the same problem with my s3. I only hear music out of 3 of my 4 car speakers. The front right speaker has no sound. However, when I plug in my iPhone 4s, it works fine. Also, when I use my earphones on the s3, it works fine. There's only an issue with the aux port in the car. Not sure what it is. Might have to replace my phone entirely.

While using the headphone jack to connect you are only getting Stereo (left and right). Since you are having a problem with one speaker on the right side this would rule out the phone, even with the iPhone working.

 

[fastordiy]

Yea just tryout any cheap headphones make sure left and right both work. If they do your problem is elsewhere. That's all

 

[funkylogik]

I'm having the same problem with my s3. I only hear music out of 3 of my 4 car speakers. The front right speaker has no sound. However, when I plug in my iPhone 4s, it works fine. Also, when I use my earphones on the s3, it works fine. There's only an issue with the aux port in the car. Not sure what it is. Might have to replace my phone entirely.

When u look at the jack, how many separate metal sections does it have? If theres 4 instead of 3, its maybe lookin for a surround channel that the s3 doesnt have. Soldering the end two together would "fix" it i 'think'

 

[Slickinator]

Try only plugging the jack in about 3/4 of the way in

 

[funkylogik]

Bit more than 3/4.. put it in then pull it out a bit, not too much or you might get mono sound :thumbup:

 

[ldivinag]

OP, could the otterbox be preventing the headphone plug from going all the way into the jack?

i assumed you tried it without the otterbox, also?

i'm almost a year now with my S3 and i beat on that headphone jack with multiple headphones and sometimes the only source of audio in my cars.