power issue - phone won't stay on, even with multiple batteries

[FearTheElf]

Here's my sob story:

A few days ago my phone all of a sudden went completely dead (never had any issues with it before, been running an updated ROM with Windows Mobile 6.1 for a year or so, no other recent updates). I plugged the phone in to the AC charger and all I got was the solid red light. The phone started booting up, got into the Windows Mobile startup process, then completely shut off. After that, the phone would not turn on at all, not even the red light appeared when plugged in. I was convinced that the battery was toast, so I ordered a couple new ones. (By the way, I have only ever used the AC charger that came with the phone, however I have used multiple USB cables to sync with different PCs)


This is where it gets nutty. I installed one of the new batteries, and it powered on just fine, and worked. Battery was low, so I plugged it in to the charger. About 30 minutes later, it shut off again. No light, wouldn't power on. So I tried the other new battery. Got the solid red light when plugged in, but no activity. Then I tried removing the battery while plugged in then reinstalling the battery (per a tip I found searching on here). Only got the solid red light for awhile, then nothing. Awhile later, it actually turned on and worked fine for a couple of hours. Then shut off by itself. Then turned on fine for about an hour. Then shut off by itself. Then turned on fine for about 30 minutes. Then shut off by istelf. Then started booting up and shut off, not coming back on. Plugged it in, got the solid red light for awhile, then nothing. Tried removing battery while plugged in, got a FLASHING red light this time... put the battery back in, no light. Then flashing red again. Also tried switching batteries again. Had the normal yellow charging light for a second, then back to flashing red. Then solid red. Now nothing.

Any tips, or should I throw it in a lake?

[Whosdaman]

No way, try switching to a new ROM...the only problem is that you have to keep it above 50%

I will help you if you want, cause it might work.....do you have the Unlocker on your phone?

(Beware, you are gong to lose all your info unless you backed it up)

[FearTheElf]

Thanks for the offer to help.

What do you mean by keep it above 50% - the battery power? At this point it will only turn on for a second or two, if it does anything at all.

I do not have the unlocker. The ROM I installed several months ago is: RUU_PPST_Vogue_SPRINT_WWE_3.03.651.2_Radio_3.42.30 _AM_NV_2.04_Ship

[FearTheElf]

Originally Posted by FearTheElf

Thanks for the offer to help.

What do you mean by keep it above 50% - the battery power? At this point it will only turn on for a second or two, if it does anything at all.

I do not have the unlocker. The ROM I installed several months ago is: RUU_PPST_Vogue_SPRINT_WWE_3.03.651.2_Radio_3.42.30 _AM_NV_2.04_Ship

update... it just turned on again! Been on and working for about 30 minutes... should I try a new ROM?

[FearTheElf]

Originally Posted by FearTheElf

update... it just turned on again! Been on and working for about 30 minutes... should I try a new ROM?

...and we're back to shutting itself off and not turning on again.

[Snoman002]

I would first try a hard reset, well as soon as you get it to turn on again that is.

I had above normal battery drain on my TP, not to your extent however, and a hard reset got me back to normal battery life.

[FearTheElf]

Originally Posted by Snoman002

I would first try a hard reset, well as soon as you get it to turn on again that is.

I had above normal battery drain on my TP, not to your extent however, and a hard reset got me back to normal battery life.

OK so it came back on again and I did a hard reset. Everything was working for a couple hours after the reset. Thought I had it licked... then it shut off, and that lovely red light of death came on again. Tried the same routine of pulling out/putting back the battery and discovered a new twist - the send/end lights started flashing rapidly, then went solid. Tried the battery again, back to flashing rapidly.

I'm starting to find this amusing for some twisted reason...

[Snoman002]

Did you install anything in those couple hours? Any programs, or something that could cause this condition (probably not things like contacts, etc.)?

If you did, hard reset again, put the bare minimum on the phone, no CAB's, no programs, just your contacts, and maybe your email information.

If the problem still exists I would say there is a hardware issue, although I would try flashing back to a stock ROM first, just to be sure it wasnt software.

[FearTheElf]

Nope, no programs. All I installed were my contacts/calendar/tasks via a sync, and setup my mobile email.

Sometimes when I try to turn it on, it just vibrates for a sec, then doesn't even get into the bootup process. So could it really be the ROM? I have never had any issues with the thing, and I have been running that ROM for almost a year. Also, I had not recently installed anything new. Wasn't running much to begin with, just LiveSearch and GoogleMaps. A few weeks ago GoogleMaps updated, that's about the only change I can think of.

[horndoctor]

I would say take the battery out and leave it out for at least a day. Then put it back in the device and plug the acadapter into the phone and see if you can get the yellow light and charge it until green. Don't turn it on until it turns green. I think if that doesn't work you have some internal hardware problem. These things have an internal backup battery like a regular pc and I wonder after some time if that battery goes bad then things like this will happen. I don't know if they can be replaced. I mabe completely wrong though. Just fishing here.