Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Speaker Replacement

Written By: Jimmy Algeo

Comments: 44

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Speaker Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

45 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

If sound from your speaker is muffles or not working at all, use this guide to replace it.

Tools

Step 1

Place the watch screen-down so that its back cover is showing.

Step 2

Remove the four 4.2mm screws with a Y00 screwdriver.

Y0 passte bei mir deutlich besser als Y00

Alex Fi -

Did you use iFixit tools? I just checked and I believe Y00 is correct. Y0 slips too easily. My test was with the Y bits from the Pro Tech Toolkit.

Nicholas Dudde -

I too had to use an Y0 screwdriver (from Ifixit 64 bit driver kit....). Y00 just don't grip, may be some batches of the watch used different screws??

regislefeuvre -

One screw just doesn't want to move, any suggestions/tips how to remove it?

Slartibartfast -

Problem solved: after 2 times of careful WD40 application and blunting the Y00 a bit it came of with a lot of patience.

Slartibartfast -

I also had a problem with one of the screws and flipping to Y0 worked for that one.

Jeff Lambert -

Yo use Y 0.6 y anduvo perfecto!!

Gustavo Zarate -

Yo use Y 0.6 y anduvo perfecto!!!

Gustavo Zarate -

The tool kit that came with my battery was a Y1.5 and worked perfectly

jnewsom22 -

Step 3

This step will ruin the water-proof seal.
Wedge the metal spudger in between the back cover and the frame along the seam.
Use force to pry the back cover away from the main watch frame.
This step requires a lot of force. You can use a Jimmy in place of a metal spudger to make the process easier.

Il est plus facile et moins domageable pour le joint de commencer par ouvrir le cache de connexion situé à coté de l’axe du bracelet long. On peut alors glisser la broche sans détériorer le joint, qui est plus éloigné du bord à cet endroit.

Yann Richet -

I’m pretty sure the seal is equally far away from the edge on all sides.

Nicholas Dudde -

This was the hardest part. I did use thin flat head screw to dismantle it. Using the metal spudger felt like impossible due to its thickness.

Mariusz -

Did using the screwdriver damage the case in any way? I’d recommend being careful using a tool with smaller surface area as that will apply more pressure at the point of entry. As the guide states, a Jimmy may also be used instead of the spudger.

Nicholas Dudde -

Anyone know where to buy the replacement gasket after breaking the seal between back cover and watch? Thanks.

Jyon -

Not sure if it's a gasket or some sort of sealant paste/gel. Just took my case off, and the gasket seems intact (fused to back cover of the watch. Quick search for waterproof sealant yielded lots of possibilities - don't know which one to choose. Can anyone with experience provide advice?

Alan Lawee -

most things I have seen online say use an RTV like permatex black sealant. pretty available at like autozone or o'reilly or walmart.

Steven Betts -

Ma questa guarnizione impermeabile si puo sostituire ? Come controllare se si è danneggiata? Come evitare che entri acqua dopo averlo aperto ?

ant.beneduce -

La photo montre une ouverture coté bouton mais pire coté car l'ouverture abime quand même le couvercle en plastique sur la face la plus visible : essayer plutôt sur les autres cotés

stoufbook -

Il est préférable d'utiliser, si possible, un outil adapté pour l'ouverture des boîtes de montre.

Avec précaution, le joint n'est pas trop abîmé. Il est distendu. Possibilité de le couper et de le réajuster correctement.

Fabrice -

I have used a the Jimmy and I didn't need to do any force at all

Carlos Rafael Ramirez -

Que puedo usar para poner en la tapa y cambias el sellado ya que se me arruinó.

Quiero que vuelva a ser hermético.

Gracias

damian levi -

Step 4

Detach the three connectors on the motherboard using your fingernail.
The connectors are easy to pop off. Minimal force is necessary.

Step 5

Separate the motherboard and front screen assembly using a spudger.

Oui tuto bien clair. Opération réussi !

Bien qu’adroit de mes mains, et après avoir découvert la “bête à coeur ouvert”, je ne sais pas si je me serais lancé... C’est tout l’interêt de ce Tuto qui invite à le faire (car pas trop de détails), et qui suivit pas à pas permet de s’en sortir. Bravo

Merci Dan.S

Dan.S - 19/12/19

Better replace the 2 bolts from next step first.

Gabriel Pinho - 07/08/20

The guide has you remove the screws second because it makes it possible to remove the whole assembly without snapping any cables.

Nicholas Dudde -

Ok... Woher bekomme ich die Displayeinheit ???🤷🏻‍♂️

Patrick Nufer -

Step 6

Using a JIS #00 screwdriver, remove the two 4.5 mm screws.

Step 7

Disconnect the battery ribbon cable from bracket.
Be careful with the battery ribbon cable and motherboard cable (located on the side opposite the battery cable, highlighted with the orange box), as they are very easy to break (ours did when disassembling).
Note how the end of the ribbon cable seats in the plastic chassis. Look for the plastic pin on the chassis when re-seating during re-assembly.
Separate the chassis from the motherboard.

What happens if the battery ribbons breaks?

sarah rus - 27/05/19

Hi the ribbon has come away from the mother board. How do I stick it back on? What type of adhesive do I use?

Peter Alderson - 27/09/20

I broke my ribbon :( ordering a new one. How do I stick it on?

Justin Lalonde -

I also broke the ribbon for the motherboard. What adhesive should I use to reattach it

danieljchoe - 03/12/20

I'd like to know too please

Justin Lalonde -

Be very careful with a ribbon that cannot come off on the opposite side of the red box on the motherboard when preforming this step. I found this and managed to avoid it.

Andrew Watson - 18/01/21

You should first detach/separate the buttons ribbon cable from the side of the plastic casing so you don't tear/break it accidentally. (orange box, the cable is soldered onto the motherboard cannot detach it from there)

István Szikra -

I would advise not to do this like a guide said. Squirt some isopropyl between the pcb and battery to unglue it and carefully nudge it with a plastic spugger. Same with the adhesive that's holding the other end of the ribbon cable.

Cryen -

Step 8

Separate the battery from the motherboard.
The battery and the motherboard are secured with adhesive; some force is needed.
Lithium-ion batteries are potentially dangerous. Handle with extreme care and do not puncture the battery.

I just used this guide to do a replacement, the watch works perfect now. Pay attention to whats in your hand vs whats on the guide a couple of the steps are not as straightforward just take your time. Overall good guide though.

Michael Carlson - 19/04/20

Replaced the battery successfully with this guide. Take your time to carefully see whats on the watch compared to the guide.

I removed the battery ribbon cable in step 7 by using a really small flat screwdriver to lift the cable from the housing. It's attached with adhesive tape.

Eric Mulder - 28/07/20

Perfect. I just remove the two bolts form step 6. Battery was a little difficult to remove due to a tape that attached it on board.

Works very well.

Gabriel Pinho - 07/08/20

It took an extra tool that isn’t mentioned (very small, thin, straight screw driver), but it took only 20 minutes! Great step by step instructions!

Walker - 25/08/20

J'ai suivi tout le processus, au final la montre charge mais ne s'allume plus.

liotard -

Step 9

When reassembling, place the battery into the plastic assembly first. Don’t stick it to the adhesive first. This way, it’s easy to position the battery cable.
When securing the battery cable, make sure the hole that the peg goes through is round. The hole on your replacement battery’s cable could be malformed. You may want to widen the hole before securing the cable.
To widen the hole, use the Pro Tech Toolkit’s SIM tool, a small paperclip or similar fine-tipped tool. The tool can also be used to gently press the battery cable into the correct position. Do this carefully to avoid damage.
Follow steps 8-1 in reverse order to reassmble.

Notez que la montre ne redémarre pas tant que le boitier n’est pas fermé.

Yann Richet -

Formidable demande de l'attention et de la délicatesse a solvé ma montre Frontière.

Bravo et merci de partager.

Alain ESCAFFRE chateauneuf le rouge FRANCE

ESCAFFRE -

Do you possibly have any suggestions on how to repair the battery cable ribbon once it becomes separated from the mother board?

DC Cooper - 27/05/23

Step 10

Remove the battery's cable from the chassis using tweezers.

Step 11

Remove the single 3.9mm screw with a JIS #000 screwdriver.

Step 12

Separate the two parts of the chassis.
The speaker is located on the bulkier half of the chassis (see third image).

Step 13

Remove the connection from the chassis with tweezers.
Attempting to remove the connection by grabbing the speaker itself may result in damage to the speaker and it's connection.
Separate the speaker from the chassis.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Jimmy Algeo

Member since: 08/10/18

831 Reputation

3 comments

Bonjour où peut-on trouver une pièce merci

Voodress - 10/12/19

For step 3, you should be able to also remove the rubber rectangle at the base of the back plate exposing that connector area… stick the spudger in there and lift off the back plate. I assume there may be a reason why you didn’t use this method.. but I just did and it opened the back part enough where I could separate the rest by hand.

Still, excellent tear down… it made my speaker repair that much easier!

Lauren Glenn -

i successfully accomplished the task, but did manage to damage the soft button while prying the mainboard from the frame. Be careful to pry on the upper layer of MB rather than deeper down towards the display face. i am now searching a way to replace this small button/ribbon, so my repaired watch will work properly again.

dogzilla -