Razr v3 Full Housing Change

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• • Motorola v3 Housing Change Tutorial – by Joseph Ahern

This tutorial is not the HIGH-DEF version, all files have been reduced in size (file/width). For a full version contact me or petition to have it added to the website.

-See Last Page for Legal-

So you just received your new v3 RAZR or better yet you’ve had one for quite the while. After numerous soft mods you’ve realized that there isn’t much else you can add (software-wise). Your next step to making your v3 stand out from all the others is a complete housing change. To do this, follow the simple steps and in no time you will have a flashy, yet practical, phone.

  WARNING! Before reading any of this tutorial, please make sure to review your phone warranty. Opening up and/or tampering with stock phones may result in a void of warranty. Use this tutorial at your own discretion, and if for any reason you aren’t comfortable with opening up your phone, bring it to the attention of a professional.

Now to begin, we must start off with the proper tools. Here is a complete list of what I used:

1. Motorola RAZR
2. New OEM Gold Battery Cover
3. Rubber Stopper
4. Keypad
5. New OEM Gold Faceplate
6. Black Mouthpiece
7. New OEM Gold Mouthpiece Bezel
8. Soft Card (Cut Up Gift Card)
9. Two Hinge Nuts and New Gold OEM Motherboard Housing
10. 3 Gold Faceplate Buttons
11. Standard Pin
12. Tweezers
13. T-3 Screw Driver
14. T-5 Screw Driver
15. Assorted T-Size Screw Drivers

Next we will take our shabby looking RAZR and remove the battery cover – to do this we must depress the cover latch and pull out.

Now remove the battery itself –

Now that the battery is out we can see two screws connecting the motherboard housing to the frame of the phone –

Carefully remove these screws –

Now that the screws have been removed, use a soft card to shimmy along the seam of the phone with the frame -

Slide the card all the way around the phone until the whole back housing clips off –

The housing should be removed rather carefully. Do not pull off because the motherboard is still connected the keymat on the frame of the phone –

Using tweezers, remove the connector holding the back portion of the phone to the frame –

This is what it should look like after the module has been removed –

Full view –

and the module by itself –

Now that the module has been disconnected from the phone, we now want to remove the housing from the module. To do this we must first remove the antenna/speaker cover. There are two gray clips holding into place. Carefully stick one of your small screwdrivers into the clip and pry it back –

Keep the screwdriver in place and use another one to lift up one side of the plastic piece –

You now should be able to life the plastic piece up without breaking any of the tabs –

Now that that has been removed, you can easily lift the motherboard out of place –

From there, using tweezers, remove the speaker and the speaker holder from the original housing. Be warned there may be a little adhesive hold the holder into place, just use a little force to pull it off –

With the speaker removed –

With all the parts removed, your layout should look much like this –

Remember to say goodbye to your old housing before tossing it out –

Now add the speaker and speaker holder into the new housing –

Add the motherboard –

And finally, clip the antenna/speaker cover back into place –

Your new module should look a little like this –

Now put the new module to the side and slide the phone back into scene, we are now going to replace the mouthpiece and mouthpiece bezel. First locate the four screws holding the bezel into place –

Carefully unscrew them and pull the bezel away –

Flip the phone over and the mouthpiece should also just slide right out –

A view of the phone without the mouthpiece or bezel –

With the mouthpiece and bezel removed we have easier access to the back of the keyboard. To remove this we must first locate the tabs holding the pad in –

Carefully pry back the tabs using a screwdriver and push them down and out, the result should look something like this (on the other side) –

Remove the keypad and you should be left with just a keymat –

With the keypad removed we are now able to replace it our new one. Using the opposite method of removing it, slide it back into place –

On the opposite side, fold all the tabs back into place –

Congratulations, you have now successfully given your phone a new keypad. Now let’s add our new mouthpiece and bezel. Carefully slide the mouthpiece into place –

With mouthpiece in place –

Now, add the bezel –

After the bezel has been added, firmly tighten into place by adding the 4 screws –

Now let’s add the module that we set aside, back onto the frame –

Connect the keymat cable to the motherboard –

Now fold the piece over and clip into place –

Now apply the 2 screws and you’re done –

Whoops! Don’t forget to put in the new rubber stopper –

The next stage in the housing change is the replace the faceplate. To do this we must first locate the four rubber stoppers on the inside of the phone –

Remove the rubber pieces with a pin and they should reveal 4 screws. Remove these carefully –

After removing the screws, use a soft card and slowly shimmy around the seam connecting the faceplate to the phone frame –

This should separate the faceplate from the phone, like so –

Now that the faceplate has been removed, you must locate the hinge cover/nut –

To remove this, there is a tiny screw, locate and remove it –

In the process of removing it –

After the screw has bee removed, the hinge should be easily removable with tweezers –

With the nut removed –

Replace this nut with a new one. Remember to put in place using the tiny screw. On the other side, there is a nut similar but not removable by tweezers. Instead, using a screwdriver, carefully push the nut out –

With the nut removed –

Now replace it with the new nut –

You are almost done! Next, put in the new buttons that go along the edges of the faceplate seam –

After the buttons have been put in place it is time to clip the new faceplate on –

Fully clipped into place –

On the other side, re-apply the 4 screws –

And apply their rubber covers –

Now go back to the battery holder –

Add the battery –

Finally, clip the battery cover into place –

There you have it. Your brand new housing has been successfully applied. Go ahead and show your friends!

This document is copyright Joseph Ahern 2007. All images and text may not be reproduced and/or redistributed without the consent of the author. For more information, contact Joseph Ahern at jams44@gmail.com. To request resale rights, contact ahern_joe@clashanimation.com . Made exclusively for ModMyMoto.com