[AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note II] whitedavidp:
My Fix For Broken SIM Reader Pin

This is an old thread, I know. But the problem is ongoing. These SIM card adapters are just plain evil. Now that this has happened to me, I googled the issue and see that there are tons of folks suffering. I am posting this reply so that others can see the "fix" I managed for my International Samsung Note I. I am sure it can be applied to most other phones.

I should point out that in order to get any usable access to and visibility of the SIM card reader I had to remove the battery cover and the back from the phone's touchscreen. This reveals the motherboard to which the SIM card reader is soldered. I found a good video on this at YouTube. It wasn't that hard although I did not have the plastic pry bar they used - I think I will get one for the future. I managed with a small flat head jewelers screw driver and an ancient, plastic shirt collar stay. (I can hear my mother saying "save it - you'll find a use for it!" I hate it when she is right.) Once complete I could move on.

At first, I tried to replace the SIM card reader pin that was broken off by the SIM card adapter with a tiny piece or rolled-up tin foil. I saw someone else reference this approach and it seemed possible and cheap. Alas, it did not work. After many attempts, the phone simply would not recognize any SIM card. I finally got to sleep at 3am.

I then found a piece of brass shim stock that I have had lying around for years. (I am hearing mom again!) It is item 1412110231, Brass Strip .016x1/2inx12in shown here. I got mine at the local hardware store for some other aborted project. I used some snips to cut off a tiny strip from one end and then cut that strip to maybe 1/3 to 1/2 its overall length. The idea was to place the strip inside the SIM reader slot where the pin had broken off in an effort to create a contact point to replace the pin. Cutting the tiny strip off the stock piece caused the tiny strip to bow a bit. It turns out that was a good thing but I had to reduce the amount of bow quite a bit for it to fit inside the reader. Remove any rough edges from the tiny strip with a file.

With the touchscreen assembly lying flat on the table I managed to get the tiny strip in place. I was then able to slowly and carefully slide the SIM card into the reader and this resulted in a contact good enough to make the phone again recognize the SIM card and for cell service to be restored. Hurray! Yes, I was able to carefully place the battery in its bay and operate the power button to perform testing.

But you must remain aware that the tiny strip is just lying in the slot and is held in place only by friction/pressure from the SIM card inserted into the reader. Therefore, for the rest of the phone's life, it requires great care when removing the SIM and handling the phone when a SIM is not installed . Basically when removing the SIM, the phone MUST remain flat on its display until the SIM is re-installed. Moving the phone around in other orientations without a SIM card installed will definitely cause the tiny strip fall out. And who knows what hell that will cause?

You cannot put the phone's back onto the touchscreen with the SIM card in place. At first I thought about cutting the SIM's length down so the back would install even with the SIM in place. Before doing this I tried to carefully snap the top portion of the back onto the touchscreen while it all remained flat on the table so the tiny strip wouldn't move. With the top 1/3 of the back snapped on, I could just manage to insert the SIM through the phone's cover and have the tiny strip held in place by the SIM while I snapped the rest of the back into position. This worked pretty well but your mileage may vary.

I basically plan to leave the SIM in place forever - even if it is not to be used. I also put a reminder note on the battery so that I am less likely to forget that I made this hack.

I hope the annotated photos help those who follow me - as surely others will do. Good luck. I was very lucky to have destroyed only one pin and for it to be in the most accessible part of the SIM reader.