Forum Phones & Tablets Repair
Discussion Starter - #1 - 1 week ago

Hi,

I'm hoping you can help me out with my Huawei nova 8 SE. It's started acting up, and I'm looking for a detailed service manual with boardviews and schematics to properly diagnose and repair it. I need to take precise voltage measurements around the board, so having the right documentation would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance for your help.


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I actually found that service manual on a tech Discord server a while back. A really helpful member there shared a direct link to their blog and I've saved it. I'm happy to pass it along here. Hopefully, these boardviews and schematics help you fix your phone, just like they got me through my repair. Looks like we have the same model.



>>>> Huawei nova 8 SE maintenance guide & schematics (pdf + fz)

Good luck

Discussion Starter - #3 - 1 week ago

@Milagros

Absolute legend! That's exactly the info I was searching for. This is going to save me so much time probing in the dark. Seriously, thanks a ton for sharing the link!

Hi there,

I also have the Huawei nova 8 SE and just downloaded the manual you shared. I'm pretty new to board-level phone repair, and this is a bit intimidating with all the tiny test points and the schematics. Could you point me in the right direction on how to start troubleshooting this ? Any advice on the first few things I should check would be a massive help.

Thanks so much for your time

General advices: start by checking the voltage at the battery connector on the board. With a known-good battery connected, you should see a steady voltage between 3.7V and 4.2V. After that, a great next step is to check the main power management IC (PMIC) for shorts. Using your multimeter in diode mode, check for shorts on the large input capacitors surrounding the PMIC.

Here are a few useful references for troubleshooting your device:
https://xdaforums.com/t/not-signed-or-corrupted-when-installing-twrp.4282735/
Take a look at comment #1193
Also, this : https://xdaforums.com/t/can-i-factory-reset-even-after-deleting-some-preloaded-apps.2166392/.
You can also check this video starting from minute 4:


The Huawei nova 8 SE service manual and boardviews from the link above were exactly what I've been searching for. I couldn't find a complete, free copy anywhere else. Seriously, thank you for sharing this you're a lifesaver!

Hi everyone, I'm working on a Huawei nova 8 SE with a no power issue and need some guidance with my measurements.
I'm detecting 3.3V on the VREG_MAIN line (pin 1 of the PMIC), which looks good, but I'm getting 0V on the VDD_CPU line (pin 8) where the schematics indicate I should see about 0.9V.
Since this is a core voltage for the application processor, could this missing rail be why the device shows no signs of life?
What's the best procedure to diagnose this further? Should I check for shorts on the CPU rail first, or look at the PMIC's enable signals?
I've already verified the main 3.3V and 1.8V power rails are present and stable.



emoji scratching head

My Huawei nova 8 SE was working perfectly until yesterday when it suddenly went completely dead. Now it won't respond to the power button, doesn't vibrate, and shows no signs of life even when connected to a charger. I'm worried there might be a serious issue.

I have a decent multimeter, a basic soldering iron, and a healthy dose of patience. While I've successfully replaced iPhone batteries and charging ports, this will be my first attempt at actual diagnosis. The sheer density of BGA chips and microscopic components is honestly a bit overwhelming.

I'm particularly curious about the alcohol trick I've seen online where you apply isopropyl to the board and look for evaporation hotspots to locate shorts. Is this actually a reliable method for beginners, or are there better approaches I should try first with just a multimeter?

I learned this lesson the hard way last month with mine, it was declared "dead" by two different shops. The phone showed absolutely no signs of life - no charging indicator, no vibration, nothing. Before diving into complex board work, I decided to try one more basic test: wireless charging.

To my complete surprise, it actually heated up on the charging pad! This single discovery completely changed my diagnostic path. It turned out the issue wasn't with the main board or processor, but with the notoriously fragile USB-C port that had failed completely. A $15 replacement part and some careful soldering brought it back to life.

The moral? Always exhaust every external testing method before opening the device. Test wireless charging if available, try different charging methods, and don't assume the worst case scenario. Sometimes the most "dead" devices have the simplest solutions hiding in plain sight.

I suspect my issue might be related to that cheap, third-party fast charger I used at the airport last week... Now the device gets extremely hot during charging, the screen flickers at low brightness, and sometimes it randomly shuts down at 30% battery. Could this have damaged the power management IC or battery calibration?

If your Huawei nova 8 SE starts acting up, random reboots, fast battery drain, or connectivity issues, there are several diagnostic steps you can take before assuming the worst:

  • Check your charging habits: Using poor-quality chargers or wireless pads can gradually damage your battery and charging circuit, leading to unpredictable behavior.
  • Inspect the physical components: A slightly damaged charging port, worn battery, or even accumulated pocket lint can cause issues that seem like major hardware failures.
  • Monitor temperature patterns: If your phone gets unusually hot during specific tasks (like camera use or gaming), it could point to a failing component rather than a software issue.
  • Use diagnostic tools wisely: Ampere for battery health, phone diagnostic codes (*#0*# on many models), and a thermal camera can reveal problems without opening the device.
  • Know when to stop: If you see liquid damage indicators tripped or smell burnt electronics, it's time to consult a professional before causing irreversible damage.

Also visit this link it may help : https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/862024/mec%C3%A2nica,,+vazamento,+%C3%B3leo+e+carter

Here's what I discovered on forums and technical databases:

Clean Microphone Ports: Inspect the small microphone holes (usually at the bottom and sometimes top/back of the phone) for lint, dust, or debris. Avoid standard metal tools as they can easily create shorts or scratches. Logic Board Issues: This is the most complex and least common scenario for DIY repair. If, after all software and external checks, the issue persists, the problem might be with the smartphone's internal hardware. They act as a jig to apply solder paste (or tiny solder balls) to the IC's pads for reballing (replacing the solder balls on a BGA chip). Common culprits include deeply embedded app caches that aren't easily cleared, orphaned files from uninstalled applications, system logs, database corruption, and even issues with the phone's internal storage indexing service. Removal: As the solder melts (usually after 30-60 seconds, depending on the IC size and board thickness), gently nudge the IC with tweezers to check if it's loose. Inspect these for dust or obstructions and clean them gently with compressed air and a soft wipe. Hardware Issue (Less Common): In rare cases, a hardware fault might manifest as the device being stuck in EDL. This is the most accessible and often the most revealing method for assessing water-resistance degradation. The central tongue is a common point of failure, prone to cracking, bending, or breaking, leading to connection issues. Incoming Distortion: If you hear distortion, check the earpiece mesh (for earpiece mode) or loudspeaker grille (for speakerphone) for obstructions like dust, lint, or debris. Only use this if "Update" fails and you have no other options, or if you have an iCloud/iTunes backup. Many phones use different length screws, and inserting a screw that is too long into the wrong post can cause catastrophic damage (e.g., puncturing the motherboard or battery). Carefully Pull the Tray: Once it's partially ejected, gently pull the tray straight out. Scenario C: Pulsing or Fluctuating Current Draw (Soft Short / Early Boot Loop) Gently lower the screen into the frame, applying even pressure from top to bottom, then carefully pressing along the curved edges. Without these, accessing the decrypted user data is designed to be extraordinarily difficult, even for the device owner if they forget their passcode, let alone a third-party repair technician. V_DISPLAY: Various voltages required for the display panel, including power for the AMOLED controller or backlight driver. Lifting Pads: If a pad lifts during removal, a highly advanced repair involving jumper wires may be needed. Avoid touching the active display area with bare hands, as it will likely be warm and susceptible to fingerprints. If misaligned or obstructed, it may fail to turn off the screen during calls, leading to accidental touches, mute activations, or pocket dialing. Try a Different USB Port: Some USB ports (especially on older computers or front-panel ports) might have issues. Check that the loudspeaker module is seated correctly and not vibrating against other components. Clean the Area Thoroughly: This is the most critical step for pristine photos. Screen Stays On During Calls: When you hold the phone to your ear, the screen remains active, leading to accidental touches of buttons like mute, speaker, or hang up. This method is slower and can lead to more localized heat exposure if not done carefully, making it less ideal for full cans. Be extremely careful if the sensor is integrated into a home button that also has the paired component (e.g., iPhone Touch ID). "OEM Unlocking" Greyed Out: This could be due to a carrier lock, an activation period (for Xiaomi), or a network connection issue needed to verify the unlock request. If not, prepare thin strips of double-sided adhesive if needed to secure the cable.

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