Nokia 6300 sim card not recognised

MoneySavingUser

I have an old Nokia 6300 which I'd like to let my mother use as her phone is on its last legs.

The phone works perfectly fine except for every now and then it will display the error message 'sim card not recognised'

(and sometimes on turning it on it will say 'start up with no sim card?' as if it isn't able to detect it)

To fix either the phone can be turned on and then off again or if this doesn't work then remove the battery, re-insert sim into slot and turn on again.

This is too complicated for my mother and whenever this happens you are unable to receive calls etc.

Does anyone have any ideas for a fix? I think the sim card is coming loose/moving around a bit I was thinking to perhaps tape it down or something but also read about putting a business card in between the battery and phone cover to 'tighten' things up so it can't move - is this a good idea?

OneADay

Get a new replacement sim card and stop swapping it so often - the more you take it out and put it back in, the more damage it suffers.

If its the little metallic piece over the sim that is loose, you might be able to stick something over it (maybe some small piece of stick tape just to test) - but pretty much futile. Get a new phone if problem persists. You can pick up same model from ebay if you really wanted to keep the 6300.

MoneySavingUser

I have tried with other sims too so it is a phone issue I guess

and yes the metallic thing is to blame I guess

Buzby

When did you last clean the phone SIM contacts or the SIM itself? Often the handset is blamed yet a decent cleaning either using compressed air to blast it clean or an abrasive substance that leaves no residue. Try this first before assuming the SIM itself is the culprit. After you clean, you'll be in a better position to evaluate where the problem lies.

smartphone

That used to be common problem with Nokia handsets, particularly after a reasonable amount of usage. You could get the handset looked at/repaired, but that might cost more than a new cheap Nokia would cost anyway - and you might be able to get some money back by recycling the handset.

grumbler

Buzby wrote: »

...or an abrasive substance that leaves no residue.... .

I'd avoid abrasive substances as the contacts are usually gold-plated and the layer is very thin.

MoneySavingUser

I haven't cleaned either of them - I can try with compressed air, but what substance would I use?

grumbler

I'd use a piece of paper and ethanol/vodka