iPhone dock connector lint accumulation prevents charging...

Il Mio Problema

After many years the charging connector would not charge the phone unless it was held in by a rubber band. Later I needed a bungee loop to apply enough force. I thought that the port was simply wearing out, but discovered that the docking port had slowly accumulated a layer of matted lint -- each time I charged the phone the connector was compressing another tiny bit of new lint until it accumulated to about 1 millimeter. As this reached a critical thickness the charging connector needed to be pressed into the dock connecter more and more forcefully to compress the matted lint layer and make the connection.

La Mia Riparazione

First turn off the phone. Use a small paper clip, thin wire, or a tiny jeweler's screwdriver to work out the stubborn, compacted lint. Use 'canned air' to blow out the docking port periodically as you do this.

Il Mio Consiglio

This kind of problem is inescapable if you carry your phone in your pants pocket for many years.