Phantom 3 4k, gimball problem

Latekale · Apr 29, 2025

Hi everyone,

I'm having an issue with my Phantom 3 4K where the gimbal becomes unresponsive shortly after powering on. It beeps normally when i change camera settings such as 30 degree tilt.

When I turn on the drone, the gimbal does its normal startup calibration and responds to the controller (tilting up/down) for about 10 seconds. After that, it stops working completely — it goes limp and doesn't respond to any input from the controller. Despite this, the live video feed still works fine, and the DJI GO app shows no errors or warnings.

I first tried using my main phone (OnePlus 12 running Android 15) with DJI GO 3.1.82, and I suspected the problem was caused by the app being too old for a new Android version. Then I tried an older device (Lenovo tablet running Android 6) with DJI GO 3.1.23, but the app gets stuck on the "Failed to get resource file. Please check your network connection and retry." message. I assume this is due to the app trying to connect to outdated or non-existent DJI servers.

So far, I’ve confirmed:

Gimbal calibration at startup works
Gimbal responds for a few seconds, then goes limp
Live feed works
No error messages in DJI GO
Tried different devices and app versions, same result

I'm trying to figure out:

Is this a hardware issue (controller, gimbal, etc.) or something firmware/software-related?
Is there a working modded APK of DJI GO 3.1.23 that bypasses the resource file check?
Could a firmware update (or downgrade) fix this?

If anyone has had a similar issue i really appreciate any advice.

I recently take my drone out for a fly, last time was 3-4 years ago...

Thanks in advance!

RodPad · Apr 29, 2025

Welcome to the forum!

There is a lot of info here.

DJI Phantom 3 4K Accessories & Tips | Phantom Help

Phantom Help is a site for help with DJI Phantom 3 4K drones. Find the latest fixes, how-tos, guides, accessories, modifications, and more.

www.phantomhelp.com

I assume you can move the gimbal up / down with the remote dial, without a mobile device at all.
I think that removes all software.

Can you tell when the gimbal stops working?. (Does the gimbal drop, etc, or you don't know until you try it.)

Rod ..

crash1sttime · Apr 29, 2025

Latekale said:
Is this a hardware issue

Sounds like it to me

Latekale said:
Is there a working modded APK of DJI GO 3.1.23 that bypasses the resource file check?

there are modded versions but i cant remember if they still do the resource check on first boot my collection of modded versions is here

GO.rar

drive.google.com

Latekale said:
Could a firmware update (or downgrade) fix this?

Never mess with the FW on these devices, they just cause more issues.

captainmilehigh · Apr 29, 2025

As mentioned above, do NOT mess with the firmware yet.

You stated it hasn't flown in 3-4 years. Correct?

I'd tend to think there is an issue with the gimbal roll motor. Just wondering if it is getting hot too quickly, or has been damaged somehow. Maybe replace the roll motor and see if that solves the issue.

**Since I don't run a 4K myself, I do not know if there is any roll motor interchange ability on the P3 models, or it is exclusively only for the P3 4K. Hopefully someone will clarify this point, and offer the correct replacement part number.**

Latekale · Apr 30, 2025

RodPad said:
Welcome to the forum!

There is a lot of info here.

DJI Phantom 3 4K Accessories & Tips | Phantom Help

Phantom Help is a site for help with DJI Phantom 3 4K drones. Find the latest fixes, how-tos, guides, accessories, modifications, and more.

www.phantomhelp.com

I assume you can move the gimbal up / down with the remote dial, without a mobile device at all.
I think that removes all software.

Can you tell when the gimbal stops working?. (Does the gimbal drop, etc, or you don't know until you try it.)

Rod ..

Hey!

When i start up the drone, the gimbal does its normal little start up wiggle and after that 10-20 seconds its focused and in that time it moves up / down with the remote, but after that it like ''dies''. At that moment it hasn't been connected to a phone. Could say it maybe waits for connection to be focused again. It doesn't drop it stays still.
I didn't even notice the problem, only when i started flying and tried to remote the camera to look down and it didn't do it from the remote.

Thank you for the respond!!
-Latekale

Latekale · Apr 30, 2025

crash1sttime said:
Sounds like it to me

there are modded versions but i cant remember if they still do the resource check on first boot my collection of modded versions is here

GO.rar

drive.google.com

Never mess with the FW on these devices, they just cause more issues.

Thanks for the respond!

Im not sure which one is which version, do you remember?

I tried to modify the 3.1.23 myself but it didn't work out.

-Latekale

Latekale · Apr 30, 2025

captainmilehigh said:
As mentioned above, do NOT mess with the firmware yet.

You stated it hasn't flown in 3-4 years. Correct?

I'd tend to think there is an issue with the gimbal roll motor. Just wondering if it is getting hot too quickly, or has been damaged somehow. Maybe replace the roll motor and see if that solves the issue.

**Since I don't run a 4K myself, I do not know if there is any roll motor interchange ability on the P3 models, or it is exclusively only for the P3 4K. Hopefully someone will clarify this point, and offer the correct replacement part number.**

Hey!

Yeah it hasn't flown in at least 3 years.

The gimbal does its normal little wiggle every time i boot it up. But when i make the gimbal auto calibration it stays still.
Should it give any warnings or faulty codes? Can i somehow connect my pc to the drone and manually try to check if i could move the gimbal by commands ?

Ill try to find right roll motor, but before making purchase ill try to figure it more about this issue.

Can i somehow link or upload a video here? I could show the problem better.

Thanks for the respond!!

-Latekale

captainmilehigh · May 1, 2025

Latekale said:
Hey!

Yeah it hasn't flown in at least 3 years.

The gimbal does its normal little wiggle every time i boot it up. But when i make the gimbal auto calibration it stays still.
Should it give any warnings or faulty codes? Can i somehow connect my pc to the drone and manually try to check if i could move the gimbal by commands ?

Ill try to find right roll motor, but before making purchase ill try to figure it more about this issue.

Can i somehow link or upload a video here? I could show the problem better.

Thanks for the respond!!

-Latekale

Usually the app will indicate a roll motor issue, like overheat problems.

Both pics and videos can be uploaded to the forum post.

Next time it stops responding, maybe give it a touch and see if it is binding up and has gotten hot.......plus to see if a 'touch' may free up the roll motor enough for it to move on its own.......but don't force it....just a nudge will do.

You can bench test inside, but be sure to remove the props first.

captainmilehigh · May 2, 2025

Hey @Droneted . I know you specialize on gimbal issues on P4's.......but do you have any ideas why this P3 4K is acting this way?

Latekale · May 2, 2025

Here is a video

captainmilehigh · May 2, 2025

Have you tried using the GoApp to adjust camera/gimbal settings?

In the GoApp......camera view.
Three dots, top left screen.
Camera settings icon on general settings.
Camera settings.....
.....Recenter Gimbal
......Adjust Gimbal Roll
......Gimbal Auto Calibration
Do any of these adjustments have any effect on gimbal or camera movement?

Latekale · May 2, 2025

captainmilehigh said:
Have you tried using the GoApp to adjust camera/gimbal settings?

In the GoApp......camera view.
Three dots, top left screen.
Camera settings icon on general settings.
Camera settings.....
.....Recenter Gimbal
......Adjust Gimbal Roll
......Gimbal Auto Calibration
Do any of these adjustments have any effect on gimbal or camera movement?

These does not have any effects on the drone, it beeps as it has made changes. It thinks it starts calibration and just stays still, and after 10-20 seconds tells me its completed the calibration.
Those are only settings i got on the gimbal.

captainmilehigh · May 2, 2025

Latekale said:
View attachment 126522 View attachment 126523

These does not have any effects on the drone, it beeps as it has made changes. It thinks it starts calibration and just stays still, and after 10-20 seconds tells me its completed the calibration.
Those are only settings i got on the gimbal.

Ok. Strange how it thinks it is moving/adjusting settings...but not moving.

Hopefully @Droneted will check in and offer his advice. He is the gimbal expert on P4's........maybe the P3 4K gimbal is similar enough he can diagnose the issue.

RodPad · May 2, 2025

Great Video, that helps a lot.

@crash1sttime
You,got anything?
This thread disappeared for a couple of days.

Rod ..

crash1sttime · May 3, 2025

RodPad said:
Great Video, that helps a lot.

@crash1sttime
You,got anything?
This thread disappeared for a couple of days.

Rod ..

Sadly no, I said in my last post that it sounds like a hardware issue, he would need to find someone with the an Pro or advanced as they are the same unit

captainmilehigh said:
**Since I don't run a 4K myself, I do not know if there is any roll motor interchange ability on the P3 models, or it is exclusively only for the P3 4K. Hopefully someone will clarify this point, and offer the correct replacement part number.**7

I have the P3 4K and the assembly is the same as the Phantom 3 Pro and Advanced

Latekale said:
Here is a video

Its set to private so we cant see it

Latekale · May 3, 2025

crash1sttime said:
Sadly no, I said in my last post that it sounds like a hardware issue, he would need to find someone with the an Pro or advanced as they are the same unit

I have the P3 4K and the assembly is the same as the Phantom 3 Pro and Advanced

Its set to private so we cant see it

It shouldn't be private. I set it for the link only
There is now 2 links for the video.

RodPad · May 3, 2025

@Latekale, the uBoob link always worked for me.

@crash1sttime, the video helped me, I had a lot of questions yet to ask, that answered all of those

Rod ..

Droneted · May 4, 2025

I have read all these posts. Although I haven’t worked on a p3 4K in a very long time, I think it is probably one of the motors. Yaw , pitch or roll.

captainmilehigh · May 4, 2025

Droneted said:
I have read all these posts. Although I haven’t worked on a p3 4K in a very long time, I think it is probably one of the motors. Yaw , pitch or roll.

Thanks.

crash1sttime · May 4, 2025

Latekale said:
It shouldn't be private. I set it for the link only

Its a setting called allow embed that is turned off, thats why i see the black box instead of the normal video

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Phantom 3 4k, gimball problem

Latekale

RodPad