Audio locks into "headset mode", even when the headset is not plugged in

Question

Sometimes the phone seems to lock into a mode where it expects the headset to be connected and won't use the mic/speakers for calls or iPod play. Sometimes a reboot fixes it, sometimes several reboots are needed. Sometimes repeated plugging and unplugging of the headset jack works. There does not seem to be a definitive and repeatable "fix".
I don't recall this happening before the 3.0 upgrade, but perhaps not linked to version if it's actually a hardware problem. I tried cleaning out the audio jack port - no change. I'm pretty sure that it's software because hardware issues tend not to be intermittent.
I have had at least one instance where the switch from speaker/mic to headset happened during a call. I could suddenly hear nothing, but I could see that the call was still up with plenty of bars. I plugged the headset into the phone and had no problem with the call.
My next step is to go virgin with the phone and reload everything, but I prefer not to do that unless I really have to. Any ideas?

Answer 1

I have been dealing with this for months. I have been on every website trying different things. I did the alcohol thing, reboot, restart, blowing into the phone, sucking out of the headset area and I got nothing. So the last thing I came across was that it was getting to hot. So I did what they said and put in the refrig for about 5 minutes and believe it or not it worked. But after im on the phone and you can tell its getting warm it will switch back to headset. So I put it back in the frig and it went back to normal. I cant keep putting it in the frig so I dont know what to do. But its obviously getting too hot and that really shouldnt happen. So try it and put in the frig. Let me know if it knocks it out of the mode. But the what do you do? So I will keep searching about other ideas to keep the phone cool plus Im going to talk to an apple rep about this. I hope this helps you...please let me know..J in Chula Vista, CA