Nintendo DS Lite Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Matthew Newsom
  • Comments: 30
Nintendo DS Lite Motherboard Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

6

Time Required

No estimate

Introduction

Prerequistite guide for motherboard removal.

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    • Use the flat edge of a spudger to pry the microphone connector straight up from its socket on the motherboard.

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    • In the following steps you must pull the antenna cable between the DS Lite game cartridge reader and motherboard. Pull slowly and stop when you feel resistance to avoid damaging the cable or motherboard.

    • Position the antenna cable with its connector facing up and away from the motherboard using a spudger to hold it down lightly in the gap between chips on the motherboard.

    • Slowly and carefully pull the antenna cable until the cable connector is under the DS Lite game cartridge reader.

    • Continue pulling the cable until the cable connector comes out from under the game cartridge reader on the right side.

    • When reassembling and attempting to feed the antenna cable back under the game cartridge reader, the cable may kink or become difficult to feed through. If so, try feeding a piece of thread through first; then, tie the thread to one end of the cable connector and pull it through, guiding it past any obstructions.

    I can't for the life of me get this freaking antenna cable back when putting everything together, it keeps getting stuck under slot-1 ... how do you aid it through? I'm just pushing it through using the cable itself, but the connector gets stuck somewhere close to the other side and the cable pushing won't do anything but flex the cable.

    Peter Marquardt -

    I had some .015" solder that I fed through the other side and wrapped around the antenna cable to help guide it when I was feeding it back through.

    Josh McBroom -

    Fantastic guide, although you !@#$%^&* :P forgot to add that you need a Soldiering Kit at the LAST step, thanks..

    Nate River -

    I did mine without have to soldier, but then again I was cannibalizing the upper screen from one DS to another.

    Christopher Till -

    Tried to add this but unsure if it will stay but here is my advice for the cable feeding.

    When reassembling and attempting to feed the antenna cable back under the DS Lite game cartridge reader the cable will likely kink and be difficult to feed through.

    Therefore tie a piece of white cotton (or another visible colour) thread tightly around the cable, just below the connector. Then feed the cotton under the DS Lite game cartridge reader and through to the other side. Then gently guide the connector back through by pulling on the white thread and moving either up or down to clear obstacles.

    Joel Spencer -

    Attach a thread to the antenna wire BEFORE removing the antenna. Pull the antenna throught with the thread attached. After you get the antenna out, cut the thread from the antenna but LEAVE THE THREAD threaded thru the cartridge slot. Tape it to the cartridge slot so it doesn't fall out while you're working on the DS. After repairing, re-tie the thread to the antenna and use the thread to pull the antenna back thru to where it belongs. PULL GENTLY!

    J S -

    If u remove a bit material from the cover its actually possible to rout this cable over the game card slot.

    yKekS Yzz -

    Cable went right back thru for me! LOL!

    Kayla -

    What I do is run the antenna cable between my fingers to get it as straight as possible. Then I gently feed it under the cartridge slot slowly with the connector facing up. I stop at the slightest resistance and jiggle it back and forth to get it going again. Works every time.

    Deepak -

    it was ez until i tried to put it back >:(

    RealUmbreon440 -

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    • Use your fingernail or the edge of a spudger to carefully flip up the touchscreen ribbon cable retaining flap.

    • Make sure you are flipping up the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Use the tip of a spudger to pull the touchscreen ribbon cable straight out of its socket.

    The little black ribbon clip broke off and now I can't put it back on. What do I do now???

    Peter Diaz -

    Same Problem here :( touc dosnt work anymore

    Christian Zimmermann -

    There should be an added caution remark when removing the ribbon cable from the connector. If the black clip breaks, you're screwed. I have found the connector on another website for about $6. Then the issue is having the right tools to remove the broken connector and soldering on the new one.

    Ted -

    How in the world do you get the ribbion cable back in there?

    brent buser -

    I think this is the most difficult step! You need to be most cautious here!

    Karsza M -

    This requires care to make sure the black clip does not break off. If it does, replacing that connector will be a microsoldering job likely to exceed the value of the board.

    It is also worth noting, that you can simply leave this connector as you found it and not remove the ribbon cable, and still complete this repair. Unless you intend to remove the lower LCD from the mainboard or if it is interfering with the microphone cable (white) routing, it will not be an issue.

    Leaving this connected will also help keep the lower LCD from flopping around when you remove the mainboard.

    Christian DeYong -

    This is tricky! I used my finger nail to open it since I was scared to put too much strenght with a spudger. Be really careful when moving the retaining flap. Just open it 90°, no more or you’ll breack it!

    Putting back the ribbon of the (new) touch screen was the hardest part. The ribbon was bent to the side and my fingers too big to grab it withouth bumping on the mother board.

    I finally found that holding the mobo with my left hand, looking at the ribbon from behind and pushing it with my index was more convenient, although my index was bumping on the retaining flap, thus partially closing it. After many trials and sweat, I finally inserted it and closed the flap! But the ribbon detached from te slot! :’( I put it back easily this time (after reopening the flap of course). And closed the retaining flap, pushing a bit harder this time, making sure I could feel a “click” confirming the proper closing. Don’t put too much strenght on it though!

    The slot to insert it is so tiny! Use a magnifying glass if you can.

    Guilhem Gobet -

    How do I reconnect the cable? Or should it be out?

    Aiden -

    The microscopic flap came off in this step and I think you can’t ever put it back on, given you have no space to work with. This should really be explained better.

    Julien Vandermeersch -

    Yeah the instructions should clearly say don't bend the flap back more than 90 degrees. I recommend closing it as soon as you remove the ribbon cable so that it doesn't get caught on something and break while you're working on the board.

    Deepak -

    Has anyone had any luck replacing the retaining flap if it just falls out? Mines not broken, I just can't figure out how to get it back in.

    IslandGo -

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vQQOG1h...

    aaron -

    This step permanently ruined my DS Lite. The pictures aren’t helpful at all.

    Leon -

    You don’t need to remove this flap if you’re not removing the touchscreen (and even so, you can do it later). The touch and LCD screen can come out with the motherboard, so this cable doesn’t interfere with the disassembly.

    George Marques -

    The cable won’t go back in, and got damaged whilst I attempted to put it in.

    Stevemmaahd -

    This step didn't warn that the black retaining flap is easily breakable. Not only can it come off easily but hinges can break off. Unknown if kapton tape will be able to hold this in or if this part can be ordered third party. Very stupid explanation of the step. Broke my digitizer permanently while only trying to make a minor repair. Looks like this is a common complaint and the guide should be immediately taken down, edited, and then only put back up when it is safe.

    Guide should have to explain how to mend or replace this part if it breaks since it's such a common problem.

    jen dickson -

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    • Remove the two 3.4 mm Phillips screws securing the motherboard to the upper case.

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    • Open the display enough to use your finger to push the front edge of the motherboard up and away from the upper case.

    • Do not try to remove the motherboard, as it is still connected to the upper display via the upper LCD ribbon cable.

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    • Use your fingernail or the flat edge of a spudger to carefully flip up the upper LCD ribbon cable retaining flap.

    • Make sure you are flipping up the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the motherboard away from the DS Lite to separate the upper LCD ribbon cable from its socket on the motherboard.

    • Remove the motherboard from the DS Lite.

    • Now you may open the retaining flap for the lower LCD screen in the same way and separate the lower LCD screen from the motherboard.

    this part on putting it back together is a straight nightmare, anyone got some tips on doing this quickly? i'm just getting a flickering bottom screen which is supposed to be an upper display connection problem, not sure if i'm getting the ribbon cable in deep enough. or an up close view of it in there so i know im not forcing it

    Corbin dallas -

    I don't think there's a quick way for this, but I can tell you that the piece at the end is supposed to fit in all the way, and stop when you get to the corners of the bottom of it. A better way to explain this: put it in until you no longer see the gold part of it, or until it reaches the orange part of it.

    SquidCake -

    After my first reassembly, the top screen was not working (bottom screen briefly flashind and DS turning off imediatly after swithcing on).

    I found out it is the top screen that is not connected correctly.

    You have to insert the ribbon until the part which is wider than the rest of the ribbon, almost bumps on the white connector.

    This was too difficult with just my (too big) fingers. I used the spudger to push the ribbon from behind and maintain it when closing the retaining flap. This is kinda tricky, but it worked!

    Guilhem Gobet -

    Guilhem's point is crucial - the ribbon connectors wider wings must be only a miniscule fraction away from the connector, or you'll get the flash screen of death. This is well worth checking especially as the later stages of manipulating the ribbon through the silver ring (if doing a full shell replacement) can make you feel like you're damaging the ribbon cable. Also check to make sure the black clip is fully closed, otherwise even the smallest movement during reassembly will pull it back out.

    Casey -

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Matthew Newsom

Member since: 06/01/10

38175 Reputation

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