Gaming Cracked DS lite case, suggestions for parts

[ShadowNeko003]

So my good ole DS lite decided to finally crack after 4 years. The plastic where the hinge is fell off. I'm planning doing a full shell replacement but is it recommended that I get a new hinge as well? It doesn't hold the upper like it use to anymore but that could be because of the part that fell off.

This would be my first time taking apart a console, so if I follow the instructions to the dot, I should be fine, right?

Also thinking of replacing the battery as well.

 

[Walker D]

The hinge problem is very common in Ds lites ...I think a new case will have all you need to fix it ( but I'm not 100% sure, since I didn't had this problem yet) ..Youtube has some videos of people fixing this problem and the steps of opening your DS and closing the new case ..If it's your first time doing something like that, It's better that you take a look on them first ...the only think you need to be extra careful when opening and closing up the DS, is the upper lcd ribbon cable (its kinda tricky to handle..)

 

[Sicklyboy]

A new housing replacement will replace the hinge, as well. The hinge isn't its own piece, it's actually part of either side of the upper half of the console. I -think- that the piece that broke on yours is the inner-upper half, but in any case, a new housing will fix it.

You'll need a triwing screwdriver to get anything done with it, too.

eachgame.com has the best prices I've found on the housings and such so far, however shipping is not free and it is as painstakingly slow as most other Chinese distributors.

Tmart has them for slightly more, but they also have a warehouse in NJ so you'll get it faster (free shipping, but if you live in NJ you'll get sales tax)

DX has them too but tends to be the worst in all areas except the price of the shipping.

 

[Kouen Hasuki]

Hinge mechanism is fine the case that grips that half of it however is not.

The Hinge mechanism itself is seperate from both sides and is put in place. A new shell only or hell if you wanna cheap it just replacing the LID should be enough to get your DS back up and running with the least stress

 

[ShadowNeko003]

Thanks for the responses! So just a replacement would do.

Does the screwdriver typically come with the replacement shell?

 

[geishroy]

matters where you buy the replacement from, you will just have to read. You can buy some pretty good cases off ebay. be careful when putting the top screen cable through the bottom case slit though, if you mess it up it will do really terrible things to your top screen lol.

from the cases that i've bought they did not come with a tri wing, but you can get one for under a couple of dollars on ebay usually. most of the cases that i have replaced use Philips screws for their replacement screws though. You need the tri wing to get the original ds screws out is all.

 

[Kouen Hasuki]

Thanks for the responses! So just a replacement would do.

Does the screwdriver typically come with the replacement shell?

often no but some ebay sellers may chuck one in as a free gift.

I would still recommend you just change the lid itself to save yourself some stress and messing with that top screen cable, I'm decent at electronic's repair and I still hate it

oh also if your just doing the lid a normal small + head screwdriver is enough

Edit: Ignore my derp low on caffine

 

[Sicklyboy]

often no but some ebay sellers may chuck one in as a free gift.

I would still recommend you just change the lid itself to save yourself some stress and messing with that top screen cable, I'm decent at electronic's repair and I still hate it

How do you propose he changes the lid without disassembling the top half and removing the ribbon cable from the hinge? You kinda have to take the -entire- console apart to do anything to the top half of it.

 

[Kouen Hasuki]

How do you propose he changes the lid without disassembling the top half and removing the ribbon cable from the hinge? You kinda have to take the -entire- console apart to do anything to the top half of it.

Shit, You're right....

Note to self: Drink your coffee 1st before trying to help.
Still working on my first cup, My bad. Good catch, I'll edit my post.

also 666 posts D: the devils number

 

[Sicklyboy]

Shit, You're right....

Note to self: Drink your coffee 1st before trying to help.
Still working on my first cup, My bad. Good catch, I'll edit my post.

also 666 posts D: the devils number

Didn't mean to sound like a dick with that last reply. But hey, OP has a good video response now at least, which is better than just goin at it.

666 is the best milestone before 1000 XD

OP the biggest thing, as mentioned, is going to be that ribbon cable. They're a PAIN. I have two replacement ribbons in the mail that I'm going to try to put on to the screen in my lite; my ribbon is bad, screen should be fine, but I have no idea how hard it is to replace them. Most likely hard. Easier to just do the whole screen.

 

[Kouen Hasuki]

Didn't mean to sound like a dick with that last reply. But hey, OP has a good video response now at least, which is better than just goin at it.

666 is the best milestone before 1000 XD

OP the biggest thing, as mentioned, is going to be that ribbon cable. They're a PAIN. I have two replacement ribbons in the mail that I'm going to try to put on to the screen in my lite; my ribbon is bad, screen should be fine, but I have no idea how hard it is to replace them. Most likely hard. Easier to just do the whole screen.

Deffo, I have got a Spare top LCD here just in case xD well it was a replacement for the 1st one sent that had one stuck pixel but by the time it arrived from China I grew used to the pixel so I keep the LCD here as a spare.

Replacing the Ribbon on its own though? You're a braver man then me lol

 

[Sicklyboy]

[...]
Replacing the Ribbon on its own though? You're a braver man then me lol

I bought a few broken DSes off of ebay to refurbish and sell, see how good the money is in doing that. They all need new parts (hence the refurbishing), between cases, batteries, screens, etc. My lite also has, I assume, a bad ribbon, because after I replace the shell it never did quite work right. I placed an order from eachgame for 2x of each part I needed to get the bulk discount on them, and I'll use them, the ribbons were a buck and change so I got two of those and 2 LCDs with ribbons attached. If I can replace the ribbon on its own, I can save the screens for other projects, but if not, it's virtually no wasted money.

One of the consoles needs a new L button. I do NOT want to do it, but looking at them, they might not be as bad as I always thought they were. Probably end up replacing L and R if it turns out alright.

 

[Kouen Hasuki]

I bought a few broken DSes off of ebay to refurbish and sell, see how good the money is in doing that. They all need new parts (hence the refurbishing), between cases, batteries, screens, etc. My lite also has, I assume, a bad ribbon, because after I replace the shell it never did quite work right. I placed an order from eachgame for 2x of each part I needed to get the bulk discount on them, and I'll use them, the ribbons were a buck and change so I got two of those and 2 LCDs with ribbons attached. If I can replace the ribbon on its own, I can save the screens for other projects, but if not, it's virtually no wasted money.

One of the consoles needs a new L button. I do NOT want to do it, but looking at them, they might not be as bad as I always thought they were. Probably end up replacing L and R if it turns out alright.

The SP L and R trick might work, My memory on what the switch itself is made up of on the lite but if its a rubbery type try this take some twisers and pop it out blow some compressed air in there and replace the rubber cap for that trigger button sometimes its just crap thats built up in there that stops good contact

 

[ShadowNeko003]

Thanks for the video response. I will tread with caution. If I fail, I'll end up buying a mod chip for my 3DS. *knock on wood*

 

[Maxternal]

I'd just take off the case and cover the whole thing with a big ball of hot glue...but that's just me.

 

[Sicklyboy]

Thanks for the video response. I will tread with caution. If I fail, I'll end up buying a mod chip for my 3DS. *knock on wood*

You know that as of now there's no mod chip for the 3ds,right? Unless you mean a flashcard.

If you fail or don't feel comfortable doing it I can always do it for you if need be.

 

[ShadowNeko003]

Yeah, I meant card. XD

 

[Sicklyboy]

Aah that makes a lot more sense then, lol.

 

[BORTZ]

Depending on the type of failure you encounter... I might be willing to take the broken DS off your hands...

 

[teh_ryn]

If I can replace the ribbon on its own, I can save the screens for other projects, but if not, it's virtually no wasted money.

Hey, how did this turn out? How do you even replace just the ribbon cable? I haven't seen any guides that don't just replace the entire LCD.

I think I may have borked my ribbon cable while performing a full shell swap on a DS Lite last night (it was my very first time getting into the top piece, so first time handling the ribbon ). I have to check it when I get home from work and see if it's damaged or if I just didn't put it in all the way. But the system turns on and stays on and the top LCD displays all white and then a bunch of color bands appear starting from the top of the screen, so I have a feeling I owned that poor cable.

Even if repairing the ribbon cable is out of my league I'd still be interested in knowing how it is done, if you wouldn't mind sharing info. The whole reason I decided to repair a broken DS Lite rather than buying a working one was to have fun taking it apart and learning about it.