Hardware Opinions Wanted - Repairing 3DS (Top half broken off)

[misterb98]

I recently purchased the system below off of Ebay. As far as I can tell, the cable and LCD screen are still intact, but it looks like the cable connecting the screen to the system has been ripped out. (And the case is broken of course, but with some shell augmentation, that can be livable)

I'm hoping to take it apart, put the cable back into the hopefully still-usable motherboard and have it boot up just fine.

My question is, what do you guys think the odds are the motherboard's socket for that cable is still intact? Those flaps on the board can be real finicky. If the mobo isn't usable I'll probably wind up parting out what is still usable.

Thanks in advance.

Warning: Large images in the spoiler!

Spoiler

Update: It got here!

After disassembling the device, I found one cable cut, one cable pinched (there is a solid white line across then entire cable, not sure if it cut the traces or not), and one cable intact.

Cameras were cut
Speakers were pinched
Screen was fine

The motherboard would not turn on, but that turned out to be from a dead battery. Putting in a charged battery and turning it on would run the system for 2 seconds or so, the screen would flash once (top half unplugged), and then turn off again. The motherboard also looks fine.

While putting it back together, I accidentally put a screw in the wrong hole and slightly damaged the ribbon for the R button. I don't think I damaged the traces, but who knows? I might have broken R.

As a result, I ordered new cameras and speakers, they should be here next week.

 

[Jean Karlo]

From my experience the 3ds should still turn on at least four a couple seconds even if the cable is detached, is if turns on for at least a second then the motherboard is working. The sockets should be alright

 

[misterb98]

From my experience the 3ds should still turn on at least four a couple seconds even if the cable is detached, is if turns on for at least a second then the motherboard is working. The sockets should be alright

This makes sense. When it gets here, Ill do this to test it before taking it apart. You find it more likely that the cable was pulled out of the socket without the socket breaking than not? This is what concerns me the most, though I suppose I'll find out in a few days!

 

[SmileCitrus]

I couldn't tell you for sure, but for what it's worth, I occasionally buy consoles that are broken in half completely like that because it's a cheap way to get good motherboards. I've bought about a dozen or so and in my experience the speaker, camera, and top LCD connectors on the motherboard are usually fine. I think I had one once where the clip for the top LCD was broken, but it seems that, for the most part, when the console is dropped or broken in half it's much more likely that the ribbon simply gets pulled out of the connector rather than the connector breaking. So it's a small gamble, but the odds are good that the motherboard will be fine.

 

[Jean Karlo]

The cable don't looks detached, those cables have some sort of "lock" that keeps them in place, I personally broke one of this "locks" ( the audio slider), but I managed to just insert the audio slider part without this "lock", works fine for me.

I say "locks" cause I know that have a different name..

Oh and by the way, the top screen is the most annoying part when putting a 3ds back together, just a heads up... google shell swapping 3ds, it should help you in one way or another.

 

[misterb98]

The cable don't looks detached, those cables have some sort of "lock" that keeps them in place, I personally broke one of this "locks" ( the audio slider), but I managed to just insert the audio slider part without this "lock", works fine for me.

I say "locks" cause I know that have a different name..

Oh and by the way, the top screen is the most annoying part when putting a 3ds back together, just a heads up... google shell swapping 3ds, it should help you in one way or another.

The cable is definitely detached, you can see half of it in the first picture (click to zoom in). I'm just concerned that its 'lock' might be broken. If it is, I don't think I am able to get a replacement lock.

 

[Jean Karlo]

I see it now l .. well even if by bad luck they are broken, you can just plug it in and maybe it should work, the lock is to keep it in place. Although I personally don't think it is broken

 

[hundshamer]

There are 3 ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) connectors or "locks". Two on top of the mobo, and one on the bottom. One is for the speakers and 3D slider, one for the camera, and one for the screen itself. Hopefully the other two aren't broken, or the flex cables aren't ripped in an area you cannot see in the pictures. Even a small tear on the flex cables can ruin any one of the 3 parts mentioned earlier.

 

[misterb98]

There are 3 ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) connectors or "locks". Two on top of the mobo, and one on the bottom. One is for the speakers and 3D slider, one for the camera, and one for the screen itself. Hopefully the other two aren't broken, or the flex cables aren't ripped in an area you cannot see in the pictures. Even a small tear on the flex cables can ruin any one of the 3 parts mentioned earlier.

Exactly. This is what I am hoping for. I'm hoping that they were just yanked out, and a re-inserting these will be all that is required to fix it. If the mobo's locks are broken, I lose.

Heck, even if one of the ribbons are torn, I can order a replacement part for < $30

I was simply wondering if anyone had this type of experience with repairing consoles in this state, and what they would give as an estimate prognosis.

 

[misterb98]

Okay, It has been 6 days since I last posted, so I'm assuming I can post again without editing (which will not get viewed at all)

The hinge-holder thing in the top left is obviously broken off. My question is, can I use very small amounts of super glue to glue it back well enough to hold? Has anyone done this before?

I spent some time googling, but found nothing on the 3ds front, only XL's and ds lites.

 

[DarkKnigh_t]

Okay, It has been 6 days since I last posted, so I'm assuming I can post again without editing (which will not get viewed at all)

The hinge-holder thing in the top left is obviously broken off. My question is, can I use very small amounts of super glue to glue it back well enough to hold? Has anyone done this before?

I spent some time googling, but found nothing on the 3ds front, only XL's and ds lites.

I wouldnt suggest that the top screen is very heavy and that hinge is holding it up so even if you glued it to hold it would break as soon as you would open your 3ds :/

 

[misterb98]

I wouldnt suggest that the top screen is very heavy and that hinge is holding it up so even if you glued it to hold it would break as soon as you would open your 3ds :/

So it would be far better to replace that section of the shell?

Edit: Well, duh, it would. But what I mean is there is no alternative solution that would last some time?

 

[DarkKnigh_t]

So it would be far better to replace that section of the shell?

Edit: Well, duh, it would. But what I mean is there is no alternative solution that would last some time?

no i dont think so because if you glue it together and lets say it holds(but it wouldnt) and just one time it splits in your hands and the ribbon cable rips or rips the socket of the motherboard.