Hardware N3DS XL after hardmod LEDs are partially not working

[Smynos]

After a hardmod of my N3DS XL I have a few problems:

- the power LED no longer lights blue
- but it turns red when the battery is low
- the orange charging LED doesn't light when the N3DS is connected to the charger
- the notification LED StreePass (green) doesn't turn on; it only turns blue when I receive a SpotPass notification; it blinks red when the battery is very low and it flashes red too when a friend has connected online, it should flash orange in this case not red

I suspect that maybe a ribbon cable doesn't have a good connection to a zif connector anymore?
Similar like the problem of the home button not working (which this system has too).

But before I open it and repair the home button what else should I look for to repair the not working LEDs?
Where should I look?

Thanks.

 

[Urbanshadow]

Yeah, the led part has a ribbon connection. Check the ribbon is properly connected.

 

[Smynos]

Can you be a little bit more specific where this ribbon connection is?
I have no idea where I should look.

Thanks.

 

[Urbanshadow]

It's in the top right corner of the motherboard. You have 5 or 6 ribbons there.
Make sure every one is correct, specially the little gray one and the orange ones up of the analog stick.
Also check the direction of the ribbon. The ribbon can get in upside down and will look ok, but it will not work.

And this little, bottom one is the bottom leds I think:

Spoiler

Check this link if you feel lost: https://es.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+3DS+XL+Motherboard+Replacement/25399
EDIT: OH, seems like in that guide the IR board is placed the wrong way. Make sure to put it the correct way or system post will fail to a blackscreen and will not boot.

 

[Dennis G]

that's odd, green led's use the most power, orange/red the least, but the charging led is a special low power one that uses 1.7v or something, the power led and wifi use 3.5ish and the spotpass + update led is a single led with multiple colors. so it's very odd, the red one for low power is a separated red led which i don't know what voltages it's running on, i've replaced my power + wifi + charging ones but not the low power one. but the spotpass one is the big worry factor here since the blue and green are the same led, so one should mean that all should work :s

 

[hundshamer]

It's in the top right corner of the motherboard. You have 5 or 6 ribbons there.
Make sure every one is correct, specially the little gray one and the orange ones up of the analog stick.
Also check the direction of the ribbon. The ribbon can get in upside down and will look ok, but it will not work.

And this little, bottom one is the bottom leds I think:

Spoiler

Check this link if you feel lost: https://es.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+3DS+XL+Motherboard+Replacement/25399
EDIT: OH, seems like in that guide the IR board is placed the wrong way. Make sure to put it the correct way or system post will fail to a blackscreen and will not boot.

Yeah, no. The LEDs are soldered directly to the mobo. That cable is to the backlight for the bottom screen.

To the OP: Check for loose solder bridging and clean your soldering area with isopropyl alcohol.

 

[Smynos]

It's in the top right corner of the motherboard. You have 5 or 6 ribbons there.
Make sure every one is correct, specially the little gray one and the orange ones up of the analog stick.
Also check the direction of the ribbon. The ribbon can get in upside down and will look ok, but it will not work.

And this little, bottom one is the bottom leds I think:
..

I think you show a picture of an old 3DS.
I have a new 3DS XL (N3DS).

But I guess I have found the problem.
Look at the attached picture.
I have a small bend in the ribbon cable which goes from the main board to the right button board with the LED assembly.
I think this cannot be repaired.
I may have to replace the button board with the ribbon cable.

Or is there some other option?

Thanks.

 

[Dennis G]

I think you show a picture of an old 3DS.
I have a new 3DS XL (N3DS).

But I guess I have found the problem.
Look at the attached picture.
I have a small bend in the ribbon cable which goes from the main board to the right button board with the LED assembly.
I think this cannot be repaired.
I may have to replace the button board with the ribbon cable.

Or is there some other option?

Thanks.

thats pretty lucky, those flatcables cost nothing, matter of fact i have a spare here, get you one of those =)

 

[Urbanshadow]

I think you show a picture of an old 3DS.
I have a new 3DS XL (N3DS).

But I guess I have found the problem.
Look at the attached picture.
I have a small bend in the ribbon cable which goes from the main board to the right button board with the LED assembly.
I think this cannot be repaired.
I may have to replace the button board with the ribbon cable.

Or is there some other option?

Thanks.

Oh yeah I thought it was O3dsXL, I read that too quick. I don't know if that "defect" could be causing your problems, but if you don't see anything else, try replacing it as stated above.

 

[Smynos]

thats pretty lucky, those flatcables cost nothing, matter of fact i have a spare here, get you one of those =)

You may have a spare for me?
That is fantastic.
Thanks.

But how can I get in contact with you to discuss the details more privately?

 

[mudassirul]

I don't think it's that ribbon, those two ribbons that go to the top screen are for the lcd and camera!

Edit: I'm thinking about the standard N3ds, may or may not be different on the xl

 

[Dennis G]

You may have a spare for me?
That is fantastic.
Thanks.

But how can I get in contact with you to discuss the details more privately?

haha no i have one spare + a spare powerboard because i modefied mine so i like to keep spare around, but you can buy them on ebay very cheaply, you're probaly from america and i'm in europe so you could better order one yourself would be lot cheaper shipping wise, here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181944553295?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
this is the one i bought it's a powerboard including the ribbon, but i've also seen the ribbon alone for like a dollar fifty =)

 

[Smynos]

OK, thanks anyway. I am from Europe BTW.
I have now ordered only the ribbon cable from a german eBay seller.

Hopefully this will then be sufficient to repair my N3DS XL.