Hardware Can anyone fix my N3DSXL? (turns on, then off after popping sound)

[freeza]

All research has lead to the speaker ribbon cable having micro tears or something. I have taken this thing apart to try and reseat all of the ribbon cables but nothing has worked. I attempted to search on eBay for a replacement speaker ribbon cable and while some do turn up, they seem to all be either taken from working 3DS systems or oem replacements. Either of these would be fine if I didn't think it would happen again in the future. So my questions are:

1. is there a replacement cable that is actually fixed? by either being longer or better designed?
2. if such cable exists, how much is it and where can i get it from?
3. if someone has replaced one before, how much would you charge for labor? what is the turnaround time? and will it inevitably happen again in the future?

My N3DSXL has never been dropped, so I suspect it's happened simply from opening and closing it a lot. Don't want to send to Nintendo for obvious reasons.

Thanks in advance!

 

[TurdPooCharger]

Check if turning on the N3DSXL with the speaker flex cable assembly unconnected causes the issue to appear. Do not further attempt to recreate the problem if this happen again because then that would mean the issue is elsewhere, possible poorly discharging capacitor.

If you can isolate and verify that the only variable causing this power issue to appear is indeed the audio cable, your only recourse is to buy a compatible replacement on eBay. All flex cables and copper cables eventually break when put under cyclical bending stress. Some happen sooner than later. You just gotta roll with the repairs... or settle with the more durable O2DS.

 

[sym3n]

This mean just, that a ribbon cable is not right connected. Just have a Look if all your cables fit right to the connectors.

Had the same issue, when i replaced my top screen and tought i just killed it.

If you switched the top screen too, have a Look at it. Is the cable in the right direction, not upside down

Gesendet von meinem F8331 mit Tapatalk

 

[freeza]

Check if turning on the N3DSXL with the speaker flex cable assembly unconnected causes the issue to appear. Do not further attempt to recreate the problem if this happen again because then that would mean the issue is elsewhere, possible poorly discharging capacitor.

If you can isolate and verify that the only variable causing this power issue to appear is indeed the audio cable, your only recourse is to buy a compatible replacement on eBay. All flex cables and copper cables eventually break when put under cyclical bending stress. Some happen sooner than later. You just gotta roll with the repairs... or settle with the more durable O2DS.

Done, and low and behold it turned on. But this brings me back to my my original question: is there a cable that fixes this problem? Or will it just undoubtedly happen over and over again? Also, i don't feel too comfortable replacing the cable myself having to take apart so much of the system to do it. Can you do it? Or if anyone else is reading, how much would you charge?

This mean just, that a ribbon cable is not right connected. Just have a Look if all your cables fit right to the connectors.

Had the same issue, when i replaced my top screen and tought i just killed it.

If you switched the top screen too, have a Look at it. Is the cable in the right direction, not upside down

Gesendet von meinem F8331 mit Tapatalk

I have never modded or taken apart the system before so im pretty sure it's the speaker cable having some sort of tear in it. Thanks though

 

[freeza]

Actually, upon further analysis, it isn't the speaker at all. It's the bottom touch screen. When i take out this cable, it works but the bottom display doesn't turn on. When i attempt to put it back in and secure it in place, the system no longer boots. Picture below.

 

[TurdPooCharger]

Done, and low and behold it turned on. But this brings me back to my my original question: is there a cable that fixes this problem? Or will it just undoubtedly happen over and over again? Also, i don't feel too comfortable replacing the cable myself having to take apart so much of the system to do it.

There is no replacement Nintendo flex cable or aftermarket flex cable that can fix this inherent flaw. The problem has to do with material science of benefits vs. disadvantages. The copper, gold, and tin that make the traces in the flex cable are subjected to bending stress whenever opening and closing the screen. They're great electric conductors but are rather soft material that will plastically (permanently) deform sooner when stretched compared to lets say a thin wire made of galvanized steel (You don't want to make electric cables with steel at this miniaturize level - Trust me, lol).

Your 3DS and everyone's 3DS'es will eventually sooner or later experience this same problem the more gaming use they get. You'd hope that Nintendo designed the (3)DS family of handhelds on the onset to last an certain X amount hours of game play along with Y times of opening/closing that would carry you throughout your gaming life. This, sadly, isn't going to be the case for everyone when we get 3DS'es giving up the ghost prematurely due to having parts with micro-defects... Manufacturing is an impossible art; you can't repeatably make the perfect sample each and every time.

Can you do it? Or if anyone else is reading, how much would you charge?

Your recourse is to have a trusted 3DS repair specialist handle your baby. I'm not one of them. If you happen to not find anyone to out-source the repair to after exhausting your search, can't justify selling the system 'as-is' for parts, and become tempted to try it yourself, personal advice would be to take pictures for every step in the disassembly, use a tiny weak magnet in a cup to hold the little screws (put this far away from the main work space, also great to look for lost screws), use tweezers with the biting edges taped with clear tape (for cushioning) if its one of those women-grade sharp ones, and buy an inexpensive electronic repair tool kit that contain an assortment of screwdrivers, piks, and pudges off of eBay or Amazon.

 

[freeza]

There is no replacement Nintendo flex cable or aftermarket flex cable that can fix this inherent flaw. The problem has to do with material science of benefits vs. disadvantages. The copper, gold, and tin that make the traces in the flex cable are subjected to bending stress whenever opening and closing the screen. They're great electric conductors but are rather soft material that will plastically (permanently) deform sooner when stretched compared to lets say a thin wire made of galvanized steel (You don't want to make electric cables with steel at this miniaturize level - Trust me, lol).

Your 3DS and everyone's 3DS'es will eventually sooner or later experience this same problem the more gaming use they get. You'd hope that Nintendo designed the (3)DS family of handhelds on the onset to last an certain X amount hours of game play along with Y times of opening/closing that would carry you throughout your gaming life. This, sadly, isn't going to be the case for everyone when we get 3DS'es giving up the ghost prematurely due to having parts with micro-defects... Manufacturing is an impossible art; you can't repeatably make the perfect sample each and every time.


Your recourse is to have a trusted 3DS repair specialist handle your baby. I'm not one of them. If you happen to not find anyone to out-source the repair to after exhausting your search, can't justify selling the system 'as-is' for parts, and become tempted to try it yourself, personal advice would be to take pictures for every step in the disassembly, use a tiny weak magnet in a cup to hold the little screws (put this far away from the main work space, also great to look for lost screws), use tweezers with the biting edges taped with clear tape (for cushioning) if its one of those women-grade sharp ones, and buy an inexpensive electronic repair tool kit that contain an assortment of screwdrivers, piks, and pudges off of eBay or Amazon.

Damn.. Thanks for the advice and information. It was a great help. I'll probably attempt the repair myself then