Hacking DS lite - repair options

[odyssy]

So - the L button on my DS Lite is becoming unresponsive. I've heard this is a rather common problem. Right now, pressing down really hard on the button a few times is required for a press to register (blowing onto the button seems to help a bit.. for a while).

Nintendo wants $75+tax+shipping to fix this, according to their website... which is awfully expensive for such a small issue, IMO (1/2 the cost of a new system!)

What other options do I have?

 

[DrFiishy]

you could open it up yourself and maybe trying to fix it....if you cant...well dont have any other option tbh

 

[Jakob95]

Yeah the L and R buttons are really easy to fix. They are the easiest things that you could fix on the DS when you open it.

 

[Kittymat]

WHAT - you can desolder the buttons and put on new ones!

I tried and failed - I opened up the DS lite and then squirted a little switch cleaner in them

Worked great!

 

[odyssy]

How do you go about doing this? Is it an easy procedure?
Alternatively, is there anyone in Toronto who would repair DS lites for a nominal charge (or free, even better :-> )?

 

[Jakob95]

Its really easy to fix it. Just open it up. And see whats wrong.

 

[odyssy]

That doesn't sound so easy.. at least, w/o instructions..

 

[monzamess]

There are repair guides all over Youtube showing how to take it apart and reassemble. You WILL need a "triwing" screwdriver. Dealextreme has them really cheap, but if you don't want to wait weeks for it, you can find one pretty cheap on ebay. Probably just some dirt got in there and you need to open it to properly clean it.