Hacking DS Phat R button failure.

[Heito]

For the past month my DS (Phat)'s R button is unresponsive most of the time I press it, and now it seems to have stopped working completely. It's not just the game, it happens in every game no matter if its a ROM or a real cartridge. I've tried using an index card to clean around the button and also blowing on it to try and clean it, and it seems to work for a bit but then it stops working after a few presses again. It's an old DS that I bought the year the system came out, and also flashme was installed onto it. The warranty is definitely up, so a free repair is out of the picture.

I was wondering if there's a way to fix this myself or should I send it to nintendo? I don't want to lose my DS, and I can't afford a new one at the moment. Any input is welcomed.

 

[Heran Bago]

It's actually a common problem with every Nintendo handheld since the GBA. Have you been carrying it around in your pocket without a case? It does that because (usually) dust and crud gets all up in there. Google and searching the boards might yield some results.

Strategy 1:
A guide was posted a while back where you had to open up the system and clean out the well with rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip. That solution requires a tri-wing screw driver you have to order online though.

Strategy 2:
There's another solution. Hit your DS really hard on the unresponsive shoulder button. Karate chop it, smack it against a table, drop it. A lot of people have reported this working, and I myself have witness the karate chop method working. Of course, most people puss out on this option, despite the effectiveness.

Strategy 3:
Nintendo will repair your DS for a nominal fee.


I think there should be a page on this in the gbatemp wiki.

 

[Trune]

Hitting an electronic device is never good...
All its doing is knocking things back in place but you could also be knocking other things out of place as well...

 

[chalupa]

man i feel your pain, had this happen on all of my ds's (all 6 of them) thankfully i still had my warranty on them so they got fixed.
my advice? pray to Jesus above that he floats down and personally gives you a new ds, a lite this time around.

 

[Heran Bago]

Hitting an electronic device is never good...
All its doing is knocking things back in place but you could also be knocking other things out of place as well...

While I entirely agree with you in theory, it's difficult to argue with results.
I assume it knocks the dust/crud out of place, rather than the shoulder button actually back into place.

 

[Heito]

Yeah I did keep it in my pocket a lot without a case.

I've given the hitting thing a try, but no luck so far. How hard do I gotta hit this thing? I'm afraid I'm gonna break something

 

[Mewgia]

That happened to me twice (once with L and once with R). Nintendo replaced it for free both times. Of course, it was under warranty (and still is, every time they fix it you get another year).

 

[Heran Bago]

Yeah I did keep it in my pocket a lot without a case.

I've given the hitting thing a try, but no luck so far. How hard do I gotta hit this thing? I'm afraid I'm gonna break something

It's pretty scary. People have reported accidentally dropping it onto a hardwood or tile floor from standing. I can't imagine not breaking something that way. If a good smack against a table corner doesn't do it I'd opt for the alcohol treatment since I have a tri-wing.

Maybe phone in for a $$ estimate from Nintendo?

 

[Heito]

Well good news, I slammed it really hard multiple times on the table edge, and it seems to be working pretty well now (knock on wood, heheh) definitely a ton better then before (works everytime I press it, and even works when I hold it down).

Thanks for the advice, it worked!