Nintendo Switch Lite - Pins on board missing/broken

[unpatchedswitch]

Hi I've opened a switch lite to change the analogue sticks and the pins are missing where the ribbon should connect to it (see photo).

Can this be fixed or is it as good as dead?

 

[Nephiel]

Seems to be missing the FFC connector on the board. Should be fixable if the traces aren't too damaged and you can find a spare connector. Can be tricky to solder, though.

 

[unpatchedswitch]

Seems to be missing the FFC connector on the board. Should be fixable if the traces aren't too damaged and you can find a spare connector. Can be tricky to solder, though.

Can I solder onto the ribbon cable?

The PCB tracks are intact and not damaged.

 

[Nephiel]

Can I solder onto the ribbon cable?

The PCB tracks are intact and not damaged.

Yes, you could, at the risk of ripping traces or creating a short. And the problem will stay there, waiting, the next time the stick needs replacing.

 

[Blythe93]

Unrelated, but I do wonder how people manage to mess up their Switches this much? It's not like you can easily open it up with a tri-wing screwdriver. Maybe the kids are using it? Spilled something over it and damaged the connector? Even then, is it really that easy to rip it off or permanently damage it (unless your intent is to destroy it, that is)? I've had multiple consoles over the past couple of years and I've never run into an issue with any of them (other than one analog stick drifting issue which is, unfortunately, pretty common issue).

 

[unpatchedswitch]

Seems to be missing the FFC connector on the board. Should be fixable if the traces aren't too damaged and you can find a spare connector. Can be tricky to solder, though.

by spare connector do you mean buy a replacement connector, or do you mean there are spare connectors already on the board?

 

[Nephiel]

by spare connector do you mean buy a replacement connector, or do you mean there are spare connectors already on the board?

Sorry, I meant buying a replacement connector or salvaging one from another board (a broken joy-con, for example).

 

[unpatchedswitch]

thanks, I have a broken joycon so I'll have a look inside that to see if the board is in salvageable condition