Hardware Problem With SD Card Reader Seat From Nintendo Switch Mother Board

[lpoolm]

Hi all, this was a good read, now I know one of my switches issues, I do have a question though.
I have 3 missing pins, two I can trace to the test points and to the sd reader, the other is a ground though.
What do I do with a missing ground?
Thanks

 

[mitcha]

@lpoolm look at the image posted by mattytrog in post #11 here : https://gbatemp.net/threads/about-the-microsd-card-connector.523130/

sadly i can't answer you , because i do not have to solder the ground wire.
i hope some one else with more knowledge can answer this.
some ppl had the same problem with the ground wire/pin and where to solder it exactly !

if you solve it in the future (i hope) , post here where you solder it please.

 

[pedrosuarez]

Of course! Sorry, school has been absolutely destroying me and I kept forgetting to reply:

I went with an iron that had a more precise tip and comes with solder. If you're willing to pay a little bit more money, you can purchase the one that comes with more solder, a spudger and a holder.

I would also recommend purchasing a brass sponge to wipe your iron during the process when needed.

In terms of wire, I recommend AWG40 wire, if that wire item on Amazon runs out (as I'm looking at it right now there is only one left in stock) this appears to be the same thing.

To test and make sure that your connections are good to go, you'll need a multimeter. It seems super complicated, but the only setting you'll really need to use is the one near the bottom-right that looks like a WiFi signal and a megaphone. You can find tutorials online for more info about using a multimeter to test soldering connections. here's one that I used, you can scroll down and read the section under "Checking for Continuity."

You'll need both a Y00 screwdriver and a PH000 screwdriver. DON'T TRY TO USE A DIFFERENT SIZE! The Switch's screws are especially picky, and they strip very easily. You can try and google for these two screw types (they're annoying to find), but if you can order off Walmart, here's a set similar to the one I used. You can use ifixit's tutorial for getting to the SD Reader, and after that just unscrew all the screws attached to the metal plate.

Note that really the only required items are the soldering iron, solder and the wire. You can substitute a brass sponge with a normal wet sponge, but I've heard that can really damage your iron, so I wouldn't recommend it.

TL;DR:

That was a lot, so I'll condense all the links down here:

- iron that has a more precise tip and comes with solder OR one that comes with more solder, a spudger and a holder

- brass sponge

- AWG40 wire OR if out of stock other AWG40 wire

- multimeter AND here's a tutorial that I used under "Checking for Continuity"

- here's a set of screwdrivers similar to the one I used AND ifixit's tutorial for getting to the SD Reader, and after that just unscrew all the screws attached to the metal plate.

If anyone has any questions, let me know.

Hello I am having the same problems and I am looking for which connection is gnd (green and / or gray line) and I would be very grateful if you could answer my questions, did you solder the green line to the sd reader as seen in the diagram? And apart from this, the gnd line (gray color) that you see in the diagram, did you make that connection or not?
Sorry my bad English I use the Google translator.

 

[pedrosuarez]

finaly got it working, after the 2nd try
it's a mess but the switch work again.
thank to the shema provided by @mattytrog in other thread.

i have never done this kind of tiny soldering before ,i was afread of loosing a my switch , but i got it working in 20mn from the switch unscrew to the happy final.

the switch was running (hekate) from the begining , i know it's not the normal procedure but i set it like that to test it really quick.

like i said before ,only with basic materials you can do it

some photos :

Spoiler

Hi, I read that you used a large awg cable, could you tell me what size it is? The reason is that in my country the smallest cable I found is 22 awg and I want to compare the cable sizes to see if there will be any problem, I cannot buy abroad because in my country the borders are closed.
Attached is an image of the cable sizes sold in my country.
Thanks for your help and sorry for my bad English, I use google translate.

 

[mitcha]

Hi, I read that you used a large awg cable, could you tell me what size it is? The reason is that in my country the smallest cable I found is 22 awg and I want to compare the cable sizes to see if there will be any problem, I cannot buy abroad because in my country the borders are closed.
Attached is an image of the cable sizes sold in my country.
Thanks for your help and sorry for my bad English, I use google translate.

hi , i used the red wire , it used for arcade cabinet button wiring , and it's thick ,not recomended fot this kind of soldering.


i have a second switch with missing some pins and i decide to change the connector , so i buy one here (3 conector for 7.5€) https://m.fr.aliexpress.com/item/4000939189889.html?trace=wwwdetail2mobilesitedetail&spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27426c37vwWWGz
you need a hot air station to desolder the old one and solder the new one.
i will do this when i get my hot station , because i like to do it my self and learn.

 

[newgen2005]

i have a second switch with missing some pins and i decide to change the connector , so i buy one here (3 conector for 7.5€) https://m.fr.aliexpress.com/item/4000939189889.html?trace=wwwdetail2mobilesitedetail&spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27426c37vwWWGz
you need a hot air station to desolder the old one and solder the new one.
i will do this when i get my hot station , because i like to do it my self and learn.

I am guessing I need to get one of these for my Switch.

 

[pedrosuarez]

hi , i used the red wire , it used for arcade cabinet button wiring , and it's thick ,not recomended fot this kind of soldering.


i have a second switch with missing some pins and i decide to change the connector , so i buy one here (3 conector for 7.5€) https://m.fr.aliexpress.com/item/4000939189889.html?trace=wwwdetail2mobilesitedetail&spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27426c37vwWWGz
you need a hot air station to desolder the old one and solder the new one.
i will do this when i get my hot station , because i like to do it my self and learn.

I found a 24 awg UTP ethernet cable in my house and by peeling / opening it I found really small flexible cables apparently made of copper and they are very much like the ones sold in stores.
Do you think I can use these cables or will there be any difference from the 22 awg cables that they sell in the stores and these 24 awg utp ethernet cables?

 

[mitcha]

@pedrosuarez if they are flexible enough , go on.
they are thin and can do the job.

don't forget to pre-tin either parts , the wire and the point where the wire go)

 

[pedrosuarez]

@pedrosuarez if they are flexible enough , go on.
they are thin and can do the job.

don't forget to pre-tin either parts , the wire and the point where the wire go)

Thank you for all of your help.
With a pair of scissors, scrape the cable a little and it came out silver.
is that normal for copper or is it an aluminum wire?
Do you recommend using that cable or do I look for another one?

 

[mitcha]

Thank you for all of your help.
With a pair of scissors, scrape the cable a little and it came out silver.
is that normal for copper or is it an aluminum wire?
Do you recommend using that cable or do I look for another one?

solution : try to tin it , if the wire take the tin you win

 

[tweetee]

Some news about my problem. I found a professionnal in order to make the connections with soldering wires. He does the job for 50€ and now the switch crack works again.

Thanks all for your help and your support.

View attachment 192757 View attachment 192758

Unfortunatly the repair didn't last long :/. From that day the switch can only work with game in card which doesn't need any download from Nintendo (because it was ban )

 

[mitcha]

Unfortunatly the repair didn't last long :/. From that day the switch can only work with game in card which doesn't need any download from Nintendo (because it was ban )

hi , it was working after the repair but not now ! what happen ?

 

[tweetee]

The wires have unsoldered they were probaly too small or not enough soldered :/
I will probably buy a new connector on aliexpress and find someone in my area to change it...

If i buy some new connector do you think it is better to replace it or to replace only the missing contact pins

 

[mitcha]

The wires have unsoldered they were probaly too small or not enough soldered :/
I will probably buy a new connector on aliexpress and find someone in my area to change it...

If i buy some new connector do you think it is better to replace it or to replace only the missing contact pins

better replace the conector by a professional with hotgun imho.
replacing just the a pin may cause problem of connection.

 

[tweetee]

Finally done ....

 

[mitcha]

Finally done ....

View attachment 237293

View attachment 237294

great , well done.
it's a pro work , no mess at all.
have you tested the switch now , it works ?

 

[tweetee]

Everything is working.

 

[berichan]

Thanks for all the resources pertaining to this. My soldering is potato but nice to have this working again.

I just soldered to the trace instead of dealing with the green/red wire, same as @Tommy084 so thanks for that idea. Soldered ground to screw hole because the underside was scuffed to hell and wouldn't ground properly.

All working:

Hopefully never have to open this again.

 

[mitcha]

@berichan thanks for the feed back , it will certainly help others.

 

[anthraxx01]

Hey I’ve been reading these posts and I would like to know if I need any soldering here?? Though I think i dont have any broken pins. Just want to know if i just have a faulty sd card reader or do i need to solder too?? Thnks