Nintendo DS Screen Hinge Broken

eddiem74

My son has a red Nintendo DS.

Lately he has been complaining that the screen won't stay up in various positions. It seems like the hinge is now broken, and after a closer look I can see a small chip/crack out of the plastic where I assume the hinge to be, similar to this pic.



Everything else seems to work fine and there is no other obvious damage.

Is this something that can be fixed ? If yes how would I go about doing that.

Many thanks.

Triangle

This happened my two son's nintendo's too.

Guy in the shop said it could be sent off to nintendo to gte fixed for (if i remember right) 50 - 70 euros.

We never fixed them and one of the screens eventually broke off (Mother and son tug of war contest using the tendo as the rope :rolleyes: )

col16

A replacement cover can be bought from Dealextreme online.Its a bit tricky to fit but it can be done.Did it with my sons about 9 months ago and still fine.Good quality replacement.Loads of video instructions on Youtube on how to fit the cover.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12695.You also need to buy the screwdrivers http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2905
There are a few different ones on their site so check out the reviews.Delivery is free but takes about 2 weeks .

eddiem74

So the entire cover/casing needs to be replaced in order to get a new hinge working, right ?

Thanks again.

witnessmenow

Basically yeah.

One thing that would concern me about it is the hinge is located the other side of the DS.

I don't understand why dealextreme have it pictured like this:



but that silver ring in the middle of the item is separate from the rest of it, and thats the part that is at the L button, the actually hinge part is at the R button.

For the sake of the €2 or whatever it is I would buy the above as well just to make sure it isnt your hinge that is causing it not to stay up.

Even if it is the hinge that is the problem i still recommend replacing the case, as inside where is cracked is the top screens ribbon cable which is easily damaged.

If you've any questions feel free to get in touch.

eddiem74

Ok, so I am going to order:

1 x replacement case (is this the right red ? )
1 x replacement Hinge
1 x Trigam Screwdriver

Appreciate any further input/guidance.

Thanks.

djsim

If it doesnt work out let me know.

I can fix that for ya no probs for a small fee.

BTW, you prop get away without getting the second item. Normally it is the housing around the hinge that breaks and not the "barrel" itself.

eddiem74

Can someone perhaps also PM me a link to a good tutorial on doing this.

Thanks again.

Sineadg

I changed the case on my daughters Nintendo and damaged the ribbon in the process so one screen did not work at all. It seems to be a very delicate operation unless you are used to that sort of thing. In the end I just bought her a new one. There are good tutorials on u tube, you just have to browse a bit.

Sineadg

DJSIM,
Do you also replace ribbons? And if so what is the cost? Is it worth my while getting it repaired and selling it on? I was after buying a new chrome case for it, although I did make a scratch on that in the process of changing the case.

eddiem74

Well I got the new case, hinge, etc, and gave the YouTube process a go.

Managed to get it all apart and back together but initially I had the issue of it would only turn on for 3 seconds or so, and the bottom screen would flash, and then it woud turn off.

After trying to reseat the ribbon 3-4 times, eventually it all seemed to work again. Hoooray !!!

Now a week or so later the top screen has started to blur/break-up/become distorted. When I tilt the screen to open/close sometimes the display comes back good.

So I've taken it apart again, and tried messing again with the ribbon, etc. but I think it is getting the better of me. :mad:

What do you think now ? Ribbon damage ? I am leaning towards handing it over to the professionals on here.

Frustrated........... :rolleyes:

Star Lord

Definitely the ribbon cable. Either part of it got partially severed, and adjusting the angle is making/breaking the connection, or it's not correctly seated.

eddiem74

DamoElDiablo wrote: »

Definitely the ribbon cable. Either part of it got partially severed, and adjusting the angle is making/breaking the connection, or it's not correctly seated.

Well a bit more messing around today just trying to get the thing back together again, and now the top screen turns on, but just stays white/lit when on, and is no longer blurred/breaks-up/lines running down through it.

I think I will admit defeat. :mad:

Anyone who reckons they can fix it, and are willing please PM me with suggestions/details. Thanks !

Antrim_Man

eddiem74 wrote: »

Well a bit more messing around today just trying to get the thing back together again, and now the top screen turns on, but just stays white/lit when on, and is no longer blurred/breaks-up/lines running down through it.

I think I will admit defeat. :mad:

Anyone who reckons they can fix it, and are willing please PM me with suggestions/details. Thanks !

I sent my sons to Nintendo UK for repair and they want £50+ to fix it. The unit is less than a year old but was a Xmas present so no receipt and also the serial number is missing. The serial number looks like something a child would naturally pick off, I'm wondering if that's what Nintendo were hoping for :mad:. Surely there will be a serial number encoded on the electronics

Anyway I told them I am not paying and that they should be fixing it for free, it seems that they do this for customers in the US when I googled it. My sons unit has a white top screen with the broken hinge for the record.

Anybody get theirs repaired by Nintendo?

Antrim_Man

This is very interesting
http://cgi.ebay.ie/TOP-LCD-Screen-Display-for-Nintendo-NDS-Lite-NDSL-TOOL_W0QQitemZ370282215336QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_VideoGames_VideoGameAccessories_VideoGameAccessories_JN?hash=item56368a37a8

witnessmenow

thats a good price, remember that is coming from hong kong though, you'll be waiting a couple of weeks for it.

Replacing the top screen is a pretty delicate task, you also need to solder and unsolder (although its very easy soldering as soldering goes)

If you've never done it before expect it to take you 2 hours, maybe even more if you get a bit bogged down at any part

viv2

I have used console repairs in bray for my sons ds with the same problem

witnessmenow

re-reading your post antrim man, your probably just as well to get nintendo to fix it.

My price break down for a fix like that would be:

€25 Labour
€20 Parts (about €8 for screen, €12 for case)

By the time you pay for postage each way thats going to add up another €10

so thats €55 in total, not very far from nintendos price, and they'd be using official parts.


CRI in bray that viv mentioned are another option, but i cant imagine them being any cheaper €45 + postage.