Disconnecting Nintendo DS Lite Logic Board

Last updated on July 31, 2024

No estimate

Difficult

Missing Steps

Community-Contributed Guide

Introduction

This guide has been updated by iFixit staff! Read the new, official guide here.

In this guide, we will carefully disconnect all the connections from the logic board to assorted peripherals.

Tools

Place your device upside down and locate the battery compartment.
Find the Phillips head screw securing the battery cover in the bottom right hand corner of the device.
Loosen the screw enough to remove the battery cover but leave the screw in the cover for reassembly.
Use only a Phillips screwdriver to remove screw.

Slowly remove the battery cover with the iFixit opening tool.
Make sure to remove the cover carefully to keep from losing Phillips screw in the cover. It will be needed for reassembly.

Use the iFixit opening tool to carefully pry the battery out of the case.
After the old battery is removed replace it with a new battery facing the same direction as when the cover was opened.
For some devices, you may be able to remove the battery by flipping the DS over and letting the battery fall into your hand.

Remove the following seven screws that secure the lower case to the DS Lite:
Three silver tri-wing screws (5mm long)
One black tri-wing screw (4mm)
Two gold Phillips screws (4mm)
One silver Phillips screw (3mm)
Do not remove the silver PH screw (3mm) in the battery compartment yet. It holds the main PCB in place.

On the front edge of the Nintendo DS between the headphone jack plug and volume controls remove the plastic insert (or cartridge) from the lower slot (Slot 2).

Flip the unit over so that it is facing right-side up.
Use a spudger to pry open the gap between the bottom case and the front panel. Work all the way around the case until the panel is free.
Avoid touching the L and R shoulder buttons, because they easily detach and are difficult to reassemble. Keep the bottom case flat against your workbench to help hold the shoulder buttons in place.

Carefully separate the two pieces by hand.
The two shoulder buttons are made up of three pieces -- the plastic button, a pin, and a spring. If they accidentally pop out while you are working, study the picture and make sure you put the spring in the correct position.
When reassembling the cover, make sure that the power switch caver on the bottom case is in the off (down) position to avoid breakage.

After taking the bottom case off, remove two Phillips #00 screws that secure the logic board to the plastic case.

Tool used on this step:

Tweezers

$4.99

Locate the small ribbon cable that connects the touch screen to the logic board.
Using a pair of tweezers, flip the black plastic latch up to release the cable.
Gently pull the cable straight out (towards the edge of the case).

Locate the black and white cables that are attached to the logic board and WiFi module.
Using metal tweezers, gently disconnect the wires by pulling them away from the logic board and underneath the card slot.
Do not pull the wires with force; they will detach.