Repairing a Nintendo DS Lite

Step 3 Replacing the bottom LCD and/or touch screen

If you are not replacing either of these screens, please proceed to the next step.

If you are replacing both these screens, you probably don't need to bother separating them. Just skip on down to the 'Installing new screens' paragraph on this step.

You should now have the entire bottom display detached from the PCB. Take careful note how the ribbon cables are oriented.
Now, look at the display edge-on. From the 'top' (touch screen) down, you should see:
-Plastic frame around the touch screen (this should be in the same color as the rest of the shell)
-A very thin section composed of several layers, maybe.
-Clear plastic layer ~1mm thick
-Thin layer of black adhesive (this is the separating layer between the LCD and touch screen)
-Metal cladding around the LCD

Wedge your fingernails directly above or below the black adhesive layer. (You may wish to leave the adhesive layer stuck to the screen that you are not replacing, but I personally pried them apart leaving the adhesive on the touch screen portion.)
If you are very careful, you can use a pointy thing, but preferably not a knife. A flat-head screwdriver might work. Separate the two, and toss out whichever one you intend to replace.

Installing new screens:
-Hopefully your new replacement screen(s) came with adhesive. If not, go find yourself some double sided tape. You may wish to double up the tape to form a thicker layer, but I'm not certain that's necessary.
-Stick the screens together, following the original orientation of the ribbon cables.
-Re-attach the cables gently, making sure to lock them in place.

If you are only replacing one (or both) of these screens:
-Plunk the PCB and screens back into the shell.
-Flip the PCB over and re-secure with the screw.
-Re-install the shoulder buttons (button, hinge pin and spring!)
-Replace the bottom of the shell, and re-attach with the 3 tri-wing and 3 Philip's head screws.
-Replace your battery & secure.
You're done.

Comments

[philobedoe]

bonjour je viens de changer l'écran inférieur de ma ds lite sur vos conseils,et maintenant les deux écrans ne s'allument plus .
que dois-je faire
merci de toutes vos réponse

[Targetbly]

Vous avez pu ne pas avoir poussé les câbles de toute la manière.

You may not have pushed the cables in all the way.

[nickzaghi]

(removed by author or community request)

[GD33]

just finished replaceing top screen, what a nightmare but good instructions, cheers G

[jetwave]

I just finished replacing the touch screen on the NDS lite. But I have a problem now and don't know how to fix it, the touch screen acts like a button is being pressed over and over which makes the screen bounce up and down.

[gearfreed]

On the touch screen please check that no significant deep scratches or deep cuts are present. Make sure that the touchscreen is clean from any residue or debris (this includes any debris that may form at the borders... that may form when eating chocolate and pressing pressing on the touch screen w/bare hands). Wipe the touchscreen with a clean rag that has been doused in a little "windex" and make sure that no debris is no longer present at the borders. If that doesnt work then u might have to open up the NDS and have a look at the 4-path touchscreen flex cable and its mating connector: Please make sure the 4-path Flex cable has not been damaged at any point (ex: folded so that it has been creased, cut at any point, shaved at any point). and also check that the 4-path flex cable seats all the way into the mating connector. Also check that the mating connector can correctly fasten and lock the flex cable into place. If you find any problem from with these components in the aforementioned inspection you will probably need to replace them. both touchscreen(flex cable is included in this part) and touchscreen connector can be bought through e-bay. have fun ... gear :p srsly ... chocolate fingers? ._.

[dbgtdob]

do you have a guide for replacing the button pads? I have had my dsl for 4 years already and B button just died on me.

[gearfreed]

There are no mechanical buttons for X, Y, B, A , UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, SELECT & START. So you do not have to buy any single button for "B".
But you do have to replace the rubber flex pads for the X,Y,B,A set.
This usually happens because a segment over the rubber flex pad associated with a X ,Y,B or A button has become broken and the button will not reseat to ("pop back up") to its original position.
This is the overseas site where you can buy. It usually takes about two weeks for shipment to the continental U.S. but it is well worth the wait for the price and the fact that they are in "new". I think you can expedite shipment since the cost of the flex pad sets are relitively unexpensive.

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http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1466

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Once you get the flex pads for X,Y,B,A break open your DS-LITE until STEP 2 of RYZELLONS instructable and you should have access to replace them.
If you have the flex pad sets for "UP,DOWN,LEFT,RIGHT" and "START,SELECT" it would be a good idea to replace them.

Oh and another note: pressing on the buttons with a 10 TON force wont make the MARIOKART go faster ... instead master the SNAKING techinique for record times. :)

[ryzellon]

As far as I understand, the button sensors are built into the motherboard. If your button dies, I know of no way to fix it 'cept getting another mobo.

[MJH1]

hi, first up thx for thread, really useful. One q along same lines, my daughters ds lite has plastic screen which has been scratched during game play of that blessed nintendogs game. I have just payed for and received a replacement screen which is glass. My q is will this work as the orginal screen wasplastic or do I have to order a plastic touchscreen? thnx in advance...

[shimmel]

The touch screen sits on top of the lower lcd screen. They are two distinct components and are connected as such to the mainboard. It is very likely that the touch screen is scratched (and not the lower lcd). One other thing I have seen is that sometimes the screens are covered with a thin plastic film (like a screen protector). This 'plastic' which should be removed will pick up scratches very quickly. Remove this, and the scratches are magically gone. Hope this helps.

[ryzellon]

Well, if it's made to work with the DS, then I imagine it should work.

[MJH1]

All, thnx for replies, i will give the new screen a try and let you knw.

[riesisgek]

Hi there, can someone tell me if the clear plastic layer ( touched to the plastic frame ) is a part of the touchscreen ? The touchscreen itself is not scratched just the plastic layer, can I leave the touchscreen and just put on a screen-protector on the touch screen. I can't find anything about the functionality of this plastic layer. It was the game nintendogs which causes the scratched plastic, pet the dog with the stylus. cheers Rich

[gearfreed]

This depends on which touchscreen assembly you have. Lemme start all over , from here on foward i will explain a little about the assembly. It is a 3 piece assembly (I will explain what it consists of from bottom to top): 1st) you start with a bottom screen; this has an insulated back side and a flex cable many pins coming out through the side. 2nd) you have the touchpad (this has a 4 pin flex cable sticking out from the bottom of the screen) ... there are 2 variations of the touchpad; A) this can be made of a hard glass with a little plastic layer with a matrix of evenly distributed dots if you pay close attention. B) a fully plastic touchpad , on this the matrix of dots is invisible to the naked eye(but not with a good magnyfing lens); another tell tale sign is that sometimes the stylus pen can sink near the frame. 3rd) The frame on top of the assembly. This hides the screen lamps on the edges of the bottom screen. So if you have A)you need to replace the touchpad B)you need to replace the touchpad , But if you bought the NDS Lite used or someone gave it to you with a touchpad plastic protector you just need to replace the plastic protector (the tell tale signs that you have one of these is if you have "air bubbles" underneath the plastic). Also once you have solved the problem. Get rid of you original stylus pen. Find one that gets the job done without scratching your touchpad/screen.

[riesisgek]

thx gearfread, I'll just try to operate without the plastic layer, touchscreen looks ok. About the stylus, it's the standard one which comes with a new NDS lite, my daughter never used anything else, probably she pushed too hard. If it's not working I'll replace the screen, purchased a new one in case of.