Sunday, June 22, 2008
How I fixed my Nintendo DS Lite's broken left shoulder button
I cut out a small piece of thin cardboard paper and placed it inside the small switch hole after removing the rubber plug out.
After removing the back case and looking at the switch which the left shoulder button presses, I couldn't see any defect or any blockage preventing the pressing. I next proceeded to do testing on the switch itself without the left shoulder button and found that I needed to press harder compared to my working right shoulder button to activate it. I shined light all over that small switch but couldn't find anything. Finally I decided to pull on the rubber plug with tweezers and was surprised that it can be taken out. Inside is a hole and what looks like a circular metal sheet inside. I tested the switch again by pressing on that metal sheet with the DS Lite stylus and had the same results. Then I thought why I don't put something inside so that when I press the switch it won't seem like I have to press so hard. I found some cardboard and cut out a small rectangular strip. I stuffed it inside the hole carefully and folded it in half. Then I replaced the rubber plug. I tested the switch and it worked better. I also tested it with the button attachment and that also worked. So I finally I put the back case back together and tested again. My left shoulder button is now back in working condition. Yay!
Tools used:
- Craftsman 18-Volt 3/8-in. Drill/Driver
(I know this is way too much, but the next tool explains it.)
- Jackly 32-in-1 Electro Screwdriver set
(This thing contains the bits for a small Philips head and the all important tri-wing head. It has a screwdriver for attaching the bits but I thought why not make use of my electric drill. :) Finally this set also has a pair of tweezers so it's perfect. I knew this tool would come in handy when my wife bought it for me when we were in Singapore. I still have the receipt: S$9.90 at Chamoxa in Funan. :)
- Thin cardboard paper
- Scissors
Time used:
- roughly 30 minutes, most of the time spent on testing
After removing the back case and looking at the switch which the left shoulder button presses, I couldn't see any defect or any blockage preventing the pressing. I next proceeded to do testing on the switch itself without the left shoulder button and found that I needed to press harder compared to my working right shoulder button to activate it. I shined light all over that small switch but couldn't find anything. Finally I decided to pull on the rubber plug with tweezers and was surprised that it can be taken out. Inside is a hole and what looks like a circular metal sheet inside. I tested the switch again by pressing on that metal sheet with the DS Lite stylus and had the same results. Then I thought why I don't put something inside so that when I press the switch it won't seem like I have to press so hard. I found some cardboard and cut out a small rectangular strip. I stuffed it inside the hole carefully and folded it in half. Then I replaced the rubber plug. I tested the switch and it worked better. I also tested it with the button attachment and that also worked. So I finally I put the back case back together and tested again. My left shoulder button is now back in working condition. Yay!
Tools used:
- Craftsman 18-Volt 3/8-in. Drill/Driver
(I know this is way too much, but the next tool explains it.)
- Jackly 32-in-1 Electro Screwdriver set
(This thing contains the bits for a small Philips head and the all important tri-wing head. It has a screwdriver for attaching the bits but I thought why not make use of my electric drill. :) Finally this set also has a pair of tweezers so it's perfect. I knew this tool would come in handy when my wife bought it for me when we were in Singapore. I still have the receipt: S$9.90 at Chamoxa in Funan. :)
- Thin cardboard paper
- Scissors
Time used:
- roughly 30 minutes, most of the time spent on testing
# posted by kfcblog @ 2:46 PM 
