Nikon D70 Top Cover Replacement

Written By: Andrew Bookholt

Comments: 2

Difficulty

Very difficult

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Removing the top cover requires a fine-tipped soldering iron and knowledge of surface mount soldering.

Tools

Step 1

Use your finger tip to pull the battery release tab toward the center of the D70.
Open the battery door and rotate it away from the bottom cover.

Step 2

Pull the battery out of the D70.
It may be necessary to wiggle the battery while pulling to free it from its pocket in the case.

Step 3

Remove the following eight screws securing the bottom cover to the D70:
Six 5.8 mm Phillips screws
One 10.7 mm Phillips screws
One 8.2 mm Phillips screws

Step 4

Carefully pull the bottom cover to separate it from the body of the D70.
Remove the bottom cover from the D70.

Step 5

Remove the two 4.8 mm Phillips screws securing the battery side of the rear cover to the D70.

Step 6

Remove the two 4.8 mm Phillips screws securing the port side of the rear cover to the D70.

Step 7

Use your fingernail to flip up the ZIF locking flap on the LCD ribbon cable socket.
Be sure you are opening the locking tab, not pulling against the socket mounted to the board.
Pull the LCD board ribbon cable out of its socket.

Step 8

Carefully pull the sides of the rear cover away from the body of the D70.

Step 9

Pull the rear cover off the body of the D70, minding the LCD board ribbon cable that may get caught.
At this point, the capacitor is visible and its exposed contacts are boxed in red in the second picture. Even though they are recessed, be careful not to touch the contacts to avoid shocking yourself.

Step 10

Use a plastic opening tool to carefully pry up the flash unit at the point shown in the picture.

Step 11

Remove the two 4.3 mm Phillips screws securing the top edge of the front cover to the top cover.

Step 12

Remove the two 4.3 mm Phillips screws on the face of the front cover.

Step 13

Use the sharp end of a metal spudger or a razor blade to peel the sticker out of the center of the automatic/manual focus switch.

Step 14

Remove the 6.3 mm shouldered Phillips screw from the center of the automatic/manual focus switch.
Pull the automatic/manual focus switch away from the front cover.

Step 15

If present, remove the plastic cover from the lens mount.

Step 17

Remove the 5.7 mm Phillips screw in the top corner of the battery compartment.

Step 18

Remove the 4.2 mm Phillips screw securing the lower edge of the grip to the front of the D70.

Step 19

Remove the grip from the D70.
Do not touch any of the exposed solder points under the grip, as the capacitor is attached in this area. The attachment points for the blue and pink leads of the capacitor are circled in yellow in the second picture.

Step 20

Remove the silver Phillips screw securing the port cover to the side of the D70.
Remove the port cover from the D70.

Step 21

Touch the bare leads of a capacitor discharge tool to the pink and blue capacitor leads soldered to the circuit board near the AF lamp.
At this point, the capacitor should be discharged. Avoid touching the bare leads to prevent a shock if the capacitor is still partially charged.

Step 22

Carefully de-solder the black, grey, white, and orange leads (boxed in red) from the side of the circuit board near the AF lamp.
Lightly heat the joint of each lead with a soldering iron as you apply slight tension to the wire with a pair of tweezers.
Do not excessively heat the board. Also, be sure not to accidentally melt the plastic case with the side of the soldering iron.
Repeat the process until all four leads are de-soldered.

Step 23

In this step, you will de-solder the four wires pictured. Mark the wires with a sharpie or a paint marker to keep track of their locations, as each pair of leads is nearly identical.
De-solder the four wires boxed in red using the same procedure on the preceding step.
Do not apply too much heat to the joints as you de-solder, as the ribbon cable they are soldered to is extremely delicate and melts easily.

Step 24

If present, remove the piece of tape covering the ribbon cable socket (boxed in red).

Step 25

Use your fingernail to flip up the ZIF retaining flap.
Make sure you are prying up on the ZIF retaining flap, not the socket itself.
Pull the ribbon cable straight out of its socket.

Step 26

Remove the Phillips screw securing the top cover to the D70 near the mode dial.

Step 27

Remove the following two screws securing the top cover to the D70 near the shutter button:
One black 4.8 mm Phillips screw
One silver 4.2 mm Phillips screw

Step 28

Remove the two 7.3 mm Phillips screws securing the top case to the D70 near the eyepiece.

Step 29

Remove the 4.7 mm Phillips screw from under the top cover near the shutter button.

Step 30

De-solder the thin black wire (boxed in red) from the DC/DC board.
Do not heat up the DC/DC board too much during the process.

Step 31

Carefully lift the top cover near the mode dial as you pull the mode dial ribbon cable away from the lens base.
Remove the top cover from the D70, minding any cables that may get caught.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

2 comments

Thank you. Andrew your post are so clear I wonder you were hear in India. I'm, having exactly the same camera. It feel down with the lens on it. And since then it didn't work. Y taken to many Nikon center but to no success.

Thanks once again

Sachin Chavre - 04/12/19

Great internet site.

Roland Paingaud.

Roland Paingaud -