Introduction
Replace the brains of your 3DS with a new motherboard.
Tools
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Grab the top edge of the back cover with your opposite hand so that the cover does not fall back into place.
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Pull the back cover up and away from the rest of the device to remove it.
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Insert a plastic opening tool into the notch in the lower case above the battery.
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Pry the battery up with the plastic opening tool.
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Grab the top edge of the battery and lift it out of the lower case.
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Remove the nine 6.3 mm black Phillips screws from the lower case.
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Remove the 2.4 mm silver Phillips screw above the game cartridge slot.
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Lift the bottom edge of the lower case off the rest of the 3DS.
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Use a plastic opening tool to pry the shoulder button ribbon cables off their sockets on the motherboard.
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Remove the lower case from the device.
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Remove the two 7.7 mm Phillips screws securing the back of the Circle Pad to the motherboard.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the back of the Circle Pad off the motherboard.
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Lift the Circle Pad joystick off the motherboard and lay it on its back so that the ribbon cable connector is accessible.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Circle Pad ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Lift the Circle Pad joystick off the motherboard.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the SD board ribbon cable connector off its socket on the motherboard.
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Insert the flat end of a spudger between the SD board and the motherboard.
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Pry up slowly to loosen the SD board from the RF shield underneath it. If you pry too quickly, you may tear the shield or break its solder points.
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Run the spudger along the sides of the SD board to free it from the adhesive holding it in place.
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Once completely freed, lift the SD board straight off the motherboard.
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Slide the flat end of a spudger under the corner of the Wi-Fi board, and lift it away from the motherboard.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the Wi-Fi antenna cable connector off its socket on the Wi-Fi board.
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Remove the Wi-Fi board from the device.
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Grasp the microphone ribbon cable near the microphone with a pair of tweezers.
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Pull the microphone straight up out of the upper case.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the speaker assembly ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Disconnect the speaker assembly ribbon cable with a pair of tweezers.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the camera ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Remove seven Phillips screws securing the motherboard to the upper case:
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Four 2.5 mm gold screws
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Two 3.5 mm black screws
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One 2.5 mm silver screw
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Lift the side of the motherboard that sits along the bottom edge of the 3DS.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the LCD ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Use the tip of a spudger or your fingers to peel back the white tape covering the touchscreen ribbon cable connector.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the touchscreen ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the lower LCD power ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Pull the ribbon cable out of the connector with a pair of tweezers.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the lower LCD data ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the microphone ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the volume switch connector out of its socket on the motherboard.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
11 comments
This guide seriously helped me get a broken 3DS and replace the motherboard to make it a working one. Thank you for doing this guide, you are awesome. :)
I can't thank you enough for this guide! My 3 year old submerged my 8yr olds coveted 3DS in the toilet yesterday...I frantically took it apart as soon as I found it (knew not to turn it on) and wisely took pics on my phone as I frantically took apart each piece to get it dried....was however up all night dreading my ability to put it back together again...until I found this awesome step by step guide. Won't try to put it back together for another few days, but I will update my post and let you know if I got it working again:) Thanks so much!
I need help!
My 3DS is acting alone directional up!
I opened the device and realized that there is a short between TP85 and ground !
I need to know what CI is responsible for the control functions !
Thanks!
The control functions are on the back of the motherboard facing the lower screen. It is the 4 white buttons right below the huge gap where the circular pad goes
#00 screwdriver is too big... probably need a #000
thomascroguennec -
#00 will work - but you must press down firmly and sort of jerk the screw out a few degrees at a time. If you don't press firmly, the screws strip very easily. Using #000 will strip the screws more easily.
Tai -
I used a #0 without any issues and 0 stripped. I used the #0 for all screws internally and externally. The head was sharp and I applied adequate amounts of pressure when loosening the screw.
Ben Kevan -