Nintendo DSi Power Board Replacement

Written By: Walter Galan

Comments: 11

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

No estimate

Introduction

Use this guide to replace your DSi's power board. Replacing the power board will give you a new battery connector and new electronic switches for the D-pad as well as the power button.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Unscrew the two Phillips screws securing the battery cover to the lower case.
The screws remain captive to the battery cover.
Grasp the battery cover and lift it out of the lower case.
If it's difficult to grasp, lightly tap the opposite side of the device.

Step 2

Using a spudger tool (or your fingernail), lift up the battery from the top.
The liquid damage indicator sits underneath the battery. Pry gently, or you may damage the indicator.
There's a small tab on the top of the battery to make removal easier.
Grasp the battery and remove it from the DSi.

This is also where the water damage indicator is located, if that's important

[REDACTED] -

Step 3

Two screws are hidden underneath two rubber feet highlighted in red.
Use the tip of a spudger to pry the rubber feet out of the lower case.
Depending on the age of your device, the rubber feet may crumble apart as you pry them out. If so, use a fine-tipped tool to scrape out any stuck pieces of rubber.

One of the feet did break on me, tweezers came in handy for picking it out

Willie Narvaez - 12/05/18

I unfolded and sharpened a paperclip. You can use that to stab and hook the rubber without tearing it, as the rubber is thick enough to reseal when reinserted.

Keegan Andersen - 30/12/18

Nasty, broke my spudger and the feet in this step.

TimedIn -

Step 4

Remove the following screws securing the lower case to the body of the DSi:
Six 5.2 mm Phillips #00 screws.
One 2.7 mm Phillips #00 screw.

Impossible d'enlever les vises… trop serré! comment faire?

evrobert03 - 08/05/19

i can't get the screw by the gamecard slot out, PH#00 is too small and PH#0 is too big

Iblowup -

same problem here. maybe try a JIS?

darth mango -

Step 5

Insert the spudger in between the lower casing and lower panel near the top right corner of the DSi.
Carefully run the spudger along the edge of the outer casing, creating an opening between the body and the casing.
Continue running the spudger around the body of the DSi until the majority of the lower case has been separated.

Step 6

Carefully lift the lower casing from its bottom edge.
The lower case is still attached to the motherboard by the volume and SD board cable highlighted in red. Do not try to completely remove the lower case of the DSi yet.
Pry the volume and SD board cable up from its socket on the motherboard using a spudger.
Once the cable is completely removed, then you may take off the entire outer casing.

Step 7

Use the tip of a spudger to pry the power board connector out of its socket on the motherboard.

I broke my white box off the wires and off the mother board. Please help.

Jack Meloche - 18/03/20

Step 8

Use your fingernail or the edge of a plastic opening tool to flip up the retaining flap on power board ZIF connector.
Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.
After flipping up the locking tab on the socket, use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to gently pull the cable straight out of its socket.

Step 9

Remove the five 2.6 mm Phillips screws securing the power board to the DSi's framework.
Lift and remove the power board out of the DSi.

Step 10

Use your fingernail or the edge of a plastic opening tool to flip up the retaining flap on LED indicator ZIF connector.
Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.
After flipping up the locking tab on the socket, use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to gently pull the cable straight out of its socket.
If necessary, transfer the power board ribbon cable to your new power board.

Conclusion

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

3 comments

So when I was attempting to repair my DSI, the red cable became unplugged and now my system won’t turn on. What can I do to fix this before I go the option of getting replaced or ordering replacement parts?

{Zantrock} - 16/06/18

I need help. I busted off the connection of the power board to the mother board. Is there any way I can solder the red and black wires directly? Because the white piece is broken and gone now.

Jack Meloche - 18/03/20

Hi I would like to ask about the buttons because in my case a plastic like bubble appeared on top of the contact gray button and it doesn’t make the pop sound anymore like the others that also means that it doesn’t work anymore could you help me?

Aleix M.G. - 21/03/20