Console · Nintendo · 2DS
Nintendo 2DS Disc Drive Repair
Disc Drive Repair guide for the Nintendo 2DS
Before you begin
Tools
- Phillips #00 screwdriver
- Plastic spudger
- Precision tweezers
- Hot air rework station
- Soldering iron
- Solder wick
- Cotton swabs
Parts / materials
- Replacement Nintendo 2DS game card reader module
- Rosin solder flux
- Solder wire
- Kapton heat-resistant tape
- 99% Isopropyl alcohol
Safety
- Work in a well-ventilated area or use a fume extractor while soldering.
- Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from hot solder splatter.
- Ensure the lithium-ion battery is fully removed before using hot air or soldering tools.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Remove the stylus
1 minSlide the stylus out of its slot on the right side of the console.
- 2
Unscrew the battery cover
2 minUse a Phillips #00 screwdriver to loosen the two captive screws on the battery cover.
- 3
Pry off the battery cover
1 minInsert a plastic spudger into the top slot and lift the cover away from the console.
- 4
Remove the battery
1 minLift the battery out of the compartment using a plastic opening tool.
- 5
Remove the rear housing screws
3 minUnscrew the ten Phillips #00 screws securing the rear housing to the front assembly.
- 6
Separate the rear housing
2 minCarefully lift the rear housing up, keeping an eye on the attached shoulder button ribbons.
- 7
Disconnect the shoulder button ribbons
2 minUse precision tweezers to disconnect the L and R shoulder button ribbons from the motherboard.
- 8
Remove the shoulder button assemblies
2 minLift both shoulder button switches out of their retention slots in the case.
- 9
Disconnect the Circle Pad ribbon cable
2 minFlip open the ZIF connector latch for the Circle Pad and pull the ribbon cable out.
- 10
Remove the motherboard screws
3 minUnscrew the four Phillips #00 screws securing the motherboard to the front housing.
- 11
Disconnect the display ribbon cables
3 minUnlock the LCD ZIF connectors on the motherboard and slide out the ribbon cables.
- 12
Lift out the motherboard
2 minCarefully lift the motherboard out of the front frame and place it on a heat-resistant surface.
- 13
Apply Kapton tape shielding
3 minPlace Kapton tape over adjacent components near the game card slot to protect them from heat.
- 14
Apply flux to reader pins
2 minApply rosin flux across the mounting brackets and pin contacts of the game card slot.
- 15
Desolder the old card reader
5 minHeat the mounting points and pins using a hot air station while lifting the reader off with tweezers.
- 16
Clean motherboard solder pads
4 minUse solder wick and a soldering iron to clear residual solder from all contact pads.
- 17
Solder the replacement card reader
6 minAlign the new game card reader on the pads and solder the anchor points and signal pins.
- 18
Clean flux residue
2 minWipe the surrounding motherboard area with 99% isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab.
After your Nintendo 2DS disc drive repair
Power the 2DS back on and test the disc drive repair function before you put every screw away. Check touch/display response, charging, cameras, buttons, and wireless as relevant to this repair. If something fails after closing the device, reopen carefully and reseat the connectors for this Nintendo 2DS job before assuming the part is defective. Keep leftover adhesive and screws labeled in case you need a second pass.
Keep learning
Explore more Nintendo 2DS repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
