GBA SP tactile button repair - replacing all the button switches!

Need a repair?
Discord: / discord
Email: [e-mail]
Whatsapp: [phone]
Facebook: / mitchstechrepair

[@drinkingguy3168]

Thanks a lot mate, my Ipod Classic 4's button did not work and I was about to give up fixing it (replacement parts are rare, these are 19 years old), saw your opening of the button and decide to open to clean it up, now the ipod is up and running again :3

[@sipahi61]

Thank you very much for making this video, I have been trying to find a solution for almost a year with no luck for my GBA SP buttons not working. I think this is the only video on KZbin that addresses this issue. This video is perfect, hopefully I can pull this off without ruining my AGS-101, thanks again.

[@chastonbaird7487]

Just getting into refurb, think I have a similar problem on my first SP I'm going to fix. I've never soldered before in my life but watching your videos I feel pretty confident.

[@frozerinosrepairs]

Great video with details. Keep the good work

[@onasazi]

New sub! Enjoyed content as no other yt shows this!

[@gametimewitharod4878]

Thanks for the tips! Need to replace the dpad button switches on one of my own GBA SPs. Can I ask where you bought the new button switched from?

[@tnt.m16mg42]

Good work 👍

[@brasscitygarage5105]

Before buying any new buttons try and re-solder the old buttons. Only saying this because it worked for me

[@ThisIsSrsBsnsMan]

Great stuff thanks!

[@rokuterra]

Where can I find a small soldering iron tip like the one you used in the video? I seem to have no luck finding one.

[@timtim965]

Hey good work which temperature you use for that?

[@motleypixel]

I think flooding my board with alcohol has messed up my d-pad membranes, oh well.

[@freddyr8318]

Hi, hab dein Video gestern verschlungen. Hab mal ne Frage, wenn man den Gummikopf von der Taste löst um die Metallkontakte zu reinigen, kann man dann im Nachgang auch ein Stück Tape anstatt des Kopfes benutzen? Frage deswegen weil ich Sorge habe, dass der Gummikopf nicht mehr klebt und ich dann was basteln müsste... Wenn dem so ist, was für ein Tape würde funktionieren ?

[@gnarlypenniless]

Friend how to fix buttons misfiring like pressing the dpad-right button registers as dpad-down?

[@fingers__]

How much does this repair cost to get done?

[@MyAcer20]

I realy needed this but where do i buy them

[@aaronlv4660]

do yo know where can buy the bottons? i am from mexico and nice video!

[@DARTHESE]

Was wondering if you had any info on how the buttons work. I want to do a controller mod, wire in an external controller. At 7:28 you said the opposing pins should be shorted, which would be 1and 3 on the motherboard. Would 2 and 4 be shorted when you press the button? If so, im assuming either 2 or 4 would have power and the other side would ground it? Hopefully that what I said make sense.

[@MitchCairns]

With these switches, one side is pulled up to ~3.3v (a little bit less in reality). When the button is pressed it's shorted to ground, pulling the line low and the CPU recognizes this as the button being pressed. This is the same ground line that's shared with the entire console. Hope this helps

[@DARTHESE]

@@MitchCairns so either pin 1 or pin 3 would be grounded to pin 2 or pin 4 when pressed?

[@kramerzombiez]

Can you send a link to the new switches you used? Awesome video!

[@bulk4268]

There are three types of switches that should work: ALPS SKRRABE010 7.5*7*0.6 switch (similar to original grey ones) ALPS SKRRAAE010 7.5*7*0.6 switch (similar to original grey ones) Tactile SMD Switch 4*4*0.8mm (golden ones) All are available on Aliexpress.

[@ThisIsSrsBsnsMan]

New to soldering, at 8:00 why do you not want to use flux? What would happen if it got everywhere?

[@swide2750]

no-clean flux doesnt oxidize as much as normal flux but sometimes isnt as helpful. if normal flux gets underneath or isnt cleaned well will oxidize components iirc

[@motleypixel]

2:48 370C and full air speed you said right?

[@PoopyDoggyDance]

Where did you get the switches? I have been having a hard time finding them :/

[@metas2945]

Search for TL3315NF100Q

[@PoopyDoggyDance]

@@metas2945 thank you!

[@motleypixel]

One last thing before I proceed to replace the 4 main buttons with my soldering hot air gun. Since 91% ISO flood on my switches destroyed them, what do I use to clean all the acidic flux off with? Thank you.

[@Hamstr_Games]

it has to be 99% isopropyl alcohol! in the 91% stuff you used, the other 9% is water, which is what corroded the switches. This time use 99% iso and don't flood the switches, just enough to clean the flux.

[@motleypixel]

@@Hamstr_Games it's my understanding that there's a non-metallic "sticky" membrane w/in the layers of the button and ANY solvent flood will break that down and do what it did to my switches. In all likelihood a flood of 99% would probably just do it faster.

[@Hamstr_Games]

@@motleypixel that membrane is just tape. Literally, the contact domes are just taped on there if you look close. I peeled them off the switches with an xacto knife, polished the corrosion off the domes, and just stuck them back down with small strips of kapton tape. I did this years ago at this point and the buttons still feel great and have held up to use

[@motleypixel]

@@Hamstr_Games that's good to know. I'm just pointing out it's likely not corrosion from 10% H2O its more likely due to that original "tape" being destroyed by solvent. Point is, don't flood the membrane switches with any type of solvent unless you purposely want to destroy them and either repair them like you did or completely replace with new like I did.

[@Hamstr_Games]

@@motleypixelI don't think that's true, after I made the same mistake of using 70% rubbing alcohol and my buttons stopped working, the tac pads had visible corrosion on them. I don't think it had anything to do with the tape

[@creations7241]

Can I get a bit of help with a Nintendo Gameboy Advance AGB-001? I get power passed the switch and to the 1st cap, but it still won’t turn on

[@MitchCairns]

Best if you hop on my discord server, there's a repair help channel there. Cheers!

[@creations7241]

@@MitchCairns how do I get there?

[@MitchCairns]

@@creations7241 it's linked in the description

[@mundogamersguayaquil2524]

I just did a job 3 days ago of the same thing but I didn't get the new part so I just cleaned them and it worked but I think it's better new! Do you know what is the exact measure to buy aliexpress? Why would various measures help with that? with respect to the pushbutton?

[@thelopenator]

How do you know the orientation of the switches? The shorted patch faces North?

[@MitchCairns]

It only goes one way I guess haha

[@thelopenator]

@@MitchCairns no I mean idk which way the switch goes on the board. You checked for continuity on one side and put that side north on the board?

[@motleypixel]

@@thelopenator he needed to be more clear on this. I am ready to do my son's, will check with multimeter how the old ones are installed to be sure.

[@dehydratedlemur9610]

@@motleypixel I got mine working. thanks.

[@xJaKoBz]

Would one be able to do this without a hot airgun?

[@MitchCairns]

Not recommended. Maybe with low melt solder

[@gamequeen7168]

Do you think you can help repair my ds lite charging port if possible? Thanks in advance!

[@MitchCairns]

I do mail ins, you can contact me using the information in the description! 🙏

[@gamequeen7168]

@@MitchCairns OK Thanks!