Ribbon Cable Latch Replacement for All DS, DSi, 3DS, 2DS Models (New, XL)

[@adriansiska4612]

You are a live saver! I was almost planing on de-soldering the whole connector!

[@tobytragen4363]

I was thinking about that

[@FranB_89]

Me too!

[@nathanmartin1033]

Same

[@JesusRodriguezCisneros]

I was about to and then decided to check a video to go through someone who's done it!

[@useryeeted4336]

You’ve heard it before but I’ll say it again you, fine sir, are a life saver. Really saved me because I thought fixing something so small was impossible. I didn’t have to buy new ones because the old one was just bent out and became loose, after following your guide it fixed perfectly. Thank you so much.

[@nyacrosshair5195]

I can’t believe how simple/practical @3DS Repairs makes these tutorials! Absolutely ecstatic to finish some long-awaited repairs.

[@neotil1]

Always happy to help! Hope you save some consoles from the landfill ;)

[@YusongYT]

Wanted to echo everyone else and say thank you, you are a lifesaver! Note to anyone doing this on a DS Lite, I found that I had to bend the pins a little bit higher than I expected, but what I did was gently bend the pins up, try to fit the latch on, then bend them a little more, then try again, and eventually it worked. Good luck!!

[@sushiboy500]

Wow this gotta be the best tutorial channel for ds repairs .. prob even more relevant now in the future because of 3ds becoming retro ! Fixed my latch connectors after a couple try’s at my lgs

[@neotil1]

I wish I had someone else to film me doing repairs, especially editing. I hate editing. I have so much more knowledge to share, I recently checked that I've fixed over 150 3DS consoles successfully (that's how many I've sold). I've learned a ton on the way and mainly made these couple of videos to show some basic stuff, so I can link to it on Reddit haha.

[@DPLS77]

I broke that tiny latch on accident, didn't know you could replace it, thanks 👍

[@Nikki.Penguin]

It's strange, that this video just came up, because I broke that exact latch yesterday and I have no idea, how KZbin could know. 🤨

[@sytherchain7136]

Google always watching and listening

[@flerov01]

Watch your mic

[@turji]

​@@sytherchain7136 omg how spooky🤣

[@mynewtsack]

I too just busted this latch

[@noxrim]

Same what the hell

[@WatchVidsMakeLists]

Can someone please explain to me two things: 1) What is the exact name of the replacement part I should be buying. I bought a similar part that I think was slightly different, and the latch didn't come off of the connector without breaking. 2) How far should I bend up the golden connector pins? I'm really struggling with reassembly.

[@xtrabit05]

sorry this is verry late you can just tlook up "Connector Ribbon Port Socket C-Stick" and it will be in shopping

[@slothrop42069]

Thank you so much for making this video. Getting the latch on was harder than you made it look haha. I broke one while trying, but thanks to your advice I bought two.

[@neotil1]

Great to hear!

[@InerciaAmplificada]

Where did you buy the latch?

[@grayismysuperpower]

man I wish I had seen this sooner. I de-soldered the whole connector off the board and getting the new one on is a pain.

[@sololoughlin2073]

huge help, I ended up using a box cutter to correct the pins and it worked great. So happy to have my 3ds working again

[@mostycool]

Tysm for this video. I was repairing for a friend and I have no clue where the latch went. I found an extra from a donor and got it fixed. Huge props for this video. This is the smallest object that has given me the biggest heart attack 😂.

[@si_vart]

does anyone have a direct link to buy these latches?

[@emmi6111]

Thank you so much for this video. I've bought 10 connectors off of aliexpress and I did accidentally break atleast 4 of them since it was my first time doing this and I felt rather anxious of accidentally breaking one of the pins. But after I carefully bent the pins further upwards it eventually slipped right in and that relief immediately settled in. I managed to finally fix my joystick after waiting for a week for the orders to arrive (alongside the tools meant for precise work)

[@si_vart]

what did you search up to find the connectors

[@emmi6111]

​@@si_vart I searched up "Ribbon Port Socket For 3DS", there should be multiple available choices ^^

[@jonahraines]

What if the whole connecter came off the board? Im trying to fix a friend's new 3ds xl and i realized he somehow managed to rip the whole ribbon cable connector off

[@EmbracingVGC]

Hey I love all your guides! Do you mind doing the big screen ribbon cable latches next? I can’t figure out an easy way to remove them without burning them.

[@neotil1]

Already done that, read the description :)

[@Leemonoid]

Thanks for this! I too was ready to try and solder a new connector. I have the equipment to micro solder, but this seems much less painful 🙂

[@khoringrimault596]

Will the latch prevent it from turning on if the ribbon is still connected?

[@Max-xp1wo]

do these latches work with the c stick ribbon? mine does not stay down, so it sometimes gets disconnected.

[@brettbishop394]

I broke the latch to the touch screen digitizer on a 2ds while I was repairing the charge port. Do these latches actually provide important pressure needed for the ribbons to work properly? I am thinking about doing this replacement myself, but I don't know if it has that kind of functional impact. Can you help explain?

[@dxq3647]

What a great video! Finally some actual repairs instead of "change part"

[@neotil1]

Thanks :D

[@solonepeon5805]

Some small mouth wash liquid spilled on top of the left hinge & now the n3ds xl won't turn on. I guess some of that spill landed on the top ribbon cable of the top screen so how do I go about cleaning it or do I need a new ribbon cable for the top?

[@lmao7887]

could you elaborate a bit on the removal process for the connecter? is it only a gentle pulling upwards motion or do i need to push it the opposite way it closes too?

[@sololoughlin2073]

i dont have an exacto knife, but will a scalpel work? Ive been trying using a razor blade buttheyre very flimsy

[@Its_Pack77]

Quick question, is this the only solution or is it possible to solder a new one in? (or is it not possible to remove the piece the pins are attached to?)

[@neotil1]

You can solder a new connector on but it's much more difficult imo.

[@Alvarocious]

​@@neotil1 Does it snap back in securely like it did before it snapped?

[@Awi333]

Thanks,I broke the audio one and almost gave up, but ended up here and saw the pushing the metal up (I completely forgot to do it) and ended up fixing it

[@ShwebzZ_]

where did you buy the ribbon cable latch please??🙏🙏

[@neotil1]

AliExpress, eBay, etc.

[@TurtleCano]

got sent here by a good samaritan on reddit lol my god you are a lifesaver i already fucked up the top screen ribbon cable, so ive gotta replace that, but thanks to you i dont need to dump anymore money into my silly little DSi!! :D

[@AdaM-gy2hx]

Hey can you please send me a link or anything where I can get this cable lock part???

[@Sirkdinos]

This came off on mine but also the tip of one of the pins broke off.. I was thinking of putting it in, gluing the ribbon in place and lightly pushing the pins down on it. Any thoughts

[@neotil1]

Don't get glue anywhere near connectors. Glue isn't conductive, so the flex cable won't have any contact. The only solution for broken off pins is having a professional solder a new connector in place. I usually charge more for a connector replacement if the previous owner has tried glue previously (which is quite common). It's a lot of work to clean off the residue.

[@hello-mv6yg]

I attached the flap and it seems to fit fine, when I inserted the ribbon cable for my circle pad into the 3ds and turned on the console, it did not register the circle pad. Do you have any ideas as to why it’s not working?

[@Win98-f8p]

Where did you find these im very sad because i broke mine and i cant find them on ebay. I dont use aliexpress. Can tou please please please send a link to these connectors

[@unk00laid24]

Hi! I accidentally broke the whole clip off, not just the latch. What service do I need to get it repaired or can I pay you to fix it? Thanks! I’m very worried because I love my 2ds.

[@jasondillon2462]

Can you just tape or glue the ribbon cable to the motherboard without the clamp? I was trying to replace a switch fan and the whole connector broke off the motherboard.

[@neotil1]

Glue is non conductive and won't create a connection.

[@jasondillon2462]

Yeah i didn't think that would work. I suck at soldering so i just put it back together without the fan cable attached and sent it in to Nintendo. It seemed like such a simple repair but I'm only gonna make it worse trying it myself.

[@SnaMProd]

Hi! While I was trying to fit the ribon through the hinge part, the ribbon was cut off, if I buy a new one will it work? people on discord tell me I need a new top lcd screen but both connectors of top screen and the one on motherboard are fine!

[@AwesomeBrony]

I actually got a 3ds xl free from a friend a few years back. The system worked but the top screen needed replacement. Unfortunately while tinkering with the latches I ended up breaking one and ever since then the 3ds has been sitting in a box in pieces. Now thanks to this tutorial i can try once again to fix it BUT ill have to find latches for sale.

[@noratata]

Let us know if you find them ! I am in the same boat , I broke the latches (cause I am an idiot) and now need to try to buy replacements to fix them

[@achillebracciantini4438]

I’ve a couple of 4 pins latch on my new 3ds that are broken, can i do the same thing? (is the home button latch and the microphone latch)

[@KaedeSmithOfTheKiller7]

I know for a fact that I've completely borked mine, I'm going to order a completely new connector but I'm just wondering if desoldering is required on the back of the mother board on this part or if I can just take off the globs on the sides of the connector, remove it, and then just solder the new one in.

[@superluigifanful]

if your pins broke while trying to bend them is it possible to replace that whole connector part or no? like are you able to solder a whole new set of pins on?

[@neotil1]

Yeah for sure. You usually solder the whole plastic connector and latch on together at once

[@xtrabit05]

these are the same connectors used with the circle pad right?

[@ToonGohan]

I broke mine but was lucky enough to have another motherboard that didn’t work so took the clip off like showed and now my Wii U gamepad is good as new! THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!

[@FranB_89]

Do you could upload a video with the other type of connectors, the connectors that work with pressure please, i have 2 of these conectora broken 😢

[@neotil1]

I know I'm super late to reply, but those are unfixable. If they're worn out, a new one needs to be soldered on unfortunately.

[@YaBoyKesuto]

Dude, this is great. I can finally fix my childhood ds lite

[@Aelixin]

Do you have any link to purchase these spare connectors?

[@ilovesmosh2012]

DO i need to desoder the connectors? I'm having trouble slotting them back in.

[@oxoti2164]

hey does this work for the volume as well?

[@AlexMcCabeW]

This video and your other one on the wider pins have saved my ass and two 3DS consoles. Thanks bud really appreciate jt

[@douggorniak6484]

Hi I could use some help I have 3dsxl looks likes I the same connector but not sure we’re to find them I can find a 4 pin for the monitor are they the same if not is there a part number or any way to find the latch part

[@neotil1]

It's not a "new" 3DSXL right? I don't have a part# unfortunately but it should be the same

[@ellabub5748]

Thank you so much for making this video! I ordered some connectors off aliexpress so we'll see how it goes when they finally arrive :)

[@grassraptr4701]

How’d it go? What did you type to search for them?

[@Bowsersoxdude]

Hey, I have a "New" 3DS 2015 system, and I broke a few of the non-latching connectors because I wasn't paying attention. I'm having a hard time finding a replacement connector. Do you have a link to where I could purchase some replacements, or a part number that I could look up?

[@neotil1]

Here you go: www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/jae-electronics/FA1004SA1-R8000/4172806?s=N4IgTCBcDaIGwHYAMBaMcCcAWFBGFAcgCIgC6AvkA

[@Bowsersoxdude]

@@neotil1 Thanks a million, dude. You're a lifesaver!

[@bryanrumble1862]

@@neotil1 Hey, this is a great how-to, but the product at this link doesn't look like the one in your video here (and is the one I want). Before I order, can you confirm this is indeed the one I want?

[@intercato6479]

Hey recently I stumbled upon the exact same problem as you, with those non latching connectors. I managed to get them working again by pulling off the ribbon cables out of them, and then pressing hard on these wierd clips with a tiny slotted screwdriver. You especially need to put some good pressure on the top side of these clips (top meaning the area where the ribbon cable normally stops upon entering the connector. Hope this helps some people :)

[@Ll3maFN]

do you have a link to the actual connectors?

[@javier3242]

^^^

[@MrMarshmelloBoi]

Do a New 3ds XL speaker soldering tutorial video.

[@Egoin-R]

the latches on the new 3dsxl are different if u try to remove them the whole thing comes apart

[@AwsBadr]

Where can I find them. Sorry if you said this in the video, can’t hear you as I am in a crowded place will check it again when i get back.

[@omarjada7439]

What if the entire thing is broken? Like the pins are messed up

[@NRASUPPORTER1911]

Where did you buy your latches from will the black ones fit on my 3ds the one that broke was grey

[@neotil1]

Yeah black is fine as well

[@SoyElBruceXD]

Hay manera de colocar sin la pestaña? 😢

[@bad_sect0r387]

What I did was put whatever remained of the latch on the connector, then fastening it down with iso-tape. It works. It probably would have worked without the latch too.

[@simpleman777]

Did you use a microscope to do the replacement?

[@dasphantom2702]

Hi. Have you ever had the problem that the mainboard didn't boot after this fix? (so the blue LED is on but nothing else happens)

[@neotil1]

That's likely a damaged/not properly seated Wifi chip and/or camera. Try unplugging the camera and reseat the WiFi Chip

[@ilovesmosh2012]

Can you do a tutorial of slotting back in the small ribbons?

[@trainfan7856]

Do you do repairs? I have my childhood 3ds Xl that needs a new top screen and I’m too scared to do it myself

[@neotil1]

Sure, I'm located in Germany though. [e-mail]

[@rawxpain]

Can you order this specific part? Working on my 2ds I had it and it fell and disappeared I haven’t been able to find for for years. Can’t use it at all

[@neotil1]

a.aliexpress.com/_EwgqcUv

[@MrShamok]

@@neotil1 you should add it in your description. thank you so much !!

[@beyondmydream88]

Hello what the lact called or can you bost a link? Thank you

[@ccrowe9590]

Would a broken clip cause a 2ds not to start up I’m having a problem with my 2ds on top of a broken screen it is the only problem I can discern any help would be great

[@neotil1]

Yes, it can and will prevent the console from booting

[@ccrowe9590]

@@neotil1 is it possible to repair the clips or put new ones in

[@HenryandHailee]

Do you take on repairs like this as a service? How can we get into contact with you if so?

[@neotil1]

Yes, my e-mail address is [e-mail]. I'm located in Germany.

[@Magnemite_]

hi, so i have a broken latch and will be trying this out, but i'm concerned that i damaged the ribbon cable with how much i've been messing with it trying to get it seated. is there an easy way to tell if there is a problem with the cable itself? also, i've been able to seat it in the connector even without the clamp and it's felt like it was all the way in the connector, yet the touch screen would not work when i then tested it. is the cable being clamped or otherwise held in place completely required for it to maintain a connection, or would this be indicative of the cable itself being faulty? thanks!

[@neotil1]

You need a functioning clamp for there to be a proper connection. Fix the connector and then see if it works, if it doesn't your cable is bad

[@ビッグナッツ]

Omg where can i buy these and what do i have to search for

[@eesao7532]

Uh so one of my pins broke as i was bending then back…. (Note this pin was bent back before hand and so i bent it back and as i was putting the ribbon cable back in I accidentally took the latch out and thats where im at now)

[@thisbadmonkey]

Hab den bottom Screen vom NEW 3DS XL meiner Tochter getauscht und dabei an diesem connector etwas kaputt gemacht. Die Klappe ist fix Weg, aber ich glaube dass ich auch einen Pin abgebrochen habe (ist schon eine Weile her). Habe das Kabel vorübergehend mit etwas klebrigem Gummi "fixiert", seit dem geht aber der home Button nicht, und amiibos werden nicht gelesen. Wie kann ich privat mit dir in Kontakt treten bzgl. Reparatur? 🙂

[@neotil1]

Hi! Gerne eine E-Mail an [e-mail] schicken. Am besten gleich mit Fotos wenn möglich :)

[@megajuanna256]

I broke off the entire little thing. Including loosing one of the little t shaped gold things that hold the red and black wires to the power button for a 3DSXL

[@JuanjoNarive]

A very informative video, I will be ordering a couple of these to attempt to replace :)

[@guydingus3696]

what should i do if the gold contact pins broke off while trying to bend them up?

[@neotil1]

Have a professional solder you a new connector in place

[@guydingus3696]

thanks

[@tobytragen4363]

Where did you get this from ? I can't find them can some give me link

[@xtrabit05]

Connector Ribbon Port Socket

[@smol_Tsukiko]

Hi, wie kann ich dich wegen einer Reparatur kontaktieren?

[@itgoes5278]

Hi, was trying to replace the touch screen for my DSi xl and managed to break off the small ribbon cable latch which connects to the touch screen ribbon cable. However, one of the pins on the ribbon cable connector also broke off, do you have any suggestions as to what to do/where I could could get a repair? Thanks a lot

[@neotil1]

You might be able to get by with just three pins, as they are just for maintaining pressure (the contacts are along the bottom). If that doesn't work, you'll need to have someone solder a new one in place unfortunately

[@itgoes5278]

@@neotil1 thank you for the fast response, my problem at the moment is that I I am having the issue where the ds won’t turn on and flashes orange when plugged in, as far as I am aware the battery is fine and was working yesterday, and I am lightly pressing the ribbon connector with the broken pin down against the ribbon cable, however the issue still persists. I have not connected the motherboard to the two ribbon cables that link to the top screen and go through the hinge, could this be the reason why I’m having the blinking light? Sorry for the hassle I am just struggling to find answers

[@neotil1]

With orange light you mean the charging indicator, right? Just making sure because I've had so many people confuse it with the red power LED haha If it flashes, that means there is an issue with the battery. Check that it is seated properly, the polarity is correct and that the batter board's power and data cables are connected to the motherboard properly

[@itgoes5278]

@@neotil1 haha yeah the orange charging led, everything seems to be properly connected, only thing I can think of is that the battery has stopped working at the worst possible time, but honestly not sure because this problem only started when I replaced the touch screen

[@neotil1]

Yeah that would be an unfortunate coincidence... Do you have a multimeter? You could measure the voltage of the battery that way

[@noratata]

Thank you for this video! there is so little information on how to do these things! looking forward to more content from you :)

[@FEBRIZIOtv]

What about the brown push pull ones?

[@kaneki415]

I Brock my pins what can I do

[@ike-2357]

Should this work for a Gameboy micro led backlight zif connector replacement?

[@neotil1]

I've never worked on a micro, but the connector looks to be identical so it should work!

[@ike-2357]

Thank you friend, your input is helping me fix a Gameboy micro and giving it a second life. Do you have a link for these latches?

[@neotil1]

I just steal them off donor consoles so I don't have a link, but you should be able to find a bunch on eBay/AliExpress if you search for something like "DS Lite Touch Connector" or similar

[@ike-2357]

@@neotil1 ah, ill let you know if it works i ordered one that looks almost exactly like the connector that is broken

[@homiesayo99]

@@ike-2357 any luck? Have the same issue with my micro

[@user-bq3yd6vi7h]

I don't think I will be able to do this, I shake as soon as I handle small objects

[@abanded]

I love you so much , just like other bro said, I was bout to de-solder the whole thing

[@RadicalReactor]

Finally fixed my circle pad because of you! Thank you! 🎉

[@justablockinthechain9787]

Reparierst du immernoch? Ich hab gute 9 3DS XL Mainboards und 3 New 3DS XL Mainboards wo verschiedene anchlüsse Abgebrochen sind, wo kann man dich kontaktieren?

[@neotil1]

Ja, gerne per Email :) [e-mail]

[@boo1_gaming927]

Where exactly do you find these ribbon cable latches? I can't find them on Amazon or ebay.

[@neotil1]

Here for example: a.aliexpress.com/_vdp8DE

[@Trinity_RS]

where do u get these?i brtoke one of mine

[@kaneki415]

I break all 4Pins what can I do

[@Nikki.Penguin]

What would I need to look for on Ebay? I couldn't find them there?

[@neotil1]

Here's an example: ebay.com/itm/284112563153 You can also just search for 3DS touch connector. Make sure you get the right ones (latching), not the one piece parts for "New" consoles. They look different and need to be soldered

[@edgarmolinalomeli4767]

@@neotil1 is this one that you linked here good for the 2DS Circle Pad ribbon cable?

[@thelastthunder10]

if you swap the motherboard , the games are still there or you los everithing ?

[@neotil1]

Downloaded games/saves are lost. Cartridge games are obviously still playable and usually have their save states stored on the cart.

[@thelastthunder10]

@@neotil1 but what i want to know is, the system goes with the motherboard? I mean, it is saved on the motherboard storage

[@neotil1]

You lose everything

[@melannieworld]

I need to buy them parts, can u share the eBay link to get them?

[@Vertex-m]

When i move my circle pad up and down its not working and i even checked if there was dust but there was nothing there if you know how to fix it let me know plssss

[@neotil1]

Hard to tell without seeing the console in person... Does left/right still work? I think I'd try replacing the pad first. It's a cheap part and most likely to fail

[@Vertex-m]

@@neotil1 Does eb games still fix it

[@neotil1]

I don't know, sorry :/

[@ZanderBornman]

Where can I find them

[@leso204]

Lets get this right' you remove the latch from a new socket to replace a broken one ? surely replace the whole unit's the way to go ??

[@neotil1]

Definitely. I'm able to solder a new connector in place no problem, but it's more work for sure and most people on KZbin don't just have a hot air station laying around

[@DragonGamer-ly3lf]

Does it work even with bend pins?

[@sgp2010]

It does but you have to bend the pins back into place

[@chrish8904]

Man, I wish I would've found this video before desoldering my touch screen connector. I bought a few new connectors to replace it, but I just cannot for the life of me solder it onto the board without destroying the connector itself. Would you ever consider making a video demonstrating the entire replacement?

[@neotil1]

I'm not sure if I have the time at the moment... Soldering the latch is just like any other plastic connector, there are tons of videos out there on KZbin. Just make sure you set your air temp relatively low (so the plastic doesn't melt) and, if possible, heat the board from below instead of blasting the connector with tons of hot air. That'll prevent it from melting

[@darkpoyo]

I broke this part. Where i can buy that?

[@neotil1]

AliExpress, eBay, Mouser, Digikey etc

[@darkpoyo]

@@neotil1 i bought it a few days ago and it's about to arrive. The problem was that i didn't know the name of the piece in Spanish, i was very lucky to find your video.😃

[@IceofDream.]

Thank you it's better then soldering a new connector

[@polk-e-dot8177]

ty

[@andres_da_pro4260]

I need to fix the long one any advice?

[@neotil1]

check out the other video on my channel

[@NRASUPPORTER1911]

Will the connector still work without the latch? Thanks

[@neotil1]

No, it doesn't work without

[@scapefromnewyork]

Hi. Good tutorial, but where can I buy some latches? I tried shopping around for a good price, but can’t find these for the life of me. Thanks. 😄

[@neotil1]

AliExpress

[@MrShamok]

@@neotil1 how does it call , in english , i'm french and i can't found the right reference on aliexpree. thanks you ?