These are Worth $400 - IF I Can Fix Them!

[@Caffeinated_Warrior]

I've never seen such fine mastery in soldering before! This guy isn't just a perfectionist, he's an artist!

[@The_LexSter]

Are they inserting the game cards using a hammer or how does it get broken like this?

[@Tronicsfix]

Lol. I would like to know that as well!

[@chadmargraf4020]

Some people legit do stuff like that

[@TheDigitalAura]

Inserting carts backwards or other kids detritus getting shoved in there I would have thought.

[@RaZZaR18]

that dmg could just done on purpose... i can't explaine myself how this happened... Just sad to see such beautiful DS dmged... :(

[@johnDingoFoxVelocity]

So usually when they damage the cartridge port. They are trying to do a mod to short the connectors so that the console will read illegal cartridges. And they always screw it up.

[@bigdawghoss9871]

Plastic razors have become my best friend when it comes to those kind of stickers/stickers in general. You can get under stuff like that gently with out any deformation

[@grahambaker7563]

Always a pleasure watching your repair videos, Steve! 👍👍

[@Tronicsfix]

Glad you like them!

[@The9gods]

This is the first special edition system that you've fix that I actually own. I even played it last year. Still great condition too.

[@somebutter6755]

A neat trick to getting the top screen ribbon cable connected really easily is to unfold the system all the way. Doing that will give you a lot more ribbon cable to work with when dealing with those tiny clips on the motherboard.

[@hammyzgod]

Love watching your videos, but until today, I was never confident enough to try pulling items that aren't working properly apart encase of causing more damage lol. So I just got my precision tool kit started with a ps5 controller that hasn't worked in over 7 months after spilling coffee on it, but I managed to completely strip clean and reassemble it with ease. It works like brand new now, and that's all thanks to your tips and methods. So, from myself, a massive thanks and keep up the great content 👍.

[@GD_MoonBlister]

Had me in stitches when you said "finger cheese" LOL!! That was an amazing job repairing both of them. Thanks for sharing and stay well!

[@StarSoldierX]

Seems to me you’re becoming more skilled with each repair video. Truly impressive what you pulled off here!

[@vinicius401]

It's a no brainer whenever a new video from you comes up. So entertaining and satisfying. Keep up the great work!

[@deeply999]

Not sure if you have one but the best investment I made was in the desoldering station, Using a pump vacuum to suck the solder out versus using the wick that has a habit of catching on little components, Also the kapton tape is also a life saver to prevent heat from damaging other components nearby

[@robert_roland63]

I love this 3DS XL handheld! Funny enough my wife and I have this exact same one for each of us, and yeah those look to be in great condition! It’s nice to see a repair job on those bad boys!

[@Tronicsfix]

These are such good handhelds. Yes, these are in such good condition!

[@MarquesAllenJones]

i pulled out my zelda 3DS back when the eshop closed. had a bulged battery and the B button barely worked. i took off that adhesive button cover and the underside of the metal bits were really oxidized. scraped and cleaned them. i had a heck of a time getting that one ribbon cable connected, but got it all together and it worked great. the ifixit motherboard guide was pretty helpful.

[@RetroPA8]

Great video like always 😊 I bought my first 3ds the other day

[@ChrisB_Crisps]

I really like watching your videos on Sunday after dinner before wrapping up the day. Thanks

[@anthonyjamesst-aubin279]

Great video. You actually got lucky with those Zelda 3DS's with their issues. I had to reshell the bottom part of my Zelda 3DS XL with a similar shell I ordered from ebay because it cracked around the hinge, and boy was that stressful. Looking forward to your next video.

[@istvanbally2817]

Really like when you explain why you're doing what you're doing. And your videos totally help me to fix my own stuff better!

[@GanjjaGuru]

HEY BRO just letting you know we LOVE when you slow it down, the noises of tinkering with electronics is similar to ASMR and we love it when you dont speed it up haha. A good idea is maybe make a second youtube channel of an unedited version of your videos where you're doing the fixing and testing of the devices in silence. Your views would skyrocket with that!

[@BooleanDev]

the old ds and 3ds videos were my favorite, glad to see another one!

[@FixerUK]

When realigning the button pad try using some isopropyl on board to float it into exact place then use hot air to evaporate.

[@wesley071177]

My thoughts exactly

[@Biomonkey18]

Great video, I enjoy watching your repair videos when you figure out the issue and resolve it.

[@miserablepileofsecrets]

I remember having this 3DS. Of all the og XL iterations this is to me the prettiest. And its game is awesome

[@slippedknot2001]

Been finding really good deals on damaged and broken 3ds recently. Excited to start fixing them one by one

[@Vik1919]

The amount of skill showed here is on another level. Also, those are some awesome 3DS.

[@Therapist_sells]

I'm digging the music in these videos, reminds me of holidays to Majorca as a kid

[@JimNichols]

As usual an excellent vid Steve.... for some reason the audio was a little low but, it was an interesting find, diagnose, repair scenario that appeals to your target audience. :)

[@bluebearyt12]

Awesome repair and nice 3ds xl

[@Tronicsfix]

Thanks! Yeah, I like these ones!

[@martinroa1480]

​@@Tronicsfixhi my son has a 2dsxl that he loved until he broke it trying to fix it. would you possibly be able to fix it for him as a surprise? I'm tight on cash but I can give you a switch lite instead. Please let me know if you'd be interested in helping me out..

[@JohnGotts]

Fixing the 3DS XL classic edition is fun. Both of your units have easy to fix problems. The most difficult problems to fix are malfunctioning motherboards and broken connectors. I've had success replacing fuses with malfunctioning motherboards and I hope to graduate up to replacing those tiny connectors. I have a few in stock but my hot air station is of poor quality, and I need to learn how to use it better. I post all of my fixes on Instagram. I don't use KZbin. Stay tuned for some attempts to fix those pesky connectors.

[@felipe88051]

This 3ds model is perfect

[@ChanchoHD]

Loved the music selection for this video 🔥

[@12345.......]

I love the bits in ifixit tools (not sponsored, just own one)

[@Tronicsfix]

Yep, they’re such good kits

[@bryanwharton6692]

Great video! Try playing a 3DS era Pokemon game without the A button… yeah these need to be fixed 😂. I also got my hot air station yesterday and I am waiting for my replacement PCB for Pokemon pinball on Gameboy to transplant the chips! You are an inspiration

[@Tronicsfix]

That's awesome! So glad you're learning this stuff! Good luck with all your future repairs

[@tetranymous9300]

I had the exact same A button issue on my 3ds after 10 years of service, right down to the lack of oxidisation. It's much easier if you only lift up the contacts one at a time; you don't have to worry about realigning it as the ones that are stuck down do that for you. Hopefully I will fix and mod my childhood ds lite that suffered a failed reshell many many years ago next :)

[@berkmacklyn4906]

Just dropping a huge thank you. Your videos just helped me rescue my ps4.

[@Goman693]

Whats the music at 6:54? I've heard a few KZbinrs use it in videos recently and its so cool sounding! I can't seem to find it on Epidemic. Also great vid as always Steve!

[@TheSkaldenmettrunk]

Nice. I got one of those and my one is working.. luckily..

[@Angelite1209]

I have one. It's in Near Mint condition except the joystick. The rubber pad fell off, but i keep it in place witg a little bit of glue, but it still falls off after many usage.

[@m1st3rfrv1t3r3r]

At 4:56 you can see the solder went to the component of the right...

[@jmford1]

Still have mine from release day; box and all. Works 100%!

[@Club_Michas]

@TronicsFix Just a Tip for the Future, if you have the 3DS in the Open Position it's much easier to connect the Ribbon Cables because they are longer when the 3DS is in the Open Position.

[@apex6186]

I've got two of those 3DS' with minor issues. One has a crack on the plastic casing, and one has a stiff analogue stick. I'm thinking I should probably try to fix them now 😅

[@og_nunez]

Great music choices 🕺

[@Tronicsfix]

Mt editor, Dan chose the music!

[@jarinaumanen8447]

Use low melt tin and when disconnected the connector, clean the old tin and add just leaded tin.

[@renatobabka263]

Hey Steve, thank you very much for your videos! I learned so much from watching you that I was able to fix my Nintendo ds top screen and my digital piano broken trace!

[@ryanmartie1244]

@11:15...how the hell would any debris get under that? It was sealed with adhesive.

[@oterosocram25]

Very nice job on the soldering, multiple pins no bridges great

[@gerhardrosbach8799]

if you cannot loosen damaged screws, here is a tip. fill the screw with baking powder and insert the screwdriver to restore the shape. carefully remove the screwdriver and apply a drop of super glue to the screw. be careful not to glue the screw to the housing. you should then be able to loosen the screw. maybe this will also help viewers of your channel.

[@TheDigitalAura]

I despise working on Nintendo products, especially 3DS XLs. Nice to see you used IPA to remove the 2GS lettering on the slot.

[@Tronicsfix]

I actually enjoy working on these for the most part. I don't enjoy replacing the top screen on them though!

[@TheDigitalAura]

@@Tronicsfix Agreed, top screen replacement is hell.

[@jasonmarquette]

Another great video Steve, Thank you!

[@MrCATgpt]

Love it. So a friend game me his broken 3ds to have a look at as my first real repair. He has stripped the screws under the cover entirely. What is the methods people have used to get around this. I mean like stripped stripped.

[@Baris1988]

Amazing job! you are a electronic doctor (surgion to be more accurate). i like the passion with this difficult fixes (micro).

[@SmellTheCheeeez]

The bad thing is, with the *New* 3DS XL, the ribbon cables for the top screen got even worse because they put 2 connectors on the back of the board (that faces down when the back is open) with even less slack. Pain in the butt to reassemble!

[@walkwe2791]

I remember when I had to replace the screen (and later the hinge) on my 3ds xl, I hated reconnecting the top screen ribbon cables

[@Tronicsfix]

That's a tough repair!

[@metronoxstudios6445]

Been watching you for a few years now, really love your content. I do have a question ive always wondered. Do you only fix things you buy? Or do you also do repairs for people?

[@Padilla450]

Great job. Now its time for a top screen replacement.

[@CadJuice]

I still have mine, and I BARLY used it.. I think I played through LTTP, OoT, and a little bit of Smash. I didn't realize this was holding its value this well.

[@mc909a]

Those were really nice back in the day. I regret not buying those when I had the chance

[@TheSuperman559]

I still have my Zelda one same one you have still works good

[@Alex_Geforce]

4:57 looks like you shorted out the resistors to the right

[@bearmoreonayamaha3452]

"Finger Cheese"...I have a very strong stomach but the visual I get from that is quite disturbing.

[@AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXV]

lmao Finger Cheese! I have this same 3DS that I bought new many years ago and still play it! It's great to see repair videos of it. You had another video awhile ago with this same model too.

[@mtshark7]

Nicely done Steve!

[@ZackMuffinMan]

Everytime I see this special edition I am reminded of my horrible experience with Nintendo's repair service and the scam they tried to pull on me. On the bright side, it helped me learn how to repair systems on my own!

[@Tronicsfix]

What's the scam? Yes, that's definitely a good thing that it pushed you to learn to fix things yourself!

[@ZackMuffinMan]

Oh man... long story but basically I sent them the 3DS because it wouldn't power on. They said the motherboard had to be replaced and they didn't do that so they would be returning it to me. I get it back and it is missing many internal pieces, like the microphone, circle pad, wifi card, all but 1 screw, and my SD card with the pre-installed game on it. I call them back and they say to send it back to them and they will send me a new system, however when they get it back, they said it was missing parts and had been tampered with so they were refusing the replacement. After a few MONTHS of back and forth, I get nowhere. I decided to file a complaint with the BBB and within a day, they agree to send me back my broken system and a free game to replace the SD card they stole. I ended up buying a parts 3DS for super cheap because both screens were broken and stealing all the internals from it.

[@Tronicsfix]

Wow, that's crazy!

[@gregarmstrong552]

I forget where you said you sell your stuff? Thanks for the videos!

[@johnsabilla5897]

You can remove the sticker pad safely with an exacto knife and if you accidentally ruin it, you can buy a replacement for cheap

[@mobiletransportvideo]

10:50 could have just tested it without the sticker removal to see if just cleaning the button fixed it.!

[@Blank_the_Bard]

Should you unscrew your old console for dust cleaning after a few years ? Like a nintendo DS from the year they came out

[@Tronicsfix]

Usually these don't need dust cleaning since they don't have fans in them.

[@Bijoux_DerWunderCatsen]

❤❤❤ This stuff is so tiny. Nice work.

[@yumark5800]

I still have a new 3DS xl to find out what the issue with it is LOL. You make these fixes so easy xD mine went bad from the first time I was trying to screenswap a bad top screen. Even with replacement parts I can’t power it on. I managed to fix ones after this one without issues so it’s still waiting for me to save it. Hahaha

[@sparkythebuilder]

You sir have amazing skills!

[@artanisH847]

by the way, if you open the screen all the way, it will be way easier to put the flex cable on the back of the board.

[@Zerasion-]

Appreciate your job mate from France

[@Tronicsfix]

Hey thanks!

[@rafalosophy101]

interested in doing a 120GB Microsoft Zune fix vid? i have two that i'd love to have fixed, or at the very least, make 2 into one working device.

[@rnari007]

your are just amazing - thanks sooooooooooooooooo much for all the education and showing the art of fixing :-)

[@ToadetteHackFan]

My 3DS had issues with the A Button but it fixed itself by doing a lot of regular use. My X Button is doing the same right now and kinda works when mashing it pretty fast. Maybe it fixes itself like my A button did a few years ago

[@liamreynolds8777]

When you were reapplying the button pads, i noticed that there were 2 holes in both the board and the sticker. Could one put toothpicks or similar small cylindrical objects to help guide that process?

[@andrewarmstrong5266]

jingle music and progress bars we are certainly getting an evolving style lol

[@MrQcazu]

I always am sad about mine. I have a beautiful one of these triforce 3ds...es...but it's got some sort of software issue. Monster hunter freezes on startup (works on other consoles), smash bros randomly a character will have a part of them get stuck on a part of the screen and wont move, even if the character moves. For example a cape may get the corner stuck on the bottom left corner of the screen. It will stretch to where the character is on screen. The character can move but the pixels that are stuck wont. Some games freeze at certain point others have no problems. I had to buy a whole other 3ds. My fault for not getting that dumb warranty as a teen.

[@Drfrodoskywalker]

Hoping these will be on Whatnot, I have been wanting one of these.

[@TheStonedSpidR]

i've gotten so spoiled using the same tv as you have behind you as a monitor that trying to game on a hand held is more of a headache then fun.

[@sanctanox]

What I always wanted to know is: How do they assemble the ribbon cables in the factory? Cannot imagine a machine doing that. Does anybody know that?

[@Tronicsfix]

That would be very interesting to know. I feel like it must be a machine. That would be a cool machine!

[@tfsoul6384]

The one that had the A button issue has the ambassador certificate on it which makes it more valuable. I could only tell because it has the Zelda Four Swords icon on the screen

[@Necrofitz]

May have been worth something while the eShop still existed. These days that certificate is only worth anything if still has the entire collection downloaded and playable considering you can't exactly download the games from the eShop anymore. Basically a Silent Hill PT situation for how much worth that certificate really holds.

[@raymondburris5108]

Love these videos!

[@CJW0056]

I'm having trouble understanding what it was that was causing the button to need to be smashed so hard to register, there was barely any debris or gunk? Crazy.

[@osh8271]

Awesome!, really inspires me to try

[@bryanfrye8770]

Ive only repaired a couple of 3DS' these are a pain in the ass. I have a couple broken ones just laying around. Id rather watch you repair these 😂.

[@ekysboham]

I tried replacing my 3DS XL top screen but I just ended killing all ribbon cables on the top, this console is the worst thing ever when it comes to trying to fix it. I won't ever try again with a 3DS XL lmao 😂 Nice repair, 2 consoles saved from the trash 🔥

[@Tronicsfix]

The top screen on these is very difficult!

[@tododespejado]

You can make it work with only the bottom screen if you solder 2 rezistors. I made a ds into a gameboy like that

[@chrisfixesall99]

@@tododespejado I'm desperately trying to repair my old 3ds xl 2012 version i broke the top screen backlight connector, what type of resistor did you use and where to get them and where to solder the resistors on which pins to get it to run on just the bottom screen?

[@retrobear9367]

That's still my fav special edition. I just wish it would have came in the "new" XL

[@MaximeDeClercq]

Very interesting. I still play with one (same model) but you haven't explained why they are potentially worth 200$ (I think?). Did you find those models with IPS screens?

[@Tronicsfix]

That's what they're going for on eBay

[@sh1yo7]

It's a limited edition Zelda 3DS, has collectors value

[@MaximeDeClercq]

Aah, thank you for the explanation.

[@TheSilverOrca]

i love watching your videos! when are these going up on ebay? I use to have one, but somehow got lost. So I'm hoping to replace it lol.

[@jeckjeckellazar97]

Like what I did in my switch joy con i just opened it and clean the shoulder button with some alcohol And I don't have to press it so hard anymore

[@awilliams1701]

Interesting. That reminds me of some atari style joysticks back when I used a C64. They had buttons like that, but they were just using scotch tape. I'll bet that would totally work here. It's the same basic design. Hell you could probably use those same pads on this. They aren't perfectly round, but they are about the same size and they are round where they need to be.

[@DS-pt2ks]

LOVE your videos, they're incredibly inspiring. Hoping you can help recommend me a place for a repair? I recently got some mild water damage on my Zelda 3DS XL. LED lights up when plugged in, but does not turn on. It's incredibly sentimental to me (and modded!) so I'd hate to lose it.

[@mukeshgoolcharan6121]

❤ your stuff keep it up 😊😊😊😊😊

[@fabricatedego]

Watching your vids helped me swap a Motherboard on an Xbox one and get the disc drive working again. Thank you!!!!! Also would you want the old board FOC and disc drive to attempt a repair or use for parts?

[@MikesArcadeMonitorRepair]

Another great job!

[@Tronicsfix]

Thanks!

[@erikandsonja]

"Finger cheese" is a term I have never heard before, but will now be adding it to my every day vernacular.

[@HiRideEV]

I used to own a pair of these in my childhood. Loved playing animal crossing on them. Honestly sucks they wont exactly be usable after 2025 since thats the limit to the year on these

[@zeldamasternick2224]

Do you sell any of the consoles you fix? I know that those 3DS systems sell for quite a bit, even in a refurbished state

[@ShotokanEditor]

To clean buttons from human dirt etc use baby wipes