So here's an interesting job I did today - headphone jack replacement for a 3rd gen 32GB iPod Touch - what makes this more interesting is that said iPod belongs to fellow NRW'er leroypantweather! Got it in the mail this morning and had it done late this afternoon. Not the most pleasant thing to replace, but not too entirely difficult. Definitely not for soldering beginners though, that's for sure.
So here we are, an innocent looking iPod Touch, what could be so difficult about something so simple?
Oh, that's right, everything else underneath the glass...
It amazes me how much dust can get inside of these things - the only way in is through the headphone jack, really. The glass/frame has a nearly watertight gasket, but if you have the screen on, you can see right through to the inside if you look through the jack. Anyway, here's a shot after I blew out the dust.
You have to pop up the LCD (very carefully as not to crack it), and then remove 8 screws from underneath to pop up the inner frame/battery in order to give yourself a little more room (and so you don't get finger prints on the screen or accidently burn it with your soldering iron).
Here's how the headphone jack connects - 5 solder joints altogether, relavitely close to one another. Apple actually puts entirely too much solder on the connections if you ask me. There are also two screws on the right side which hold it in place.
Some careful desoldering and a little patience and here is the jack-less iPod Touch.
Here's the replacement jack, it would be nice if there was a screwhole on the left side (on the ribbon cable), it would make replacement a little bit easier...but I digress.
This is the same jack-less iPod Touch, only after taking some braid to the board and removing as much solder as possible. If you leave it in place, you're just asking for trouble. It will spread to the other pads without hesitation and then you've got to start all over again.
This is the last pics I took (laziness, I suppose). Just with the screws in and without the soldering job done, but rest assured it's nice and soldered now, tested it out on my desktop speakers.
So now she's sitting on my desk waiting until I can ship her back on Tuesday. Mr. pantweather, if you have a GMail account, please leave us a nice review on Google when you get it back.
And if you're wondering from the first pic - yes, I do strictly use a razor blade for opening up the iPod. I've done tons of these (mostly screens), and it's by far the most effective route. You just have to know where the clips are and have a little patience.