DIY Repair

It didn't take long for me to encounter my first broken DS Lite.  Starting your own DS Lite repair project can be a great way to gain experience with electronics repair – and if you're savvy, you can do it without breaking the bank.

Mandatory Tools

• Tri-wing screwdriver
• Small Phillips screwdriver
• Plectrum or other thin plastic
• DS Lite Charger (in case the battery is dead)

Optional Tools

• Sectional tray or pill box for holding small screws
• A diagram showing which screws go in which holes and what order to remove them.
• A laptop, tablet or phone to watch a video of someone disassembling a DS Lite as you go – or to take your own reference photos.
• Soldering Iron (For advanced repairers.  Only needed if replacing speakers, top screen ribbon cable, cartridge slot, etc.)

Finding Donors – the broken DS Lites you can combine to make a working DS Lite - Please see Shop for DS Lite

Example Scenario

Donor 1: Top Screen DS Lite:  An auction for a DS Lite with description: Used to work fine but suddenly no longer able to power on.  There shouldn't be any damage to the hinges or top screen.

Donor 2: Bottom Screen/System Board DS Lite: An auction which has a photo of a DS Lite that has been switched on and the bottom screen loads the Nintendo Startup Screen with no issues.  The top screen can be black, or on but cracked.  The hinges can be broken or intact.  If there is further evidence that the DS Lite recognizes game cartridges, that is a good sign, too.

Always test Donor 1 by powering it on while plugged into the mains or charging the battery awhile before powering on.  I bought a donor DS Lite to find out there was nothing wrong with it!

If Donor 1 doesn't power on then remove the system board/bottom screen from Donor 1 and replace it with the system board/bottom screen from Donor 2.  There will always be a risk that the top screen, speaker or mic on Donor 1 won't work, but in my case, the repair was a success.  This scenario required no soldering to complete the repair.

Disassembly for replacing a system board/bottom screen – I strongly recommend watching a video, but here are the step-by-step notes:

1. Power off the DS Lite and unplug it from the mains.
2. Remove game cartridge
3. Remove GBA Slot Cover, Rumble Pak or GBA game
4. Turn upside down and remove battery cover.  The plectrum or other thin plastic tool helps to unseat the battery cover.  Alternatively, lift the battery cover screw with a fingernail.
5. Remove the battery (turn over and let gravity work or use plectrum).
6. Remove the screws holding the bottom cover in place –  The screws are different sizes and a mix of tri wing and Philips so keep track of where they go for reassembly.
7. Lift the bottom cover off of the DS.  This may require some gentle wiggling and help from the plectrum/plastic tool but don't use force.
8. The volume and power might stay attached to the bottom piece or they may come away when removed.
9. Note that the left and right triggers are each held in by a pin and a spring.  Take care not to lose these very small parts.
10. Remove the microphone cable connector
11. Gently pull the microphone cable out from under the slot cover
12. Unscrew the system board
13. Carefully turn over the system board.
14. With extreme care, unlatch the large ribbon cable from the top corner of the system board.
15. The system board and bottom screen should now come away from the Donor 1 DS Lite.
16. Reverse this process for reassembly.