How to Take Apart a 5th Generation Video iPod

john Posted at 22:12 on Sat, 05/03/2008

Technical Specifications

Size and weight (30GB model)
Height: 4.1 inches
Width: 2.4 inches
Depth: 0.43 inch
Weight: 4.8 ounces

Required Tools

Small Phillips Screw Driver
Small Flathead or Exacto Razor
Case Opener Tool

Steps

	To open the iPod start with slightly squeezing the middle of the ipod to create a small gap between the plastic and the metal part. Then insert the case opener tool and pry along the front bezel wiggeling the tool a bit until the iPod pops open.
	Be careful and don't take the two halves apart yet, because there are 2 ribbon cables still attached inside. One connects the headphone jack and the other is for the battery.
	First remove the battery cable with a flathead by carefully slipping it under the brown battery clip connector and lifting it up. Make sure you don't use too much force, because the battery connector can easily break off the motherboard, which is not such a good idea.
	Now you can open the iPod like a book.
	Flip over the hard drive out of the front panel and lay it down.
	Next you want to take out the hard drive. Its ribbon cable has two clip connectors; one on the motherboard and one directly on the hard drive. You want to gently pop up the black clip on the hard drive and remove it. Unclipping the other side of the cable is fine as well, but harder to put back together later on.
	Now you can easily access the headphone jack cable that is connected with the mother board. Slide a fingernail or flathead underneath the brown connector clip and lift it up.
	Here the back of the iPod with the battery and the headphone jack. Since the battery is only glued to the back it might have fallen out, while you opened the halves. If not, we will show you how to remove it later - as well as the headphone jack.
	The front part of the iPod: You can see the back of the screen, attached to the motherboard behind a metal frame. on the bottom two little rubber protectors, either grey or blue, are protecting capacitors and might have also already fallen out.
	To take out the LCD, first take the flathead and pop the black clip up.
	Now you can slide out the LCD screen ribbon cable from the board.
	In order to get the LCD screen out we will need to remove the frame holding it. You need to unscrew 6 screws with the small Phillips driver. Three on each side of the iPod.
	Now you can safely pull off the aluminum framing. Usually it is a bit sticky, so you might need to use a bit of force to lift it up.
	You can now remove the LCD screen and replace it with a new one. Follow the reverse steps to reassemble the iPod. In order to remove the clickwheel or change the motherboard you need to separate the motherboard from the aluminum frame. The motherboard is held on with mild adhesive so you can just push it off the frame with your thumbs. There is a ground connection - an orange cable - holding part of the clickwheel to the frame. Carefully pull it off.
	When the motherboard is separated from the frame you can remove the clickwheel by popping up the black part of the connector with a flathead. The clickwheel cable is held on the board with a mild adhesive. Gently peel it off, if necessary by carefully sliding the flathead underneath.
	In order to replace the iPod video clickwheel or motherboard follow the reverse steps.
	If the battery isn't already loose you will need to insert the case opener tool underneath and pry up. Avoid using a pointy tool like the flathead, because you might puncture the battery with it. In some rare cases the battery is glued to the back so strongly, that you need to be very, very careful not to rip the headphone jack cable underneath it.
	The hold switch and headphone jack are connected in one part. You need to unscrew four screws to take it out. The cable is taped to the back, so you need to carefully peel it off.
	Once you got out the headphone jack with the hold switch, you get access to a further screw on the hold switch, that assures the actual switch to stay in place. To replace the jack, unscrew that screw and fit the replacement jack cable in the same way. That's it, just go backwards to reassemble.

Comments

Thanks for the

Anonymous Posted at 17:58 on Fri, 07/09/2010

Thanks for the instructions!!! Just used these to replace the case and battery on my 5G video. Sadly, when I bought the case on eBay, I didn't realize I could get the case + clickwheel for just $5.00 more !!!! Argh! Still, my iPod looks almost brand new now, and shouldl hold a much longer charge.

A quick tip to those who are doing this: if all you're doing is replacing the case and or battery, there's no need to undo the Hard Drive and Video Screen ribbon connectors.

When my iPod Video hard drive finally dies I'll probably repace it with a 32 GB CF card. They sell adapters for the iPod on eBay also!

Mine was different!

Anonymous Posted at 21:15 on Tue, 05/11/2010

My iPod is a 30gb video - whatever generation. Point being, my front panel needed to be replaced and when I pryed it off it was not attached at all to the rest. Everything stayed on the other half and the new panel snapped on no problem. I'm still rather confused why mine came apart so easy, not only that -it came apart like it you'd expect. Why would apple make it so hard to dissamble?

Apparently I got a prototype or something, cuz mine was easy! : P

Here is a tip for replacing the click wheel

Anonymous Posted at 04:07 on Fri, 04/30/2010

Before you take the ipod apart place a small piece of adhesive tape over the center of the clickwheel so that it extends out from the center button. I have heard alot of stories about how difficult it is to get the center piece and the click wheel aligned and over the 4 buttons when reassembling. The tape will keep the center piece from falling out then you just have to line up the 4 buttons.

Motherboard replacement

Anonymous Posted at 20:59 on Sun, 11/15/2009

If I'm replacing my old motherboard with a newer one of the same serial number, do I have to reformat my hard drive? I hear that if I replace the motherboard with one of a different serial number I do have to reformat the hard drive, is this also true?

If you just need to replace

Anonymous Posted at 23:27 on Tue, 09/22/2009

If you just need to replace the motherbord you dont need to do the last 3 steps right?

How do i clean the inside of the screen?

Anonymous Posted at 13:17 on Thu, 05/21/2009

the inside of the screen is dirty ( I use mine at work) and it is annoying how do i clean it? i need to know asap thanks

Screwdriver Size

Anonymous Posted at 00:32 on Wed, 02/18/2009

The smallest size Phillips screwdriver I could find was a 000 and it is still too big. What size Phillips screwdriver do I need and where can I find it? Thank you, Buddy.

It's really not that much

Anonymous Posted at 04:47 on Thu, 03/19/2009

It's really not that much about the size as long as the tip is in good shape/pointy. I actually like using the freeby ones most that come with lots of ebay parts. The Husky screwdrivers you can buy online are definitely state of the art, but they are also expensive. Not necessary I'd say. If you are facing difficulties, it must be because the frame is bent or something. Just try pushing a bit harder, those screws should not be an issue.

Screwdriver Size

Anonymous Posted at 13:45 on Mon, 03/16/2009

A Phillips Size 1 (PH1) worked perfectly for me. Just use the tip of it.

I Pod 5G in small pieces

Anonymous Posted at 12:19 on Tue, 09/09/2008

Brilliant information - except for one thing. How on earth do you reattach the two ribbon cables? Skyhooks? Six-inch bolts? Tin tacks? The only idea I have is to glue them. But to where? With what? This idiot needs another idiot to help him beat the Apple!
Thanks in anticipayion, John Turner, Spain.

you just slide them as far

Anonymous Posted at 22:39 on Wed, 05/05/2010

you just slide them as far as they can go into the slot and then flip or push the plastic piece that locks them in down. Exactly opposite order of how you undid them

Thank you!

Anonymous Posted at 03:22 on Mon, 06/23/2008

Thank you very much! This was the perfect guide for me. My ipod just recently started not working, and I didnt want to take it in to get it fixed. I decided to try and open it to see what it was like inside, and I found the problem! My ipod works again!

Question about the tools used

Anonymous Posted at 05:44 on Mon, 05/12/2008

What exactly is a case opener tool, and where can I buy one?

case opener tool

Anonymous Posted at 17:49 on Wed, 07/16/2008

i've seen a stiff guitar pick used

on a howcast video

You can buy them here online :-)

nikki Posted at 00:50 on Fri, 05/16/2008

Hi,
those case opener tools are pretty convenient especially for iPods and Cellphones. I have seen 3 different kinds so far. They are basically identical. They are made of plastic and have a very pointy tip with which you can get into the most narrow gaps for preying whatever case open. The plastic won't cause any damage. Depending on the device one might need a few openers, like for example for the iPhone. I have not seen them in any store so far, but I also haven't checked recently. You can definitely buy them here online.

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