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rubencito

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 25, 2009
49
0
I sat on my ipod and the screen broke, does anyone know where I could buy a replacement one, and any guide on how to replace it. Since is a paper weight now I will try to replace it.
 

r.j.s

Moderator emeritus
Mar 7, 2007
15,026
52
Texas
It will probably be easier and cheaper just to buy a new iPod ...

Which generation touch is it?
 

wakka092

macrumors 6502
Jun 20, 2007
344
0
You'd be better off just getting a new one. A replacement screen, glass, and digitizer would be around $130, and most of the one's I've seen are for the iPhone. iPod Touch screens are harder to come by.
 

tadad1

macrumors 6502a
Oct 20, 2008
638
82
Actually it is quite inexpensive to repair it yourself, I have just installed a new digitizer (front glass touch panel) and bezel (the plastic frame that the glass screen mounts into) and a new LCD screen on my 2nd gen Touch for $62 USD. I purchased the new parts on eBay. Both parts just plug in and require no soldering the bezel or plastic frame that surrounds and holds the front glass will get trashed when you remove the broken glass so be sure to get a new one of those. You will also need to swap the home button controller and backing plate from the old bezel over to the new one but that is quite a simple task as well. I also replaced the battery for $7.99 while I had it apart but that does require soldering.
 

rubencito

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 25, 2009
49
0
broken screen

Actually it is quite inexpensive to repair it yourself, I have just installed a new digitizer (front glass touch panel) and bezel (the plastic frame that the glass screen mounts into) and a new LCD screen on my 2nd gen Touch for $62 USD. I purchased the new parts on eBay. Both parts just plug in and require no soldering the bezel or plastic frame that surrounds and holds the front glass will get trashed when you remove the broken glass so be sure to get a new one of those. You will also need to swap the home button controller and backing plate from the old bezel over to the new one but that is quite a simple task as well. I also replaced the battery for $7.99 while I had it apart but that does require soldering.

would you like to share your link for the store you bought the stuff, and also some kind of guide on how to.
 

itouchaddicted

macrumors regular
Apr 2, 2009
138
0
I sat on my ipod and the screen broke, does anyone know where I could buy a replacement one, and any guide on how to replace it. Since is a paper weight now I will try to replace it.

Thats not a good question to ask. The answer is well known, go and buy a new one.
 

tadad1

macrumors 6502a
Oct 20, 2008
638
82
would you like to share your link for the store you bought the stuff, and also some kind of guide on how to.

I am assuming you have a second gen touch however if not the same parts are available for the first gen touch as well.

Digitizer

LCD

Bezel

You will need a couple of plastic opening tools which I already had but a set were included with the parts when they arrived. The plastic bezel surrounding the front glass has clips that hold the whole thing in place. The glass is adhered to the bezel with double sided tape. I inserted the tool in the right hand side between the plastic bezel and the chrome and then slowly moved it up to the top right corner to pop the first clip and then proceeded to move back down to the bottom right corner, then back to the top right and over to the top left (This is where the digitizer ribbon cable connects to the mainboard) then down to the left side to the bottom left corner which basically left only one clip at the bottom attached. The ribbon cable connector just pops up to release. The last clip at the bottom is the hardest to release but just gently persevere and it will come away.

If it is just the front glass that is broken and your LCD is fine then that is all you need to remove apart from the home button assembly from the old bezel which can be removed by using a razor to gently cut the tops of the 5 plastic mounting nubs after which it should just slide off. To connect it to the new bezel I just place it on the mounting pins and then using a soldering iron softened the tops of the plastic mounting pins and pressed them down spreading them to lock it in place. If you do not have a soldering iron you could just heat up the tip if a small screwdriver to achieve the same result.

Although they can be found with the adhesive applied most of the plastic bezels on ebay do not come with the adhesive to attach the glass digitizer so you will need to pick up some double sided tape from a stationary shop, not the white padded type but clear thin double sided cellotape. Cut it to size and apply it to the flat top, bottom and sides parts of the inside of the bezel and then press the glass digitizer into place on the tape lined plastic bezel to secure the two parts together. The glass digitizer has a plastic protective film on the front and on the inside section that sits above the LCD, do not remove the inside piece until you are ready to finally re-assemble the Touch completely.

WARNING The round home button itself just sits between the plastic bezel and glass then fits into the hole in the front be sure it is in place before you join the 2 parts together.

Now you just need to connect the ribbon cable of your new front screen to the mainboard and snap the complete front assembly back into the chrome back. NOTE: Remember to remove the inside piece of protective plastic from the glass digitizer before you snap it back together. Also try to avoid touching the LCD panel inside the Touch as it is a pain in the backside to clean any finger or contact smudges off it, if you do however be sure to use a lint free cloth to clean it prior to assembly rather than a tissue or other material that may introduce dust, fluff or lint into the unit, there would be nothing worse than finding you have particles stuck under the screen after you put it back together.

If you have broken the LCD panel as well as the glass digitizer and need to replace it then after removing the old glass and bezel as above you need to gently lift the broken LCD screen and flip it over to remove the screws (7-8 from memory) from the base plate that the front assembly snaps into. You will need a quite fine tipped Phillips screwdriver for this. Once you have removed the screws you should be able to lift the bottom plate gently from the top end. NOTE: the battery is stuck to the bottom of this plate and will lift also so just lift it enough so that you can see the ribbon cables for the battery and LCD underneath. Follow the LCD ribbon cable to the connector and pop it up from the mainboard. There is a broad piece of copper tape that is stuck to the front edge of the LCD that curves around to the bottom of the base plate, just gently peel it from the front of the LCD but leave it attached to the base plate, you should now be able to remove the broken LCD and slide it's ribbon cable out from under the battery.

Run the ribbon cable of the new LCD back up over the battery and press the connector onto to the mainboard, move the base plate and battery back into place, replace the screws to secure the base plate then seat the LCD after removing the protective plastic from the back and press the copper tape that you peeled of back over the edge. Do not remove the protective cover from the front of the LCD until you are ready to snap the front assembly back into place as above.

To make the whole process easier you should work in a well lit, clean, dust free and uncluttered workspace with all the parts and tools assembled before commencing. Have a small container handy to place the screws you remove into so that you don't lose any and work slowly and methodically through the process without getting overly stressed. Although it may seem daunting once you have removed the old front section the rest is relatively straight forward and putting it back together is a lot less stressful than taking it apart.

There is an illustrated disassembly guide for the 2nd Gen Touch HERE that I found helpful.

Be aware that I am not a professional and offer the above only as a guide that may assist you and will not be responsible for any damage or injury that may occur to you or your device should you decide to undertake to repair your device as I did. Electronic components are sensitive to static electricity, moisture and contaminates and repairs of this nature should only be conducted by a qualified technician.
 

jmckee

macrumors newbie
Jun 13, 2009
4
0
Can you tell if the glass on the outside is broken? If its JUST the lcd, we can replace it for $65, which includes the return shipping. If its the LCD, and the glass digitizer, then your looking at about $85. Let me know if we can help!

Jerrod McKee
DroppedLaptop.com
 

rubencito

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 25, 2009
49
0
broken iPod

Can you tell if the glass on the outside is broken? If its JUST the lcd, we can replace it for $65, which includes the return shipping. If its the LCD, and the glass digitizer, then your looking at about $85. Let me know if we can help!

Jerrod McKee
DroppedLaptop.com
thanks for the offer bit I have already purchased the stuff from ebay, I want to give it a try
 

jmckee

macrumors newbie
Jun 13, 2009
4
0
thanks for the offer bit I have already purchased the stuff from ebay, I want to give it a try

Ok, no problem! Just one tip, be VERY careful removing the front panel! Its in there good, and if you are not careful, it will crack! Also, when you do remove it, be very gentle as the ribbon cable that connects the front glass to the mainboard is VERY fragile, and can easily, without effort, rip. Good luck!
 

Splash7279

macrumors newbie
Feb 2, 2009
9
0
You should probably go to the apple store, because when my ipod touch broke, they gave me a replacement one for free right on the store. If they don;t give you one for free, they will ask if you want to buy an replacement one, 1st gen costs about $140:apple::apple::apple::apple:
 

Rizvi1

macrumors 6502a
Mar 29, 2006
823
12
Maryland
I am assuming you have a second gen touch however if not the same parts are available for the first gen touch as well.

Digitizer

LCD

Bezel

You will need a couple of plastic opening tools which I already had but a set were included with the parts when they arrived. The plastic bezel surrounding the front glass has clips that hold the whole thing in place. The glass is adhered to the bezel with double sided tape. I inserted the tool in the right hand side between the plastic bezel and the chrome and then slowly moved it up to the top right corner to pop the first clip and then proceeded to move back down to the bottom right corner, then back to the top right and over to the top left (This is where the digitizer ribbon cable connects to the mainboard) then down to the left side to the bottom left corner which basically left only one clip at the bottom attached. The ribbon cable connector just pops up to release. The last clip at the bottom is the hardest to release but just gently persevere and it will come away.

If it is just the front glass that is broken and your LCD is fine then that is all you need to remove apart from the home button assembly from the old bezel which can be removed by using a razor to gently cut the tops of the 5 plastic mounting nubs after which it should just slide off. To connect it to the new bezel I just place it on the mounting pins and then using a soldering iron softened the tops of the plastic mounting pins and pressed them down spreading them to lock it in place. If you do not have a soldering iron you could just heat up the tip if a small screwdriver to achieve the same result.

Although they can be found with the adhesive applied most of the plastic bezels on ebay do not come with the adhesive to attach the glass digitizer so you will need to pick up some double sided tape from a stationary shop, not the white padded type but clear thin double sided cellotape. Cut it to size and apply it to the flat top, bottom and sides parts of the inside of the bezel and then press the glass digitizer into place on the tape lined plastic bezel to secure the two parts together. The glass digitizer has a plastic protective film on the front and on the inside section that sits above the LCD, do not remove the inside piece until you are ready to finally re-assemble the Touch completely.

WARNING The round home button itself just sits between the plastic bezel and glass then fits into the hole in the front be sure it is in place before you join the 2 parts together.

Now you just need to connect the ribbon cable of your new front screen to the mainboard and snap the complete front assembly back into the chrome back. NOTE: Remember to remove the inside piece of protective plastic from the glass digitizer before you snap it back together. Also try to avoid touching the LCD panel inside the Touch as it is a pain in the backside to clean any finger or contact smudges off it, if you do however be sure to use a lint free cloth to clean it prior to assembly rather than a tissue or other material that may introduce dust, fluff or lint into the unit, there would be nothing worse than finding you have particles stuck under the screen after you put it back together.

If you have broken the LCD panel as well as the glass digitizer and need to replace it then after removing the old glass and bezel as above you need to gently lift the broken LCD screen and flip it over to remove the screws (7-8 from memory) from the base plate that the front assembly snaps into. You will need a quite fine tipped Phillips screwdriver for this. Once you have removed the screws you should be able to lift the bottom plate gently from the top end. NOTE: the battery is stuck to the bottom of this plate and will lift also so just lift it enough so that you can see the ribbon cables for the battery and LCD underneath. Follow the LCD ribbon cable to the connector and pop it up from the mainboard. There is a broad piece of copper tape that is stuck to the front edge of the LCD that curves around to the bottom of the base plate, just gently peel it from the front of the LCD but leave it attached to the base plate, you should now be able to remove the broken LCD and slide it's ribbon cable out from under the battery.

Run the ribbon cable of the new LCD back up over the battery and press the connector onto to the mainboard, move the base plate and battery back into place, replace the screws to secure the base plate then seat the LCD after removing the protective plastic from the back and press the copper tape that you peeled of back over the edge. Do not remove the protective cover from the front of the LCD until you are ready to snap the front assembly back into place as above.

To make the whole process easier you should work in a well lit, clean, dust free and uncluttered workspace with all the parts and tools assembled before commencing. Have a small container handy to place the screws you remove into so that you don't lose any and work slowly and methodically through the process without getting overly stressed. Although it may seem daunting once you have removed the old front section the rest is relatively straight forward and putting it back together is a lot less stressful than taking it apart.

There is an illustrated disassembly guide for the 2nd Gen Touch HERE that I found helpful.

Be aware that I am not a professional and offer the above only as a guide that may assist you and will not be responsible for any damage or injury that may occur to you or your device should you decide to undertake to repair your device as I did. Electronic components are sensitive to static electricity, moisture and contaminates and repairs of this nature should only be conducted by a qualified technician.

tadad1, there are some posts on the I cracked my iPod Touch screen thread with some info on doing the repair. I was wondering how they compared to your write up. Any thoughts?
 
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