Installing Nintendo Wii Motherboard

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Replacing the Wii's motherboard.

  • Author: iDeleted
  • Time required: 45 minutes to 1 hour
  • Difficulty: Difficult
  • Add Note x

Once the Wii's motherboard is accessible, there are a number of components that can be easily removed and replaced, including the optical drive cables, heat sink, and Bluetooth board.

Sections
Tools
Tools (continued)
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Outer Case  ¶ 

  • Loosen Phillips screw on bottom of Wii to remove battery case.

  • The screw is captive to the battery case and will not come out; leave the two connected.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • On the bottom side of the Wii, use metal spudger to remove the following:

    • One rubber foot

    • Three plastic stickers.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws:

    • Two 8.1 mm silver tri-wing screws, one under battery case and one under bottom right sticker.

    • Two 5.0 mm silver Phillips screws, under top center and top right stickers.

    • One 5.8 mm black Phillips screw, under top left foot.

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Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • On the right side of the Wii, use the metal spudger to remove the following:

    • Two rubber feet.

    • Two plastic stickers.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws:

    • Two 8.2 mm silver tri-wing screws, under top left and bottom left feet.

    • Two 8.2 mm black tri-wing screws, under top right and bottom right stickers.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • Remove the two doors on top of the Wii by opening them, then applying pressure behind the hinges. The hinges should pop out without much resistance.

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Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws from the top of the Wii:

    • One 5.9 mm black Phillips screw, closest to front of Wii.

    • Two 4.0 mm black Phillips screws.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Remove the black plastic shield from the top of the Wii. Slide it away from the front of the Wii to free the covered end.

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Add Note Edit Step 9  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws from under the black plastic shield:

    • Two 8.2 mm silver tri-wing screws.

    • Two 5.0 mm silver Phillips screws.

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Add Note Edit Step 10  ¶ 

  • The faceplate is now loose, but is still connected to the body by the faceplate LED power cable.

  • Open faceplate and disconnect cable from the connector. Using tweezers may make this easier. Set faceplate aside.

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Add Note Edit Step 11  ¶ 

  • Set the Wii on its right side, with the ATI label in the upper left corner.

  • The plastic outer case is now loose. Pull it straight up and off the Wii.

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Add Note Edit Step 12  ¶ 

  • The inner metal shield is now loose as well. Lift it straight up and off the Wii; this may require some wiggling.

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Add Note Edit Step 13 — Fan  ¶ 

  • Remove the two 11.2 mm silver Phillips screws securing the fan to the Wii.

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Add Note Edit Step 14  ¶ 

  • Disconnect the cooling fan power cable.

  • Pull directly up on the cable to avoid damaging the cable connector.

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Add Note Edit Step 15  ¶ 

  • Remove the fan.

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Add Note Edit Step 16 — Optical Drive  ¶ 

  • Remove the four 9.2 mm silver screws mounting the optical drive to the Wii.

  • A magnetic screwdriver or pair of tweezers is very helpful to ensure the recessed screws make it all the way out.

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Add Note Edit Step 17  ¶ 

  • The optical drive is loose, but is still connected by a power cable and a data cable.

  • With the Wii aligned as pictured, rotate the near end up to reveal the connections underneath.

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Add Note Edit Step 18  ¶ 

  • Disconnect the 12-pin white power cable connector.

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Add Note Edit Step 19  ¶ 

  • Flip up the tab on the optical drive data cable's ZIF connector on the board on the underside of the drive.

  • Remove the optical drive data cable from the drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 20  ¶ 

  • Remove the optical drive from the Wii.

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Add Note Edit Step 21 — Wi-Fi Board  ¶ 

  • Remove the nine 10.0 mm black Phillips screws securing the black plastic mounting brackets to the Wii.

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Add Note Edit Step 22  ¶ 

  • Free the Bluetooth antenna by undoing the tape binding the black antenna cable to the Wii.

  • The Bluetooth antenna cable is still connected to the Wii; set the antenna aside nearby.

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Add Note Edit Step 23  ¶ 

  • Lift the mounting bracket off the heat sink.

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Add Note Edit Step 24  ¶ 

  • Carefully remove the Wi-Fi antenna from the mounting bracket by spreading the two small tabs that hold the antenna board in place and pulling the board straight out.

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Add Note Edit Step 25  ¶ 

  • Remove the small metal bracket from below the fan mount.

  • Remove the metal heat sink shield.

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Add Note Edit Step 26  ¶ 

  • Remove the three 7.25 mm silver Phillips screws from the holes marked "□".

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Add Note Edit Step 27  ¶ 

  • Remove the mounting bracket that holds the Bluetooth antenna cable.

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Add Note Edit Step 28  ¶ 

  • There is a small silver nut loosely contained by the left black plastic bracket; be careful not to lose it.

  • Lift the left black plastic bracket off the Wii, being aware of the silver nut. Pull the bracket's tab toward you where the antenna wires protrude to remove it.

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Add Note Edit Step 29  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws:

    • Two 11.3 mm silver Phillips screws from holes marked "Δ".

    • 11 7.25 mm silver Phillips screws from holes marked "↓".

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Add Note Edit Step 30  ¶ 

  • Lift the main EMI shield off the Wii's motherboard.

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Add Note Edit Step 31  ¶ 

  • The Wi-Fi board is connected to the motherboard by a connector and some adhesive. Pull firmly upward on the board and it will pop off the motherboard.

  • The Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antennas are connected to the bottom of the Wi-Fi board, and are easily removed by using a spudger to lift them off their respective sockets.

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Add Note Edit Step 32 — Motherboard  ¶ 

  • Remove small metal antenna cable bracket.

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Add Note Edit Step 33  ¶ 

  • Remove the four 11.3 mm silver Phillips screws securing the heat sink to the motherboard.

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Add Note Edit Step 34  ¶ 

  • The motherboard is now loose. Lift it up and off the bottom case of the Wii.

  • The heat sink is held to the motherboard by the thermal paste between it and the processors. Pull it straight up with slight wiggling to free it.

  • A connector and strip of adhesive hold the Bluetooth board to the motherboard. Prying the board up with a spudger easily removes it.

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to flip up the black tab on the ZIF connector holding the optical drive data cable to remove it.

  • Pull directly away from the connector to remove the optical drive power cable.

  • When replacing the motherboard, be sure to replace the small foam block underneath the power input jack.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

For more information, check out the Nintendo Wii device page.

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