My Problem

The battery wasn't holding a charge and so I thought I would fix it rather than toss it and replace it.

My Fix

This did not go well. I did get the iPod apart and had no real problem attaching the new battery despite the fact that the solder connections are so small. However, reassembly was difficult, perhaps because of a very small bulge in the battery, that made reinsertion impossible. I had it working when apart, but could not get it back together. When sliding the LCD in or out I cut the cord for the hold switch, then I noticed a crack in the screen, and to top it off the motherboard assembly separated into two pieces.

My Advice

Don't do it. I know my limits now, and these devices are just not worth the time and effort to repair. I'm not even going to attempt to replace the front of my iPod classic now. However, I will replace the broken mirror on my car, since that is something I know I can handle.