Fix Your Stuff Community Store

Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement

Archived Guide
This guide is retained solely for historical purposes. Use the updated version of the guide to perform your repair.

Introduction

Use this guide for disassembly and for resolving jammed or finicky shoulder buttons.

What you need

  1. Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement, Remove the battery cover: step 1, image 1 of 3 Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement, Remove the battery cover: step 1, image 2 of 3 Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement, Remove the battery cover: step 1, image 3 of 3

    • Release the battery cover tab with your finger and swing the cover away from your Game Boy to remove it.

    • During reassembly, insert the tabs on the bottom edge of the cover into their cutouts and press the cover into place.

    Edit

  2. Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement, Remove the batteries: step 2, image 1 of 3 Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement, Remove the batteries: step 2, image 2 of 3 Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement, Remove the batteries: step 2, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the two AA batteries.

    • If the metal terminals are corroded, follow this guide to clean them.

    • When installing batteries, use the diagram in the battery well to properly orient them.

    Edit

  4. Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement, Remove the back shell screws: step 3, image 1 of 2 Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement, Remove the back shell screws: step 3, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the seven screws securing the back shell:

    • Six 9.4 mm‑long tri‑point Y0 screws

    • One 8.5 mm‑long JIS 1 screw

    • You can try to use a non-iFixit Phillips driver in a pinch, but you risk damaging or stripping screws. Push down firmly on the driver and twist slowly.

    Edit

  5. Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement, Remove the back shell: step 4, image 1 of 2 Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement, Remove the back shell: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the back shell straight up and remove it.

    • During reassembly, squeeze the shell firmly around the edges and ensure the shoulder buttons and bumpers are properly seated with no large gaps. Gently test the buttons to make sure everything feels correct.

    Edit

  6. Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement, Remove Triggers: step 5, image 1 of 2 Game Boy Advance Shoulder Button and Side Panels Replacement, Remove Triggers: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • Remove left and right triggers by lifting and pulling them away from the system.

    • Do the same for side panels

    • For finicky or jammed triggers only! Adjust and correct triggers and reassemble. Most jammed triggers are caused by buttons misplaced or jammed in its enclosure.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

4 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 8 other contributors

Aldo Corona

Member since: 01/25/10

886 Reputation

8 Guides authored

Badges: 13

+10 more badges

Team

Cal Poly, Team 16-29, Maness Winter 2010 Member of Cal Poly, Team 16-29, Maness Winter 2010

CPSU-MANESS-W10S16G29

5 Members

81 Guides authored

1 Guide Comment

i need help th e side pannels loose

Mark - Reply

Add Comment

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 2

Past 30 Days: 12

All Time: 8,946