iPod Video Front Panel (White)

My Problem

I got the iPod from a friend who was having reliability problems with his iPod Video. I mentioned trying the iFixit battery replacement, but he wasn't game, so he bought an iPod Touch and sent me the old iPod. It had a cracked case in front of the video area, so I got the front panel and the battery.

My Fix

Pretty well, except I damaged the flexible circuit going to the Hold switch. The glue holding the original battery adhered to that circuit, too, and prying out the battery pulled up the circuit, too. I had an old, partly functioning iPod Video myself that doesn't get used anymore, so I swapped the backing metal piece that includes the flexible circuit, Hold switch, microphone plug, etc. With the swapped backing, the new front panel and new battery, the iPod went back together easily, and appears fully functional. I'll have to see how battery life is, and whether any operational quirks remain.

My Advice

I see the instructions have a warning triangle near the battery removal step, but I think it might be useful to say specifically to watch that flexible circuit below the battery.

My Problem

Hi! I bought a used iPod Video on ebay. When I received it I wanted to install a new battery to ensure I wouldn't have any charging issues since the original battery was still installed. I also decided to change out the front panel since the original panel was really marred and worn from use.

My Fix

This was my second experience at taking an iPod apart and I learned allot from that first experience. Having the right tools is crucial. That I learned from the first experience. This time was a snap. I changed out both the battery and the front plate and now have a beautiful, fully functional iPod Video I plan on giving as a gift. Awesome!

My Advice

I now have the knowledge, the proper tools and the experience to work on the iPods. It has turned out to be a really cool hobby for me. My advice is don't be afraid to try. The first time is always going to be an anxious one. Get the right tools and follow the great video tutorials from ifixit. You can go wrong.

My Problem

I was looking for an upgrade to my old iPod. I did not want to buy a new iPod Classic from Apple, because the size has not increased from 120gb for years, plus I like the older, simpler UI.

My Fix

Everything was as smooth as the docs described. I took my time and had no problems. Some of the things inside seemed a little sticky from tape/glue, but it was not overly gooey.

My Advice

The connectors are EXTREMELY tiny. Unhooking the HD cable was simple yet difficult to see without some magnifying lens. Rehooking the cable was nearly an act of faith, it doesn't go in far nor has any definite feel of stopping or going in "all the way". Just put in as far as possible and then re-engage the clamp. The clamp took a lot more pressure to latch than I expected, and being so teeny tiny I was afraid to use too much force and break it. Definitely get some of the plastic tools and have a tiny tweezers, like beauty tweezers, on hand. Be gently.

My Problem

My wife went to get her old iPod 30 GB out of the drawer and found that the battery had expanded and taken out the video display and the front panel at the same time. I decided I could fix it if I could get the parts, which I found on iFixit's website.

My Fix

Overall, the repair went good. I had already used the directions to open the device and determine what was damaged, so it was already apart when I got the parts. I forgot to check the directions initially when taking the parts out of the main support frame and had some problems getting them back together.

After I realized my error, the parts went together smoothly. The only gotcha was that I didn't plug it in to the charging cable before final assembly and the video display wasn't working initially. I didn't seat it properly. After a difficult time getting the case opened, I got the cable reseated and the device was working. Didn't need to reload the device.

My Advice

Carefully check that everything is working BEFORE reassembling the outer case. Save yourself the pain of taking it apart again.

My Problem

My iPod's screen had a few stripes of dead pixels. The stripes would get thinner with colder weather, but much larger in warm weather, and it was getting hard to read the top third of the screen

My Fix

The repair went very smoothly, my iPod looked brand new when I was done.

My Advice

read all the relevant guides all the way through twice, that way you won't find yourself buffaloed by some of the seemingly-backwards connectors.

My Problem

Very low battery on the verge of dying on my iPod 5th generation. Scratched screen and front facing as well.

My Fix

My iPod Video 5th gen battery finally died after about 3 years. The original battery had died after 8 months of barely using the iPod so I had replaced it with one purchased thru IFixit. I followed the online tutorial and easily replaced it in about 2 minutes. I also decided to replace the front face since the orig was pretty scratched. That took me about 10 minutes. I am very pleased with the cost, fast shipping and easy to follow tutorials.

My Advice

Watch YouTube videos first because there are tiny parts that can easily break. The parts you want to be careful with are the tiny levers that hold down the little cables.

My Problem

My roommate had a 30 GB Ipod Classic (5th gen.) with a cracked screen. The back panel was a bit bent up at the top by the hold button and it functioned without the back light on, so when he bought a new one with more memory I took his. It had other wear and tear, like scratches from regular use, so I decided to replace the front and back panels along with the screen.

My Fix

This Ipod Classic was considerably easier to work on than the smaller nano I had worked on before. The back panel came off with relative ease when following the directions on the guide (not even 20 minutes), and all of the connections came apart easily all the way to the display (less than an hour total for the tear-down while being very careful). I don't have any pictures, but everything looked exactly like the guide. I reassembled everything all the way to putting on the back panel, and this is when I realized the battery was swollen up to the point where the I couldn't get the panels to clip together.

My friend is a swimmer, and he always listens to music before he races. He probably exposed his Ipod to enough moisture over time that his battery reacted to it and expanded, which in turn cracked the screen. So I ordered a new battery and it was at my house in a few days (ifixit--thank you for the best shipping around). The battery even came with new adhesive and fit properly in its space behind the screen. I have the Ipod plugged in right now charging, and everything functions perfectly. Easy.

Now all I need to do is get all of this Lil Wayne off of my new Ipod.

My Advice

Order several pairs of the ipod removal tools (the plastic blue pry bars for taking the back panel off). They're cheap and make the process a lot easier. I used a micro flat-head screwdriver instead, but that was stupid and dangerous. The plastic is a lot less likely to ruin the delicate inner parts in the Ipod and won't scratch up its panel if you want to reuse it.

When taking out the small screws, I used a strip of tape stick them to so they wouldn't get lost. A magnetic bowl like mechanics use would be the best though. Just make sure you have some way to contain and keep track of them.

Next, I would say to get new front and back panels. When you take it apart the first time, it's very likely that the back panel gets bent up at least some and the front panel gets a few abrasions as well. They don't cost a whole lot, and it looks a lot nicer when you're finished. If it functions when you're done, you'll be really proud it.

Last, just be really careful with every step. Double check everything and make sure all of the connections are secure and in the right place. Don't force anything or all your work was for nothing.

My Problem

The front cover had about a million cracks in it and I wanted to replace it with a new one.

My Fix

I received the front cover a day earlier than it was scheduled so I excitedly started to install it and had a little trouble splitting the halves when I damaged the display. I ordered a new display and it arrived a day earlier also. I followed the directions and repaired the old iPod. It was well worth the time and trouble even though it is an old Gen 5 iPod.

My Advice

You guys are great. Thanks a bunch.