iPod Touch 4G Volume/Power Button Cable Replacement

The iPod Touch 4th Generation front panel is attached to the rear case by adhesive. It is highly recommended to use a heat gun in order to soften the adhesive.

Set the heat gun on "low" mode and begin heating the lower portion of the iPod Touch near the home button.

It is suggested to use the heat gun in circular motion pattern to evenly disperse the amount of heat throughout the device.

After the heating, the iPod Touch will be very hot. You might want to hold it with a towel while prying.

Insert the iPod opening tool between the front glass panel and the black plastic bezel near the home button.

Try not to pry between the black plastic bezel and the steel back case.

Pry the bottom edge of the front panel upward. Be very careful while doing so as not to bend the glass excessively.

If you find it too difficult to pry it up, reheat it with the heat gun and try again.

If there is enough room to grab the bottom edge of the panel, lift it away from the body of the iPod Touch so you could remove the adhesive along its left and right edges.

If it is still difficult for you to separate the adhesive, we suggest you to use the heat gun once again before moving on to the next step.

The digitizer cable cannot be disconnected until you remove the logic board, due to the construction of iPod Touch. Be extremely cautious when handling the front panel assembly, since it is attached to the rest of the iPod Touch by the very fragile digitizer cable.

The display data cable is also very short and fragile. It is connected to the logic board near the top of the front panel assembly. If you do not disconnect it while removing the top edge of the front panel assembly, make sure to use the iPod opening tool to disconnect it before rotating the front panel assembly out of the Touch.

Be very careful when pulling the top of the front panel assembly away from the adhesive that is holding it to the iPod Touch. Pay attention not to damage the short digitizer cable that is connecting the two components.

Remove the following Phillips #00 screws (eight pieces):

One 3.5 mm Phillips screw

Two 3.0 mm Phillips screws

One 2.3 mm Phillips screw

One 2.4 mm Phillips screw

Three 2.0 mm Phillips screws

Pry the thin steel cover up from the back facing camera by using the edge of the iPod opening tool.

There is a small spring located near the bezel next to the camera (marked in yellow).

Remove the steel cover from the iPod Touch.

Insert the edge of the iPod opening tool under the steel mid plane near the left corner at the bottom of the iPod Touch.

To separate the plate from the adhesive securing it to the plastic inner case, pry the opening tool upward.

If the plate is still attached to the logic board, you will probably have to reheat that area to soften the adhesive. Use the opening tool to separate the plate from the logic board.

Be extremely careful! The speaker is under the area displayed in the photo. It is connected with very fragile and short wires.

A very thin ribbon cable is connecting the volume and power buttons to the logic board. Be very cautious while working around this area (see the picture), so as not to rip this extremely fragile cable.

If you are not careful, the cable will tear easily.

Note the adhesive under the area marked in red.

Slightly tilt the steel mid plane to dislodge it from the back case.

Be careful not to tear the piece of copper tape that is connecting the back-facing camera to the steel mid plane.

Carefully lift the steel mid plane up off the back case and peel off the piece of copper tape stuck to the back-facing camera.

Pry the headphone jack connector up and out of its socket on the logic board by using the iPod opening tool.

Remove the 2.6 mm Phillips screw securing the headphone jack assembly to the back case.

The screw is set at an angle of 90 degrees. Make sure to remove it at such an angle.

Gently lift the edge of the headphone jack nearest the battery out of its recess by using our opening tool.

Remove the headphone jack from its housing within the back case.

Remove the following screws near the top edge of the logic board (three pieces):

One 2.0 mm Phillips screw

Two 2.3 mm Phillips screws

Gently pry (but not remove) the back-facing camera away from the back case, using the edge of the iPod opening tool.

DO NOT try to remove the back-facing camera yet.

Slightly lift the edge of the logic board next to the battery using the iPod opening tool. Lift it enough so you can grab it with your other hand.

Try not to bend the logic board excessively, as it is very thin and fragile.

While lifting the logic board with one hand, use the iPod opening tool to lift the logic board near the copper tape at the logic board's top edge.

The logic board will be lifted adequately once the last display assembly connector clears the top edge of the back case.

Gently pry the iPod's speaker out of its recess in the outer case, using our plastic opening tool.

Try not to remove the speaker completely since it is still soldered to the underside of the logic board.

In order to proceed with the battery installation, allow the speaker to rest above the battery.

Be careful! In the following steps you will loosen the adhesive from underneath the battery, the logic board, and the frame under the battery. You need to do this slowly and evenly. Try not to puncture the battery or bend the logic board.

Pry up the adhesive around the three exposed edges of the battery using the plastic opening tool.

Start loosening the adhesive. DO NOT try to pry the battery out.

After you loosen the edges of the battery, begin prying up the edge of the logic board, starting from the top. Work your way down the side of the board.

In order to prevent bending or breaking the logic board, try not to remove the logic board, yet. The dock connector is still embedded in the frame. Once again try to loosen more of the adhesive.

Carefully push the dock connector out of its outer case recess, using the plastic opening tool. Work each corner evenly until the connector is free.

Be careful! The dock connector is attached to the logic board and pushing it out of the case may cause the logic board to begin to flex. Be extremely careful not to permanently warp the board.

Once you remove all of the adhesive under the logic board/battery assembly, lift the assembly up from the side and carefully rotate it over to access the underside of the battery.

Be careful! The logic board is still attached to the back case. Do not separate the assembly completely as you will rip this ribbon cable.

Remove the two 1.3 mm Phillips #00 screws that are securing the Volume/Power button cable metal cover.

Lift and remove the metal cover out from the back panel assembly.

In order to get to the screw beneath it, gently move the ribbon cable out of the way, using the corner of our plastic opening tool.

Move the cable enough to access the screw. You do not need to bend it or rip it.

Remove the two 2.0 mm Phillips screws that are securing the power button assembly to the back panel assembly.

Peel the piece of copper tape covering the volume/power button assembly by using the edge of the plastic opening tool.

Lift and remove the piece of copper tape out of the iPod Touch.

Slide the opening tool under the length of the ribbon cable to release it from the back panel.

Insert the plastic opening tool under each volume controller and pry the assembly loose from the case.

Flip the logic board/battery assembly over to access the ribbon cable solder joints.

In the next few steps, you will have to loosen the four volume/power button ribbon cable solder joints on the logic board.

The volume/power button cable is attached via solder pads to small holes that go through the cable and attach to flat pads on the face of the logic board. In this step, you need to heat each solder pad individually. Use a metal spudger to pry it up from the logic board.

DO NOT bridge the connection between the solder pads both on the board and on the ribbon cable with your spudger. That can potentially ruin the logic board.

Be very careful not to over heat the board and the cable. Only hold the tip of the iron against the pad long enough to let the solder melt. Excess heat has the potential to ruin the logic board or melt the ribbon cable.

Start working from the outside of the ribbon cable. Heat the outermost solder pad while gently prying up from under the ribbon cable to free it from the board. Do the same with each of the three remaining pads, from right to left.

Once you reach this point, the cable should be free from the logic board.

Lift the old cable out of the iPod Touch and place it aside.

Set the replacement cable in place and align the far right contact with the far right solder point. Use two small strips of electrical tape to hold the cable against the solder pads.

Place two strips of tape over the end of the ribbon cable to both cover the two left-most solder pads and hold the contacts down against the logic board.

You need to heat the right-most contact until the solder below melts. Apply a small amount of solder to the contact, allowing it to flow through the two holes in the cable and down to the logic board.

Do not apply too much solder. Use a small amount of it.

Once the solder has flowed into the joint, remove both the solder and the iron.

Repeat this process with the second solder pad.

Remove the old tape, and replace it with a new one to hold the cable in place, but uncover the remaining two pads. If the position of the cable relative to the pads on the board is satisfying, you may proceed. If not, loosen the first connection and try again.

Solder the two remaining pads to the logic board. Be very careful not to over heat the cable or board.