iPod Nano - how to fix battery?

waterwatereverywhere

Hi,

I have an old iPod Nano which has never seen much use since new. Charged it for the first time in years and it seems the battery is broken - it only works when the charging cable is plugged into the PC, but as soon as you remove the cable there are no signs of life on the iPod. (Assuming this is the battery or how could I test to see if there is some other problem?).

Pls does anyone know how easy/difficult is it to repair these batteries? I've seen replacement batteries for sale on ebay etc.

Any advice gratefully received as would like to use this whilst jogging.

Many thx!

Mr_Toad

Once you get inside it changing the battery is easy. It's the getting inside that's the problem.

You can get special pry tools but even with them it's a tricky job. They are built to snap together tightly and not fall apart and you can easily break the fastenings or bend the case or both.

I tried to replace the screen on a broken Nano that I was given and I'm normally pretty good with phones and other stuff but despite the right tools I still manged to ruin the case.

In the end as well as replacing the screen I had to replace the back of the case. It was an 3rd Gen Nano the screen cost £9:99 and the case back £5:99 so not a fortune.

A replacement battery for a 3rd Gen Nano is £5:99 and it comes with a pair of plastic pry tools which are not brilliant.

Have a look on YouTube there are plenty of tutorials to watch. You can then decide if you want to have a go or not.

I got my bits from;

http://www.parts4ipods.com/epages/es115703.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es115703_shop/Categories/%223rd%20Gen%20Nano%20Parts%22

Another alternative is to get someone else to do it but you'd pay more.

securityguy

waterwatereverywhere wrote: »

Hi,

I have an old iPod Nano which has never seen much use since new. Charged it for the first time in years and it seems the battery is broken

If it's a first generation one, then there's a free replacement programme in place from Apple and you'll either get a refurbished one with a new battery or (as I did a few months ago) you'll get a nice 8GB Nano to replace your tatty old 1GB one.

http://www.apple.com/uk/support/ipodnano_replacement/

If it's a more recent one than that, then I think that most of the Nanos have the additional problem that the battery connector is soldered to the logic board.

waterwatereverywhere

Hi,

Many thanks for your helpful replies. I think it is a second generation so seems it wouldn't qualify for the free replacement, unfortunately!

Definitely wouldn't be able to solder if that's the case and it does sound as if it's not an easy/straightforward fix so may have to find something else to use whilst jogging. What a shame!

Am I correct in assuming it is the battery that is at fault as it plays/works okay whilst plugged into the PC but not otherwise - or is there anything else I could investigate? Many thx.

securityguy

waterwatereverywhere wrote: »

Hi,

Many thanks for your helpful replies. I think it is a second generation so seems it wouldn't qualify for the free replacement, unfortunately!

Definitely wouldn't be able to solder if that's the case

All the nanos require soldering, and even ifixit (whose difficulty ratings assume a fair level of competence even at the lower end) rate battery replacement as a "very difficult" job where it's possible at all.

See for example here

Am I correct in assuming it is the battery that is at fault as it plays/works okay whilst plugged into the PC but not otherwise

It's plausible, although it seems odd that the battery holds no charge whatsover. Have you tried charging it with a real mains charger: sometimes the battery is so flat that the USB port can't deliver enough current to make any progress at all, while 12 hours on a proper mains charger will sort it out.