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How Do I Fix the Screen That Fades out on My DS?

A Nintendo DS is a popular handheld game system that can entertain children for hours on end. Unfortunately, the DS can have screen problems that need troubleshooting. If your screen fades to black or the backlight does not turn on, first check in the settings that the backlight is turned on and the alarm is off. If the problem continues, you will need to replace the screen. Performing the replacement yourself is less costly and faster than sending your game system to a repair center.

Things You'll Need

Small flat-head screwdriver
Philips-head screwdriver
Triwing screwdriver
Craft knife
Electrical tape
Scissors
Replacement screen

Instructions

- 1
  Turn the DS over. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to pry out the two rubber feet at the top. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to unscrew the gold screws that are under the feet and the screw on the battery cover.
- 2
  Remove the battery cover and the battery. Unscrew the silver Phillips-head screw at the top of the battery impression. Take out the Slot-2 cover, where you place your cartridges, and the pen on the left side of the DS. Unscrew the two silver triwing screws at the bottom, the silver triwing screw on the top left and the black triwing screw in the top middle.
- 3
  Pick up the DS and use your fingers to pry the back of the case off. Remove the two plastic parts on each side at the top. Unscrew the two Phillips-head screws on each side of the bottom.
- 4
  Slide the flat-head screw below the microphone and antenna wires to pop them off. They are located on the left side of the DS back -- one is a black wire with a gold head, the other is a white wire with a silver head. Pull the exposed black wire on the right to pull it out from below the silver piece.
- 5
  Open the DS. Push the screen softly from the front to remove it from the DS. Unclip the brown cable that connects the screen to the DS and the brown cable that connects the screen to the green motherboard. Flip the motherboard over and unclip the small brown cable at the top. Remove the screen from the motherboard.
- 6
  Slide the craft knife between the black rubber on the side of the screen. Slowly lift the touch screen from the bottom screen.
- 7
  Place your replacement bottom screen upside down in front of you. Cut a couple strips of electrical tape and completely cover the back of the bottom screen with electrical tape to insulate it. Trim any excess tape off the sides of the screen. Flip the screen over.
- 8
  Line up the touch screen on top of the bottom screen and press the two together. Place the screens back on the green motherboard. Reconnect the three brown cables by sliding them into their respective slots and lightly pushing them into place. Flip the motherboard back onto the DS.
- 9
  Slide the black wire through the metal piece on the back of the motherboard. Snap the black wire back onto the gold connection and the white wire onto the silver connection. Screw the two silver screws back into the motherboard. Open the DS, place the battery in the back, turn it on and check to make sure it is working properly. If it is not, check to make sure your brown cables and wires are connected. Turn it off and remove the battery.
- 10
  Replace the two white buttons on either side of the top of the DS. Line up the back case onto the DS and press it into place. Screw in the black screw and six silver screws. Put the battery in the dock and put the cover on and screw it into place. Push the rubber feet back into their holes. Put the pen and Slot-2 cover back on.

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