How to Replace the Shell on a Nintendo DS Lite

Remove any Nintendo DS games from the cartridge slot. Remove the battery cover to take out the battery.

Remove the six tri-wing screws on the bottom of the device with a tri-wing screwdriver. The bottom of the shell should easily be removed with the tri-wing screws out.

Locate the black clamp near the back edge on the bottom of the device. Open the clamp by swinging it up and pulling out the bus.

Find the brass connector, which is located in the middle of the bottom of the device. Pull it out gently as it should be connected to a black wire.

Unscrew the hinge cover from the bottom of your DS Lite with a Phillips-head screwdriver. Unscrewing the hinge cover will allow you to remove the top of the shell.

Remove the rubber covers located on the top shell to reveal four screws. Remove these with your Phillips-head screwdriver.

Find a small slit across the top shell. Use a small flat screw driver and run it across the slit until the upper layer of the top shell is removed.

Apply constant pressure to the hinge while you remove the DS Lite's top shell. With the hinge dismantled, connect the bus with the black wire you removed from the clamp in steps 3 and 4. Take your new replacement shell bottom and place it back underneath the DS Lite. Use your tri-wing screwdriver to screw the six tri-wing screws back into place.

Unscrew the two circuit boards and place everything into the new top shell. Examine carefully the layout of all the components when putting transferring the components to the new housing.

Fix the metal hinges to its original position and press on the hinges until the top shell fixates itself with the hinges.

Re-attach the bus and wire through the new shell slot. Clamp down the bus and make sure the buttons are fastened tightly in the new shell. Check the power and charge light to make sure they are in their original places in the shell.

Screw and snap the top and bottom pieces of the shell back together.