Ipod battery replacement?

April 10, 2009 11:43 PM

Has anyone replaced their ipod battery?

I have a 4G ipod. Thinking about just getting a battery off the internet and installing it myself. Anyone else do this?

posted by wayofthedodo to Technology (14 answers total)

I did it to my 2G iPod. The flimsy plastic tool that came with the replacement broke, but I still managed to pry it open using finger nails and sheer force of will. I went on to misread the instructions and try to disconnect the cable connecting the two halves of my opened iPod, which was a bad idea - weird stereo mixing or random shutdowns of one of the channels have ensued on the slightest whack to my iPod ever since.

I also failed to properly reconnect the hard drive on the first couple of disassemblies and once turned it on inadvertently while still disassembled, but that didn't seem to have ill consequences.

I guess it is fine as long as you adhere to minimum standards of care while replacing.
posted by themel at 12:13 AM on April 11, 2009

I've done it with a 1g, a 2g and a 3gen ipod. I compared the instructions that came with the batteries to other instructions I found on the web. Had perfect results for all 3.

It wasn't as hard as I thought I would be. YRMV.
posted by asavage at 12:29 AM on April 11, 2009

I tried to do it, and broke my iPod. YMMV.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:40 AM on April 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

Ive changed batteries and the headphone jack in the 5g 30g ipod video. Its easy, just follow the instructions. I bet there are some tutorial videos on you tube.
posted by nuke3ae at 12:59 AM on April 11, 2009

I've done it and it wasn't really difficult at all. I agree with the suggestion others have made of finding a tutorial to watch online. That will at least give you an idea of how to open the iPod without accidentally yanking things apart. Also, be aware that not all replacement iPod batteries have the same charging capacity. It looks like the 4G iPod batteries range from about 750-1200 mAh. I read somewhere that some of the higher capacity batteries might be slightly larger than the originals, resulting in a tighter fit which may make it difficult to close the iPod back up, but I don't have any first-hand experience with that. And finally, in my experience a cheapo staple puller worked better than the plastic tools that came with the battery, for prying the case open.
posted by Balonious Assault at 1:50 AM on April 11, 2009

I did it to a 2g, and it went perfectly and left everything looking like new, but then the cheapo replacement battery exploded a month later. My iPod suddenly had an elliptical profile from the side, and while it was set on its back you could push the top of the fascia down with a finger, let go, and watch the whole thing rock back and forth several times. Funny but also sad.
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 2:51 AM on April 11, 2009

Best answer: Adding one more to the sample... I replaced the dead battery in my wife's 4G. I looked around on eBay and got one with a larger capacity (larger mAh = longer play time). I tried to do some research and didn't buy the cheapest battery available.

The hardest part of the whole procedure was getting the case apart, and even that isn't all that hard. I used the little tool that came with the battery. and you have to pry all the way around the case before popping the case open, otherwise the metal will be bent, and it will fit back together funny. After that, there is one connector that connects the battery to the iPod and then you snap it back together. Really, that's it. And if you option is to keep the ipod or throw it away, what do you have to lose?

If you are even the slightest bit patient and handy, you will probably be able to pull this off. The bonus is that you aren't throwing away a great product just because the battery is dead. I have a new iPod, but I still use my 4G all the time for music.

Like others have said, watch a video of the replacement. You will easily be able to tell if it is within your abilities.
posted by mattybonez at 3:13 AM on April 11, 2009

It really isn't that much more to have someone do it for you. I used irepair.ca.
posted by caddis at 4:45 AM on April 11, 2009

Did it to a 3G (Photo) no problem, worked great. Just followed instructions online, didn't bother with video.
posted by defcom1 at 6:16 AM on April 11, 2009

The process is pretty straightforward. I'd just look up reviews to make sure it's a good-quality battery.

The hardest part of replacing the batteries is just getting the iPod open--do-able, and my battery came with a little kit that included a plastic prying tool to open the iPod. Even then, getting the case open took some serious effort.
posted by davidnc at 6:29 AM on April 11, 2009

I did it with a 3G, didn't have any troubles.
posted by craven_morhead at 6:48 AM on April 11, 2009

I've replaced the batteries in two ipods... not hard at all. Just make sure you thoroughly read the directions prior to beginning.
posted by All.star at 7:26 AM on April 11, 2009

Response by poster: great, thanks everybody.
posted by wayofthedodo at 9:24 AM on April 11, 2009

Just did it with my 4G, but the ribbon connector between the headphone jack/hold switch and the main board broke, so I'm in the market for a new DAP and have an iPod which is good for use as a portable hard drive and not much else. I might have pulled too hard; there's always a chance this type of operation will fail, even if you're reasonably handy.

I used the battery/kit for DealExtreme. Also, be advised you might need a T6 Torx screwdriver, which sometimes doesn't come with the kit.
posted by JMOZ at 10:20 AM on April 11, 2009 [1 favorite]