iPod Classic 6th Gen (A1238)

iPod Classic 6th Generation Parts and Repair

iPod Classic 6th Gen parts and mail-in repair for model A1238: the 2007 thin 80GB and thick 160GB, and the Late 2008 thin 120GB. Every part is priced alone with a free pry tool, or installed by mail. Pick a part below, or start from the symptom.

Released
2007-2008
Model number
A1238
Original storage
80GB, 120GB, 160GB
Flash mod
128GB
Is this my iPod?

Metal front, not plastic. A 120GB is always a 6G. A 160GB that measures 0.53 in thick is the 2007 6G; a 160GB at 0.41 in is the 7G. Identify your iPod · iPod Classic 7th Gen parts · Plastic front? iPod Video 5th Gen parts

Popular repairs for the iPod Classic 6th Gen

  • You Fix It: We ship the part to you with a free pry tool and 1-year limited warranty.

  • We Fix It: Mail us your iPod and we will install the part, test it, and ship it back with a 1-year limited warranty.

  • Not sure what's wrong? Start your free diagnostic

Plastic front? That is an iPod Video 5th Gen. Find Video parts

All parts for the iPod Classic 6th Gen

37 parts and repairs

Which case does your iPod Classic have?

Not sure? The capacity is printed on the back. Identify your iPod

A thin 160GB (Late 2009, MC293LL/A or MC297LL/A) is a 7th Gen and takes thin parts. See iPod Classic 7th Gen parts.

Flash mod service (1)

With flash storage, 128GB is the most Apple's software sees on this model.

Batteries (2)

Screens (1)

Hard drives (3)

Click wheels (3)

Center buttons (4)

Headphone jacks (2)

Silent on headphones and on a dock or car stereo too? That points to the logic board's audio, not the jack. Get your free repair quote.

Logic boards (2)

The 2007 board (80GB/160GB) and the Late 2008 board (120GB) swap both ways and run both the thin 80GB and the thick 160GB drive. The Late 2009 160GB carries the same 820-2437-A number but takes its own board on the 7th Gen parts page.

Faceplates (3)

Backplates (6)

Bezels (3)

More parts (7)

Refurbished iPod Classic 6th Gen (7)

Refurbished iPod Classic 6th Gen for sale

Cleaned, fitted with a brand new battery and fully tested by us. 1-year limited warranty and 30-day returns.

Good to know about the iPod Classic 6th Gen

Thin or thick?Match the case. The 80GB and 120GB are the thin case; only the 2007 160GB is thick. A thin Late 2009 160GB is a 7th Gen. Batteries, drives, drive cables, headphone flexes, backplates, insulators and dock bezels differ; the click wheel does not.
Will I lose my music?Only a hard drive or flash storage repair replaces the drive, so the music on it does not carry over on its own; back up your library first. Other repairs leave your music and data alone.

Repair guides

All iPod problems The iPod Classic 6th/7th Gen guide

Parts that differ between the thin and thick cases

Parts that differ between the thin and thick iPod Classic 6th Gen cases
PartThin case: 80GB or 120GBThick case: 160GB (2007)
Batterythin cellthick cell
Hard drive80GB or 120GB, 5 mm160GB, 8 mm CE-ATA
Drive cablethin ZIF cable, Toshiba-drive familythick CE-ATA cable
Drive insulatorsthin setthick set
Headphone jack and Hold flexthinthick, longer flex
Backplate0.41 inch0.53 inch
Dock bezelthin 10.5 mmthick 13.5 mm

Putting the 8 mm 160GB drive in a thin 80GB or 120GB? You also need the thick backplate, battery, drive cable, insulators, the longer headphone flex and a thick (13.5 mm) dock bezel. Contact us before ordering a conversion. A flash mod uses the thin ZIF cable, even in the thick case.

The iPod Classic 6th Gen at a glance

ModelA1238
SoldSeptember 2007 to September 2009
Versions2007: thin 80GB and thick 160GB; Late 2008: thin 120GB
ThicknessThin case 0.41 inch, thick case 0.53 inch
ConnectionSyncs over USB; FireWire charges only
Order numbersMB029LL/A, MB147LL/A, MB145LL/A, MB150LL/A, MB562LL/A, MB565LL/A
About the iPod Classic 6th Generation

Before you fix it

Which version do I need?

Match the case. The 80GB and 120GB are the thin case; only the 2007 160GB is thick. A thin Late 2009 160GB is a 7th Gen. Batteries, drives, drive cables, headphone flexes, backplates, insulators and dock bezels differ; the click wheel does not.

Is it an iPod Classic or an iPod Video?

Look at the front. The iPod Classic has a metal front and reads A1238; the iPod Video 5th Gen has a plastic front and reads A1136. Screens, click wheels and boards do not cross between them. Video owners, see iPod Video parts.

Why does my iPod show a red X?

It cannot read its drive: the red X almost always means the hard drive (the cable can cause it, much less often). Right after a drive or flash install, it is commonly the drive cable's latch left open or the flash adapter fitted upside down. The 80GB drive page walks through the checks, or we test it free.

Will I lose my music?

Only a hard drive or flash storage repair replaces the drive, so the music on it does not carry over on its own; back up your library first, or add our music transfer ($149) to a flash mod. If the iPod still shows up on your computer, copy off anything you want to keep first. Other repairs leave your music and data alone.

Can I upgrade the storage?

Yes, with our flash mod service: silent SD storage in place of the drive, 128GB, which is the most Apple's software sees on this model. An 8 mm drive in a thin case needs the thick back, battery, drive cable, insulators, headphone flex and dock bezel.

Can you install it for me?

Yes. Choose Installed on any part, mail us your iPod, and we install the part, test it and ship it back by USPS with tracking. Installation is priced on each part's page. Most repairs are finished within 1 to 3 business days after you approve the quote.

Can you fix a worn charging port?

On the iPod Classic the 30-pin port is soldered to the logic board. Try another cable in a port on the computer itself, and clean the pins gently. The charging port is part of the logic board, so we fix a damaged port by replacing the whole board: rather than solder on an inferior aftermarket port, we fit an original Apple logic board to ensure the highest quality repair.

Is my iPod worth repairing?

Send it in for a free diagnostic: we test it and email you a repair quote. If you don't like our price, we will ship your iPod back at our expense.

Rather we fix it?

Mail us your iPod and we will test it and send you a free repair quote. If you don't like our price, we will ship your iPod back at our expense.

  1. Order the free diagnostic

    Choose your iPod. Add our shipping box and prepaid label if you need one.

  2. Mail us your iPod

    Pack it with your work order. No printer? Put a note in the box with your name, return address, email, order number and what is wrong.

  3. Approve your quote

    We test it and email your free repair quote. Most repairs are finished within 1 to 3 business days after you approve the quote.

Get your free repair quote