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For the iPod 3rd GenModel A1040
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iPod 3rd Gen battery replacement guide ›iPod 3G — Replacement Battery (All Capacities)
For the iPod 3rd Gen
New · Model A1040
$16.95
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- Condition: new replacement part
- 1-year limited warranty · 30-day returns from delivery
- Free pry tool in the box
- Completed repairs aren't refundable. If a part we fitted fails within a year, we repair it again.
Questions about this part? Chat with us or email sales@imods.com.
Not sure what's wrong? Get your free repair quotePart details
About this part
Overview
Replacement rechargeable battery for iPod 3G 10GB, 15GB, 20GB, 30GB, and 40GB models. Use it for poor runtime, swelling, or power loss after FireWire power checks, while remembering that bad storage or board faults can imitate battery trouble.
Fitment snapshot
What Is Included
A swollen battery is worn out and no longer safe: stop charging it and replace it.
What this part might fix
Help pages, step by step, for problems this part might fix:
Most likely fixed by this part
Can also be the cause
- Won't turn on: worn-out or empty battery
- Got wet: battery damaged by water
- Keeps turning off: worn-out battery
- Stuck on Apple logo: battery too weak to spin up the hard drive
- Overheating: failing battery
- Clicking noise: battery too weak to spin up the hard drive
- Skipping songs: battery too weak to spin up the hard drive
- Black screen: worn-out or empty battery
- Not working after a repair: the new battery itself
Fit and specs
Specifications & Fitment
Part Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Number | A1040 |
| EMC | EMC 1961 |
| Condition | New replacement battery |
| Capacity | Matches or slightly exceeds the original capacity |
| Chemistry | Li-Ion |
| Voltage (Nominal) | 3.7V |
| Connector | Wired plug-in |
| Soldering Required | No |
| Battery identifiers |
616-0159 — Apple’s own number for the original pack. E225846 is a marking that appears on replacement cells sold for this model; it is not an Apple part number, so match a replacement on fit and connector rather than on that code. |
Compatible Variants
| Order Number | Capacity | Color | Case | Compatible | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M8976LL/A | 10GB | White | thin | Yes | — |
| M8946LL/A | 15GB | White | thin | Yes | — |
| M9460LL/A | 15GB | White | thin | Yes | — |
| M9244LL/A | 20GB | White | thin | Yes | — |
| M8948LL/A | 30GB | White | thick | Yes | — |
| M9245LL/A | 40GB | White | thick | Yes | — |
Install and repair
Step-by-step guide
iPod 3rd Gen battery replacement
Tools: Plastic opening tools (two), Plastic spudger, T6 Torx screwdriver (optional), Anti-static wrist strap or mat, Soft cloth, FireWire charger
- Unplug it, switch it off, lock itUnplug any cable, then switch the iPod off: press and hold Play/Pause. Slide the Hold switch to locked, so the orange shows, and lay it face up on the cloth.
- Free the clipsAngle a plastic opening tool toward the steel back and work it into the seam near the middle of one long side. Release the clips from the middle toward each end, then along the other long side, then the two on the bottom edge. Our opening guide shows each move in detail.
Install Overview
Rather not open it? Choose We Fix It above: mail your iPod in and we fit it. Turnaround is typically 1–3 business days on our bench. 1-year limited warranty.
Before You Start
Stop charging and avoid puncturing, bending, or compressing the cell if the battery is swollen, hot, leaking, or visibly damaged.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to solder?
No, this installation does not require soldering. Difficulty: Moderate. Estimated time: 45 minutes.
How do I know if this battery needs replacement?
Symptoms that can point to this battery include: Won't Charge, Battery Drain, Won't Turn On.
What first checks matter when an iPod 3rd Generation has battery or power symptoms?
Start with FireWire power: if it starts on the FireWire charger but dies unplugged, the battery is the likely cause; if it is dead even on a known-good FireWire charger and cable, the logic board is more likely. The 3rd Generation uses a 3.7 V lithium-ion battery and charges only from FireWire power through the 30-pin dock connector; USB syncs it but does not charge it. For Very Low Battery, Apple-logo loops, or no power after a repair: charge it on the FireWire charger and reseat the battery connector.
Can storage trouble look like a bad battery?
Yes. A clicking hard drive, a sad face or a restore that fails points to the hard drive, not the battery: hold the iPod to your ear for unusual clicking and run the drive scan in Diagnostic Mode.
What should I check before replacing this battery?
Inspect the battery connector and nearby ribbon cables before ordering another battery. Look for corrosion, torn flex material, or a connector that no longer clamps the battery lead cleanly. This battery helps only when the battery itself remains the isolated failure after seating checks. Check disturbed connectors first when the symptom appeared immediately after service.
Is this an iPod Classic?
Apple's 'Classic' branding started with the 6th Generation (2007). This is the iPod 3rd Generation (2003), model A1040. Apple's official name for this model is iPod (Dock Connector).
What if the replacement battery is too large?
The original pack was the same size in every capacity: one cell served the thin 10/15/20GB case and the thick 30/40GB case alike, because the extra depth of the thick case is hard drive, not battery. Our replacement battery matches or slightly exceeds the original capacity and fits both cases. Larger extended cells are sold for this model, but their fit is not verified — if the case will not close easily, or the battery cable has to be forced, stop and check the pack's dimensions and cable routing rather than pressing the shell shut on a lithium cell.
When is it unsafe to keep charging this iPod?
Stop immediately if the iPod smells burnt, the dock area looks melted, the battery is hot, swollen, or leaking, or liquid exposure is involved. Disconnect power, do not charge again, and inspect the battery, dock connector, and charging circuit before any further troubleshooting. A damaged lithium battery is a safety problem first and a repair question second.
Free diagnostic
Broken iPod? We can help.
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.
How mail-in repair works
Order the free diagnostic
Choose your iPod. Add our shipping box and prepaid label if you need one.
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.
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.