iPod Video 5G — New Custom Thick Backplate

Before opening the iPod, confirm that the hold switch is locked. With the iPod screen-side down and facing you, the slider should sit all the way to the right.

Do not get discouraged if the iPod takes several opening attempts; work slowly until the case releases. Release the first bottom retainer clip with the plastic opening tool. Point the tool edge toward the metal rear case to avoid scratching the plastic front.

Use these retaining clip locations: four along each side, one on top, and two along the bottom. This helps avoid frustration and reduces the chance of scratching the plastic cover.

Each side of the iPod has four retaining clips. Use a plastic opening tool to separate the plastic front from the metal rear case. Slide the plastic opening tool into the iPod's left side with the tool edge pointed toward the metal rear case. A small guitar pick can help with opening. Place it in the seam and slide it around the case to release the clips more smoothly. Gently enlarge the existing crevice by wiggling the plastic opening tool and moving it to the left. Keep working this way until the entire side of the iPod is loose. Then slide a plastic opening tool to the right of the Hold button. Work very carefully while inserting the tool because the display is fragile.

Gently glide the plastic opening tool on the top of the display, making sure to release the retaining clips. The other sides of the iPod should now release easily. If they do not, work plastic opening tools along the right side the same way you did on the left side. In this step, separate the front of the device from the back about an inch (or a couple of centimeters). The iPod casing is now open, but do not fully separate the two halves yet. Two ribbon cables still connect the back panel to the remaining iPod assembly.

With angled tweezers or a plastic opening tool, slide the brown connector latch upward where it secures the orange battery ribbon cable. Pull from both sides of the latch. Lift it only about 1-2 mm to release the cable; do not lift farther or remove it, or the white connector may come with it. Do not raise the assembly very far; lifting too high could pull the battery connector out of the logic board. Move the brown connector straight upward. It is fragile and can break if shifted to the side. Hooks at the bottom hold the cable in place. If an arm breaks, reinstalling the battery cable becomes difficult; put the cable in the slot and press the brown holder into place to stop the cable from slipping out. Take the cable out of the connector.

At this stage there should be one orange ribbon cable still attaching the front housing to the back. At this stage you are able to take out and replace the blue rubber bumpers, or keep going with separating the case. You can replace the battery without separating the case, but opening it farther can make the work easier. Doing so requires one extra cable removal and adds some damage risk.

Raise the hard drive so the headphone jack ribbon connector is exposed. If the hard drive bumpers come loose, put them back with the notch seated in its original orientation.

With the plastic opening tool, gently raise the brown tab of the headphone ribbon cable connector. The tab can rotate up 90 degrees, releasing the ribbon cable. With your fingers, draw out the headphone jack ribbon cable.

The front and rear case halves should now be fully separated.

During this step, take care not to damage any headphone or battery ribbon cables. Slide a plastic opening tool between the metal case and the battery. Gently wiggle the tool while pressing it farther between the battery and back case. The battery adhesive should give so the battery can be removed from the rear panel.

In this step, be very cautious when performing this step, since the orange ribbon cables can readily be broken. Peel away the tape holding the ribbon cables in place.

Take out the two black Phillips screws that are holding the headphone jack to the lower casing.

Take out these two screws: Remove the black Phillips screw holding the Hold switch near the corner of the device. Remove the silver Phillips screw securing the other edge of the Hold switch. Reassembly tip: a tiny dab of removable white craft glue on the screwdriver tip can help hold these small screws while you reinstall them.

Raise the Hold switch free of its housing on the rear panel. Move the headphone jack out of its housing on the rear panel. Raise the headphone jack and hold switch assembly out of the iPod. If the goal is replacing the back panel, stop here after removing the Hold switch and headphone jack. The next steps only transfer the plastic Hold switch to a replacement headphone jack.

If the replacement headphone jack includes the white plastic hold switch, reinstall the headphone jack. If it does not, use the next steps to transfer the plastic hold switch to the new headphone jack. Take out the single Phillips screw closest to the hold switch. Adhesive may hold the screw back in place. Raise the plastic part of the Hold switch away from the orange ribbon cable. During switch reassembly, confirm that the black notch lines up with the gray slider.

With the small plastic opening tool, carefully peel up the orange ribbon cable and attached black Hold switch from the metal backing. When attaching the replacement Hold switch, align the two small rear posts on the switch with the two holes in the metal backing.

In this step, you are now able to replace the back panel of the iPod.