Changing a battery in an ipod 5th Generation

[PinkFloyd]

Anybody tried this? I've had my 5th generation ipod for about 5 years now and the battery seemed to be ok but I thought I may as well slap a new one in as you can get 650mA ones now for under a fiver shipped.

The entire process took me about 10 minutes.... new battery is taking a charge now.... I will report back if it performs any better than the original 5 year old battery.

[elysion]

A couple of Swiss nano-/micro-technology and electronics students are running their own business with iPod repairs and battery replacements.

www.macianer.com/

They're also doing some of the things that Apple doesn't. They're offering battery refeshments for instance as an alternative to the replacement of the battery. I had no need for their service till now, but their reputation in Switzerland is rather good.

I'm sure they can handle questions in English as well, although their website is in German and French.

[elysion]

There's also an inofficial iPod repair service in Germany:

www.portatronics.de/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4yVoVZ9QGc

[Deleted]

Mike,

How do you get in there?

[PinkFloyd]

May 15, 2010 10:18:25 GMT @iancraig10 said:

Mike,

How do you get in there?

Piece of cake Ian..... most replacement batteries come with plastic levers... all you do is work the levers into the sides of the ipod (where top meets bottom) and crack her open.... it's actually easier done than said.... quite a few videos on it over at U tube

[mrarroyo]

Hi Mike, I recently did it on an 80 Gb iPod generation 5.5 with no problem. The hardest part was opening the unit and making sure none of the cables were destroyed. I have the instructions on an electronic file if you need them.

BTW, if yours is an 80 Gb you could also swap the drive for a 240 Gb unit which sells with an 850 mAh battery and instruction kit for about $180 USD. I love been able to carry so much music with me specially on extended trips.

Cheers.

[clausdk]

There is also the possibily to use a flashcard instead of a HD, that woul be cool, faster and longer batterylife

[elysion]

www.ifixit.com/

iFixit has a lot of DIY repair manuals online. They feature manuals for most iPods, iPhones and Macs.

The manuals are well documented with lots of pictures.

[Deleted]

Piece of cake Ian..... most replacement batteries come with plastic levers... all you do is work the levers into the sides of the ipod (where top meets bottom) and crack her open.... it's actually easier done than said.... quite a few videos on it over at U tube

Yer right!!

I would advise anybody very strongly not to try and and separate the two halves of the casing on the later gen 5 models and gen 6 classic iPods. It is impossible to split the casing without damaging the casing or lcd display screen, those plastic open tools wont look at it, it is not designed to be opened, regardless of what all the websites and the magicians on YouTube try to show you.

Mick.

[PinkFloyd]

Mick,

I have a 5th generation ipod 30GB video. It is a piece of cake yo open it up with the plastic lever supplied with the replacement battery.... you want me to open it again and take a photo?!

You start at a corner, you push the lever into the corner and as soon as it gets between the joint you start prising.... you gradually prise your way around the entire ipod and she pulls apart EASILY.

Unless you are extremely cack handed, or using a "metal" implement to open it then you will do ZERO damage to either the front or the rear.

I've actually opened mine up three times now as two of the replacement batteries (the 650mA ones were CRAP)..... The standard replacement battery seems to last a lot longer than the higher capacity ones (maybe I was just unlucky with a bad batch).... whatever, I can ASSURE you that it is SIMPLE to open a 30GB 5th generation ipod without destroying it or marking it in any way.

Mike.

[Deleted]

Yours is obviously built different to mine Mike, mine is one of the last gen5 80 gb which has one way retaining clips inside, bit like Pikes teeth, goes in easy wont come out, spoke to a guy who repairs them today, his answer was " oh you have one of the later metal body models, there a bast""d they are, usually end up fitting new covers on them", if anybody wants a go, fine, just passing on my experience of trying to open mine, got through 4 of those plastic wedge tools, just trying to get between back and front casing, following the ifixit guide.

[mrarroyo]

I just opened mine to replace the battery and hard drive, mine started life as a Gen 5.5 w/ an 80 Gb HD. No major problem.

[Deleted]

I am obviously totally inept at iPod repair then, hope i am doing a better job on the missile parts that i manufacture!!

[freddypipsqueek]

Lucky you gave up brain surgery for rocket science then !!!