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[Solobbos]

My left analogue stick started moving the cursor left after every boot, so I sent it to repair here in Finland. The consoles was bought only 18 months before, so it was still under warranty. The postage was paid by Bergsala (Nintendo representative in Skandinavia) both ways, and I actually got a completely new gamepad back. The screen saver plastic was left on the old 'pad, though.

Still, it cost me nothing and I got a new gamepad and it only took eight work days, so I have to say it was an all around nice experience.

 

[KojiKnight]

How old are your kids?

Mine are 2 and 3 1/4th. Maybe I should lock my control pad away.

The oldest loves making levels in mario maker. I think I've been pretty lucky as they know not to play with my stuff, so far at least!

3 and 6. The oldest has gotten pretty respectful about the controllers, the 3 year old isn't there yet. They both love playing mario maker and pikmin 3. It was the younger who did in the original screen.

 

[Vibed]

Question that I felt didn't deserve a whole new thread. If my Gamepad screen has some cosmetic scratches (suddenly theres lots of rainbow lines, plus regular scratches) but works fine, would I be replacing the digitzer or the LCD screen? I believe there's also dirt stuck between the two inside the screen, despite me never having opened up the screen.

 

[potatohead]

Solution: get new kids.

 

[rackham]

They don't even sell Wii U gamepads right? That sucks man. Good to hear you fixed it. It always feels good when you fix something. I remember the first time I fixed my sister's phone screen following a youtube video. Good times.

 

[Iva Demilcol]

Subscribed just in case something atrocious happen to my WiiU gamepad.

 

[KojiKnight]

Question that I felt didn't deserve a whole new thread. If my Gamepad screen has some cosmetic scratches (suddenly theres lots of rainbow lines, plus regular scratches) but works fine, would I be replacing the digitzer or the LCD screen? I believe there's also dirt stuck between the two inside the screen, despite me never having opened up the screen.

If it's surface level (as regular scratches are) it's the digitizer. But sure about the rainbow scratches you mean.

Again, be careful about replacing the digitizer that you're getting a plastic one like the default one. A glass digitizer isn't nearly as durable, especially in a game console controller


Since the thread got bumped, may as will status report. The light leakage has lessened but is still rather noticeable on all black screens. Everything else is still working as it should, including surviving 2 fresh drink spills... Swear the kids are out for this thing.

 

[Koren]

They don't even sell Wii U gamepads right?

They do, but only in Japan (and only online, I think)

Subscribed just in case something atrocious happen to my WiiU gamepad.

I did the same ^_^

 

[M3d10n]

My DS Phat went through a complete shell replacement (broken hinge due to a bad fall to the ground) and a bottom screen replacement, both using cheap parts ordered online.

 

[KojiKnight]

So...

ilovemykidsilovemykidsilovemykidsilovemykids


*takes a deep breath* Okay... Let's try this... AGAIN.

Since I knew a few people wanted me to post screen shots of the process, I nabbed a couple this time... but not as many as I wanted to do... I tend to get very focused when fixing something and I just plain forgot to take more.

That's how the gamepad looks when you first unscrew her... You can see the 30 day warranty sticker on the last screen I replaced it with just peaking through. To get to the screen, you have to unscrew the main board. Last time I also unhooked both controller boards (one handles the Dpad and left stick, the other the ABXY and the right stick). This time since I knew what I was doing, I only had to unhook the right side because of the NFC chip having a wire in my way.

The most annoying part is unhooking and rehooking up the 6 ribbon cables on the board...

After you have the main board unscrewed and the ribbon cables all unattached, you can lift out the main board and replace the screen (which is held in by a simply bracket and 4 screws). Then the hard part... making sure you don't accidentally pin any of the ribbon cables under anything, and making sure you didn't forget to put the volume slider back on, etc and then sliding all the ribbon cables back into place...

But in the end...

Needless to say... my children are no longer allowed to play using the gamepad... Only wiimotes going forward... At least that still leaves them a lot of play options in most games.


Anyways, instead of buying the exact same screen as last time, I bought this one instead... I did so with trepidation since it only had 3 reviews, but it was a sponsored link and was on the top of the page... and boy am I glad I did. This screen is of noticably better quality than the first one.

Zero light bleed, and the colors are on par with the original. The only thing it doesn't do, is the power save mode on wii U doesn't seem to do anything, but it really is a much nicer screen, and this has the benefit of also being a kit which includes the 2 screw drivers (philips and tri wing) you need to actually perform the repair.

 

[AbandonedTrolley]

So...




ilovemykidsilovemykidsilovemykidsilovemykids


*takes a deep breath* Okay... Let's try this... AGAIN.

Since I knew a few people wanted me to post screen shots of the process, I nabbed a couple this time... but not as many as I wanted to do... I tend to get very focused when fixing something and I just plain forgot to take more.



That's how the gamepad looks when you first unscrew her... You can see the 30 day warranty sticker on the last screen I replaced it with just peaking through. To get to the screen, you have to unscrew the main board. Last time I also unhooked both controller boards (one handles the Dpad and left stick, the other the ABXY and the right stick). This time since I knew what I was doing, I only had to unhook the right side because of the NFC chip having a wire in my way.

The most annoying part is unhooking and rehooking up the 6 ribbon cables on the board...



After you have the main board unscrewed and the ribbon cables all unattached, you can lift out the main board and replace the screen (which is held in by a simply bracket and 4 screws). Then the hard part... making sure you don't accidentally pin any of the ribbon cables under anything, and making sure you didn't forget to put the volume slider back on, etc and then sliding all the ribbon cables back into place...

But in the end...




Needless to say... my children are no longer allowed to play using the gamepad... Only wiimotes going forward... At least that still leaves them a lot of play options in most games.


Anyways, instead of buying the exact same screen as last time, I bought this one instead... I did so with trepidation since it only had 3 reviews, but it was a sponsored link and was on the top of the page... and boy am I glad I did. This screen is of noticably better quality than the first one.

Zero light bleed, and the colors are on par with the original. The only thing it doesn't do, is the power save mode on wii U doesn't seem to do anything, but it really is a much nicer screen, and this has the benefit of also being a kit which includes the 2 screw drivers (philips and tri wing) you need to actually perform the repair.

Sorry to hear that it happened again, makes me wonder if I should buy some screens just in case this ever happens to me. Fortunately my daughter is quite careful when it comes to using the game pad but as we all know, accidents happen sometimes.

 

[Linkstrikesback]

Will keep this thread in mind if I ever damage a gamepad screen, since theyre going to be even rarer going forward...

And to never let any children near my gamepads!

 

[TAFK]

Dude I think you need to sit down with your kids and talk about taking care of electronics because they're fragile...

 

[Neptonic]

I feel like I should stock up on screens and extra batteries just to make sure my Wii U keeps working.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Great thread. Good part price too, compared to what Nintendo charges.

 

[Blam]

So...


ilovemykidsilovemykidsilovemykidsilovemykids


*takes a deep breath* Okay... Let's try this... AGAIN.

Since I knew a few people wanted me to post screen shots of the process, I nabbed a couple this time... but not as many as I wanted to do... I tend to get very focused when fixing something and I just plain forgot to take more.

That's how the gamepad looks when you first unscrew her... You can see the 30 day warranty sticker on the last screen I replaced it with just peaking through. To get to the screen, you have to unscrew the main board. Last time I also unhooked both controller boards (one handles the Dpad and left stick, the other the ABXY and the right stick). This time since I knew what I was doing, I only had to unhook the right side because of the NFC chip having a wire in my way.

The most annoying part is unhooking and rehooking up the 6 ribbon cables on the board...

After you have the main board unscrewed and the ribbon cables all unattached, you can lift out the main board and replace the screen (which is held in by a simply bracket and 4 screws). Then the hard part... making sure you don't accidentally pin any of the ribbon cables under anything, and making sure you didn't forget to put the volume slider back on, etc and then sliding all the ribbon cables back into place...

But in the end...


Needless to say... my children are no longer allowed to play using the gamepad... Only wiimotes going forward... At least that still leaves them a lot of play options in most games.


Anyways, instead of buying the exact same screen as last time, I bought this one instead... I did so with trepidation since it only had 3 reviews, but it was a sponsored link and was on the top of the page... and boy am I glad I did. This screen is of noticably better quality than the first one.

Zero light bleed, and the colors are on par with the original. The only thing it doesn't do, is the power save mode on wii U doesn't seem to do anything, but it really is a much nicer screen, and this has the benefit of also being a kit which includes the 2 screw drivers (philips and tri wing) you need to actually perform the repair.

You should probably hide the gamepad from your kids lol.

Dolphin 2?

With the way CEMU is shaping up you never know.

 

[Miroku129]

And thats why the Gamepad was a god awful stupid idea. I mean, this thing is FOR kids.

 

[mrmickfran]

So...

ilovemykidsilovemykidsilovemykidsilovemykids

lmfao

 

[Donniewahlberg]

Lol I love OP's language over this "Finally", "Inevitable".

 

[andrerobot]

I'm looking forward to your thread on the Switch!

 

[KojiKnight]

I'm looking forward to your thread on the Switch!

Hopefully it'll be a few years at least...

Lol I love OP's language over this "Finally", "Inevitable".

2 young children, and essentially a toy that's hard to replace through official means... It was inevitable.


As for teaching my kids respect for electronics... They really aren't that destructive. I honestly think that first replacement screen may have just been too fragile and of poor quality which meant a slight drop off the couch sealed it's fate.

 

[Claude Augario]

When we were kids my mom made it very clear that if we busted up any of our electronics we were SOL. All our shit still runs flawlessly going back to the 2600.

Now other people's kids, that was a disaster waiting to happen.