Recent Fixes - i Sick Bay - All iPods repaired! call 1-877-476-3776 - Repairs for Dennis Azevedo from Olympia, Washington, Rick Kalika from Morrimark, New Hampshire, Jim Pearce from Hacienda Heights, California and Amkar in Oakland, California

Dennis Azevedo from Olympia, Washington called one day and we chatted for a few minutes while I tried to analyze what may have been wrong with his Nano 2nd Gen iPod. Here was the summary he sent along with it when it arrived.

"I spoke with you on the phone yesterday evening. I have a 2nd generation Nano that died and won't turn back on. The screen is totally black. I had it in my pocket for about 6 hours and when I took it out it was dead. I've never used anything other than the USB charger it came with. I've tried rebooting my computer but it still doesn't even recognize it when I plug the ipod in. Can you help me?"

I used my normal set of "iPod Whisperer" tricks and was able to get it working faithfully for him.

The total cost was my normal $40 labor fee (which included the return shipping back to him).

Fixed - Total cost $40.

Rick Kalika sent his iPod in from Morrimark, New Hampshire

with a set of circumstances that I see frequently but in this case it yielded a very different result in terms of expense. He said his scroll wheel stopped working and when I hear this it is always from water migrating through the scroll wheel area on the video iPod and depositing in the upper right quadrant of the front side of the logic board where corrosion sets in a destroys the circuits associated with scroll wheel control. This usually means a $90 logic board plus $40 labor.

When I opened his up there was no evidence of water damage anywhere as I continued to tear it down to find the problem. Ultimately I discovered the application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that drives the data to the logic board *on* the scroll wheel had failed for no apparent reason.

I've never witnessed this before, but it was a lucky break for Rick. The scroll wheel was $22 and the labor (including return shipping was) was $40 for a total of $62.

Notice in the photo that I have used the new scroll wheel and "scrolled" down the list on the songs menu. Rick got his iPod back working with all of original songs on it.

Fixed - Total cost $62.

Jim Pearce sent his son's video iPod from Hacienda Heights, California. This one was a bit unusual. He wrote "It belongs to my son who takes excellent care of it. Everything works EXCEPT for the sound. You can give it a slight "tap" and you will begin to hear it play, and it's fine until you move is again. Please check it out and let us know what you find."

I found there was some flaw in the logic board that had damaged the power amplifying aspects. It wasn't in the headphone jack at all.

The logic board was $90 and labor (with return shipping was $40 for total of $130.

Fixed - Total cost $130.

Amkar lives in Oakland, Calif

and was getting a crackling sound through his headphones on his Photo iPod. He sent it in and because of the time frame included a signed check for me to fill in when I had determined the problem and contacted him with the amount.

I took his iPod apart and there was minor water damage, but the source of the problem was that a few parts on the logic board had been knocked loose and were completely gone. I noticed the battery had been replaced in it, and realized that these had been torn away by opening the iPod in-correctly when they went in to replace the battery. I called and explained what I had noticed and the logic board would have to be replaced. He then mentioned the problem started right after the battery had been replaced.

The logic board was $55 and labor was $40 but he got back a perfect operating Photo iPod with all his music and photos on it.

Fixed - Total cost $95.

I'm in Sonoma County... Northern California wine country.

If you live nearby, are traveling through or live in the San Francisco Bay Area bring your iPod to me and I can do the work while you wait or go wine tasting for a while. Send me an email just to make sure I have on hand whatever parts your repair will require.

Call or email me with questions or to set up a repair. You can also call, I am here most days from 8am to 8pm
Toll Free 1-877-476-3776 (1 - 877 - 476-3776)

Send the device to:

Methods of payment

Back to Top

Contact | About Me |Site Map | Links | Home