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These are a few my recent iPod repair experiences.
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Joe Kastella sent his 5th Generation video iPod in from over the hill in Napa, California.
He wasn't exactly sure what the problem was but had a hunch or two.
It arrived here and I played detective ultimately leading to the answer to the mystery. It had a failed logic board which wa the result using the iPod in an 'iHome' style of device that is supposed to step down the 117 volt wall voltage to the 5 volts the iPod can handle.
When the 'iHome' style device failed it threw 117 volts at 20 amps into the little iPod that was expecting 5 volts at 500mah of current and cooked the logic board.
This stereo systems that plug into the wall... none have output fuses.. so when they fail they take the iPod with them... and because they charge the battery continually, they overcharge the most of the time they are in use severely shortening the battery life capacity.
The logic board was $90 and labor/return shipping was $40
Fixed - Total cost..$130.
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Sue Urmann lives a few miles north of here in Windsor, California.
Her daughter dropped her Black 5th Gen video iPod with real force and it basically detonated on the floor coming completely apart when and flying in all directions.
She called me with the problem and explained her daughter had already bought another iPod believing the shattered one was toast but was there a chance I could look at it and "put Humpty Dumpty back together again"?
She came by the next day and we analyzed it together. It was missing the rubber bumpers that protect the voltage loops. It was missing the hard drive ribbon connector, and it was missing the entire cinch down assembly on the logic board that retains the battery connection. It's hard drive was destroyed.
The first question was would I be able to to restore the logic boards battery cinch down clamp. This would be tricky but if I could do it, then everything else would be unnecessary. I was able to replace that part.
The next step was to determine if the logic board worked using what would be its replacement hard drive if I were able to so I got a drive ribbon connector and a drive out to try it. I got the working and the logic board worked too.
At this point I noticed the chrome backplate was thrashed and realized that for Sue to get her best experience out of iPod ownership she needed it to look enough to have pride in. I replaced the backplate with one I had here that really good.
I only charged her for the hard drive which was $60 and labor which was $40. All the rest of the parts "I contributed" to her iPod resurrection project so she could learn what everyone else is talking about and have a good first hand experience herself.
Fixed - Total cost $100.
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Here's one that didn't make it home alive...
Leonard Wilson sent his 8GB iPod Nano 3rd Generation in from Fremont, California. It was another case of the iPod going through the clothes washing machine. I have been 5 others of these this week that were all water immersion cases and I was able to get all of them working. Three of those five required a replacement LCD screen to work again, but the owners got their iPod back with their music on it for not more than $73 and two of them for just $40.
Leonard wasn't so lucky. His did require a replacement LCD screen to work but it had a logic board problem and the device wouldn't accept data in through the scroll wheel port so there would never be a way to control it and use it portably.
I called and gave him a couple of scenarios where it could still be used. One way it could be used as the basis of car stereo sound source. In my car I have a Nano 1st Gen that I use instead of a "CD deck" using the Monster iCruze system. It could also be used as a sound source for an 'iHome' type of device where the control of the iPod occurs using a remote control to select songs.
In both of those applications the state of the battery isn't an issue either because they draw power from the wall outlet or car electrical while in use.
Leonard wasn't interested in getting it fixed to the state where it would in those applications but he did let me buy it for $20
He received a refund of $20 on the $40 he sent in to get it repaired.
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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-IPOD-PRO (1 - 877 - 476-3776)
Send the device to:
Frank Walburg
2145 Service Court
Santa Rosa, Ca 95403-3139
Methods of payment
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