Kindle Touch Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Adam Yerly

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

15 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to separate the motherboard from your device.

Use the plastic opening tool to undo the ten plastic clips around the back panel of the Kindle.

Wear work gloves as the tool can easily slip and stab you in the hand.

There are four tabs on each side.The two nearest the top are open at the top, hence they slide out (back towards the power connector end.

This is important in the reassembly stage:

1. Align the back cover about 0.75 cm away from the top

2. Hold the top half of the cover flat against the unit, and flex the cover away from the case a little at the bottom

3. Slide the top and the first two clips parallel to the case

4. snap the remaining bottom clips in place

Remove the indicated four 2 mm screws with a Phillips #00 screwdriver. (Units with the 3G assembly have Phillips #000 screws.)
Next, gently lift the 3G assembly with a Spudger or your fingers.
This Kindle Touch is the WiFi only model and comes with a plastic placeholder instead of the 3G assembly.
Disconnect the antenna lead by carefully prying it off the 3G board with a plastic tool.

The 3G model has an antenna connector near the top left on the underside.

Using a Phillips #00 screwdriver, remove the six 4 mm screws to access the front plate.

Use the plastic opening tool to pry the bezel from the top and sides
The bottom of the bezel will be glued, so be careful when sliding the clips out.
The clips can be easily bent, so do not try to force them out. If you do bend some, they can be bent back.

Use your Phillips #00 srewdriver to remove the indicated screws.
There are three pairs of screws that are each different. The screws on the top corners are 4 mm #00 Phillips screws, the screws on the bottom corners are 2 mm #00 Phillips screws, and the black bottom center screws are 6 mm #00 Phillips screws.

With the screen facing you, use your heated iOpener or other heating element to loosen the glue holding the WiFi unit to the screen. After 30 seconds, remove the heating element.
After the glue is loosened, use a thin tool, like a Spudger or small plastic opening tool, to separate the WiFi unit from the screen.

With the motherboard facing you, use the pointy end of your Spudger to gently separate the two speaker's connectors.
This connector type requires being lifted out of place, not pulled. Accidentally pulling may damage the wires.
During reassembly, make sure the speaker's connectors are not pushed behind the motherboard.
Use your #00 Phillips Screwdriver to remove the seven 2 mm screws.