Apple iPod 3rd Generation Take Apart Repair Manual
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.
Any portion of this manual may not be copied, reproduced, or distributed without theexpress written consent of Powerbookmedic.com. Violators will be prosecuted.
This manual is presented as a guide in order to help you repair problems on your iPodWorking on an iPod can be dangerous if not done properly. We at Powerbookmedic.com
take no responsibility for any damage or harm done to yourself or your iPod as a resultof reading this guide.
Suggestions for making this manual better? Email: sales@powerbookmedic.com

Tools Needed for Take Apart:
Torx T6 Screwdriver (available from PowerbookMedic.com)
Philips head screwdriver (size #00, available from PowerbookMedic.com)
Flat pry tool (such as a black nylon tool available from our store)

Page 1 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents
Top Case Removal………………...…………….………………...………....pg. 3
Headphone Jack Board Removal..……………………………..…………….pg. 5
Hard Drive Removal…………………………………..……………..………pg. 8
Hard Drive Cable Removal……..……..……………………….………….....pg. 9
Logic Board Removal…………………………………..…….………………pg. 10
Battery Removal…………………………………….……………..….…......pg 12
LCD Removal………………………………………..…….……………….…pg. 13
TouchWheel Cable Removal…………………………..…….…………….…pg. 14

Page 2 of 15Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

Top Case Removal
Begin by using a flat tool to separate the white plastic front case from the silver backcase. You will need to stick your flat tool into the crevice, work it down into the crevice,and then pry up so that the casing separates. Apply enough pressure so that your flat tool
does not slip and scratch your iPod!

Continue separating the casing by gently prying up all the way around the unit. It should
be much easier to pry the casing apart after you get the initial corner started.

Page 3 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

With the casing separated, grasp the top half (the part with the front bezel) and flip it overas shown. Note that there is an orange cable in the top left corner that connects the iPod
logic board to the headphone ports. Use your flat tool to gently pry the cable up and outof its connector as shown in the second picture.

Page 4 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

Headphone Jack Board Removal
Before proceeding, you must remove the top case.
There are three Philips head size #00 screws holding the headphone port in place at thelocations shown in the pictures below. Remove these three screws.

Page 5 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

Gently pull the orange cable away from the case as shown in the picture below to free itfrom the light adhesive holding it in place.

Use your flat tool to pry the headphone port towards you. It should come free easily.

Page 6 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

Pull the headphone port out of the iPod. You may have to pull a little around the orange
foil shield to release it from its adhesive backing.

Page 7 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

Hard Drive Removal
Before proceeding, you must remove the top case.
Hold the hard drive up as shown, and using your finger or flat tool gently pry up the harddrive connector from the main board.

.

Page 8 of 15Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

Hard Drive Cable Removal
Before proceeding, remove the hard drive.
To remove the hard drive cable, hold the drive as shown. Flip back the front blue plastic
shock protector, and grasping it and the cable, pull up. The cable and shock protector
should come out easily.
Next, remove the cable from the shock protector by pulling it off. It is held on with a lightadhesive and some black tape.

Page 9 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

Logic Board Removal
Before proceeding, remove the hard drive
First, disconnect the battery connector by grasping the cable and gently pulling up as
shown to disconnect the cable from the logic board connector.

Remove the 6 black T6 Screws in the locations shown. Note that to reveal the screw inthe top right, you may need to pull back the black shield slightly.

Page 10 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

Next to the battery, you will notice an orange cable, and some black tape partiallycovering that cable. Using your flat tool, push the black tape away from the cable.

Use your flat tool to gently pry up on this cable to release it form its logic board
connector. With the connector released, you will be able to remove the logic board fromthe body of the unit by simply lifting it up.

Page 11 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

Battery Removal
Before proceeding, first remove:
Hard Drive
Logic Board
With the logic board free, the battery should also be free. It may still be connected at thetop by the black strip of adhesive tape. If it is, gently pull on the battery to free it from thetape, and the battery will be easily removed.

Page 12 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

LCD Removal
Before proceeding, first remove:
Hard Drive
Battery
Logic Board
To remove the LCD, first reach into the front panel and left the LCD up. Then flip it backtowards you.

Use your flat tool to get underneath the cable and gently pull up. The connector shouldcome free easily and the LCD will be free to be replaced. ** Note – Do not use yourfingers to pull up on the cable as you may damage the display cable!

Page 13 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

TouchWheel Cable Removal
Before proceeding, first remove:
Hard Drive
BatteryLogic Board
To remove the TouchWheel cable, position your flat tool under the cable as shown in thepicture below, and pull up. It should come free easily.

Page 14 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

At Powerbookmedic.com, we strive to make our manuals as accurate as possible. If you
would like to see something in this manual or would like to see something improved inthis manual, please email us at: sales@powerbookmedic.com
For all of your Powerbook & iBook parts and repair needs, visit us at:

Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.

Page 15 of 15
Copyright © 2006 Powerbookmedic.com. All rights reserved.