Fix Your iPod Jack

The iPod Audio jack, which is obviously the most important part of the iPod, can be easily damaged by tugging on the headphones in a certain direction. This problem is common with surround sound earphones. This method will quickly and easily fix the problem, with only a couple of drawbacks.

NOTE: This method is pretty risky and voids your warranty (of course), if you're planning to void your warranty, then proceed

EXTRA NOTE: Though this methods works for many 4th or 5th generation regular iPods, it has not been tested yet for the iPod Nano or the iPod Shuffle.

Steps

  1. Make sure that the problem originates with the iPod. Try alternate headphones to determine that the problem is not attributable to the headphones themselves. Check to ensure that no lint or foreign material has collected in the audio jack, (which is quite common). If this is the case, remove it with the plastic part of a cotton bud.
  2. Take a small screwdriver (or something similar, like a rough credit card or staples) and slowly crack open the case. If you open it too fast, you may open up the front as well, and you'll have slight difficulty putting it back together) Important note: Open it extremely slowly and do not touch the copper wire, as ripping out the copper wire will eliminate your hold function as well as eliminating all sound from your iPod.
  3. Remove the glue strings if necessary. When you first open the iPod, you'll notice little clear strings. This is glue. It is safe to move these out of the way.
  4. Use something small (your screwdriver, pencil, etc.) with the iPod case open, and push the little silver box at the top right (the headphone jack). First, push it in, then slowly push it to the left and to the right until you hear sound.
  5. Apply force slowly once you've found the direction to go. Keep applying force until the jack works without excess pressure.
  6. Close the case and enjoy.
  7. Finished.



Tips

  • It's possible that if you push on the silver box that may fix rather than side to side.
  • If you accidentally pull out the copper connector wires for the audio jack and the video screen, it is possible to plug them back into the ports where they belong. This is not an easy task, but it is possible to reconnect them if you have the right tools...specifically, small ones!

Warnings

  • This procedure may eliminate one small but unimportant feature. When the headphones are removed, the iPod is programmed to instantly pause all playing data. After you have performed the repair with this method, the iPod may no longer perform this function.
  • Using this method will void your warranty.
  • use FLAT non-metallic objects to open IPOD backing pans. Try stiffer Guitar picks (yes, plural): a group of 2 to 4 picks will eliminate rear pan damage.
  • Do not pull the copper wires. One of them controls video and the other controls the audio/hold button.
  • Research iPod opening tool kits. Find flat/wide/thin/strong prying tools if possible; screwdrivers tend to be too narrow and damage the rear chrome pan of the iPod with pry-marks. Apple Chrome backing pans are made from thin material and very easy to damage unless *wide* tools are used. Search the Internet for pictures of opened iPod Classic or Video cases to match your iPod first.
  • If you do this with a screwdriver there is a possibility that you may ruin your screen!

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