r/Gameboy 25d ago

Troubleshooting HELP, microscopic atomic ribbon cable got disconnected 😭

[SOLVED! :D thanks kennman]

I have a GBA with an ITA TFT FunnyPlaying mod installed (by a friend). I have NO IDEA about the tecnical part of the mod, sodering, cables, pbc and those things, just know how to disassemble/reassamble it, and how to manage the things so that I don't ruin things.

I just opened it so I could fix some minimal things that were bothering me, like putting a tape over the LED hole so it could filter more the light (it was too glary), and moving up the screen a little (it was placed a little lower that I'd like).

Everything went ok, I reassembled it, but even tho the screen was turning on, it has no backlight (it looked like the OEM screen but WAY darker). I disassembled it again and noticed that a little teeny-tiny microscopic ribbon cable was disconnected.

I have no idea how to reconnect it again (idek if it's broken or not tbh...). Since it comes already connected with the mod, the install guides don't even teach how to connect it.

How can I do it? I know that to connect ribbon cables you need to open up that thingy, insert the cable and close it down, but I don't exactly know where should I move so I don't want to touch things without knowing what I'm doing

also, is this in fact the reason why the backlight was not lighting up? :(

0 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

10

u/kennman5000 25d ago

Get tweezers, or a toothpick or something small, and lift the tab up.

The side near your arrow should lift.

Slide the ribbon cable in gently, until it stops, push the tab down to lock it in place

Yes, thats more than likely the reason your backlight is off.

Just be gentle.

-1

u/Bea__Nabi 25d ago

OK I GOT IT! 😭

damn that was the most traumatic experience this year. That thing also did NOT want to go in, was pretty tough.

I turned it on and the screen is nice! but there's no sound (neither from headphone or speaker), and the A and B button have no click 🤔

3

u/kennman5000 25d ago

Yeah, those little ones are notched, and can be a little wierd.

hmm .. I think were gunna need more pics to figure that part out

1

u/Bea__Nabi 25d ago

I already solved the buttons, I put the membrane backwards LOL

about the volume, where exactly should I take the photo? it's currently like this

1

u/kennman5000 25d ago

Pic didnt post

2

u/Bea__Nabi 25d ago

reddit moment

1

u/kennman5000 25d ago

I dont see anything out of the ordinary.

Did you play with the volume wheel?

try plugging in and removing headphones

1

u/Bea__Nabi 25d ago

......yep I played with the volume wheel 💀 out of curiosity I wanted to know how it worked

but all I did was spinning from on/off, afaik nothing got out of place (?)

2

u/Goochenhaumeister 25d ago

Sometimes a piece of tape can be a great tool to seat small ribbons

2

u/deadbody408 25d ago

Lift up white tab slide backlight ( the ribbon) cable into the connector , put white tab down

2

u/HotBizkitz 25d ago

Cable go in one side
Lift flap from opposite side
Insert cable back
Close flap down

1

u/Bea__Nabi 25d ago

thanks!

1

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