DS Hinge Crack questions

ShimSham

So I realize I'm a bit behind the times on this. Most people noticed their DS doing this a long time ago.

Anyway, I just noticed my DS does have a cracked hinge now. I've gotten on Nintendo's DS support website and it offers repair solutions for a ton of problems, except the hinge.

- Is the hinge likely to break all of the way?
- Is Nintendo still doing repairs or replacements?
- If so, do they repair it, or replace it? (I have screen protectors I spent way too much time putting on, I don't want to do that again.)
- Do they charge?
- Any other information?

SirToasty

I've heard that the crack does get bigger. And they should repair or replace it free of charge because it is a manufacturer's defect. I believe they replace it though. I think they do the method where they get your credit card info, ship you the new one and a return label and have you send the old one back, although I can't confirm this. You can transfer your Wi-Fi data that way, which is good.

bruin

Mine has been cracked since a couple months after Lite launch day and it hasn't gotten any worse. Guess I'm lucky.

FunkyWaltDogg

On mine, about a week after I first noticed a small crack, the hinge broke all the way. Mine was replaced, not repaired. I was still under warranty when I sent it back, so I can't say whether they will charge to fix it otherwise (though I'd guess not since it is a manufacturing defect as noted).

If it is under warranty, you probably won't even need to give them a credit card.

Veitsev

I had a small hinge crack and I called them up. They did not charge and they sent me postage. When I got the postage sticker I went to my UPS store and mailed it to them. I think it cost only like $3-5 for a box and stuff. When they got my DS they sent me another one. This one had dead pixels so I sent it back and they got me another. The DS they sent to me was in really good shape. No surface scratches on the outer casing and no scratches on the screens. It looked brand new. It should come with a "stiffer" and sturdier feeling hinge. I would make sure to send it in because people have had their DS split when the crack grew large enough for the whole hinge to break.

ShimSham

Well I guess I'll be calling them as soon as I can, going to try to finish a game first though.

Thanks for all of the info guys.

Bionic Monkey

SirToasty wrote: »

I've heard that the crack does get bigger. And they should repair or replace it free of charge because it is a manufacturer's defect. I believe they replace it though. I think they do the method where they get your credit card info, ship you the new one and a return label and have you send the old one back, although I can't confirm this. You can transfer your Wi-Fi data that way, which is good.

Sometimes it gets worse, sometimes it doesn't. I had my initial DS replaced after the hinge cracked, and a few months later, the replacement had it's hinge crack too. I never bothered replacing it, and it hasn't gotten any worse.

SirToasty

Bionic Monkey wrote: »

SirToasty wrote: »

I've heard that the crack does get bigger. And they should repair or replace it free of charge because it is a manufacturer's defect. I believe they replace it though. I think they do the method where they get your credit card info, ship you the new one and a return label and have you send the old one back, although I can't confirm this. You can transfer your Wi-Fi data that way, which is good.

Sometimes it gets worse, sometimes it doesn't. I had my initial DS replaced after the hinge cracked, and a few months later, the replacement had it's hinge crack too. I never bothered replacing it, and it hasn't gotten any worse.

My Lite hasn't gotten a crack at all. Pretty unlucky for you though. At least it isn't getting bigger.

Daedalus

They'll replace it. I'm on like my fifth DS: two for hinge crack and two for broken shoulder buttons. They also restart your warrantee when they do a repair.

Daemonion

I hear white DS's are more susceptible to cracked hinges. Is this true?

Daedalus

Daemonion wrote: »

I hear white DS's are more susceptible to cracked hinges. Is this true?

US launch DS Lites are more susceptible to cracked hinges. All US lites at launch were white. That's where the rumor comes from.

Bionic Monkey

Daemonion wrote: »

I hear white DS's are more susceptible to cracked hinges. Is this true?

Don't know if they're more susceptible, but all models across all regions can have the hinge crack happen.

Trus

This seems like a good thread to put this in, as its kind of related.

I have an old Phat DS (got it a couple months after launch) with a busted left shoulder button. Would I be better off sending it to Nintendo to repair, and hope of getting it fixed for free or should I just try and fix it myself?

Marlor

Bionic Monkey wrote: »

Sometimes it gets worse, sometimes it doesn't. I had my initial DS replaced after the hinge cracked, and a few months later, the replacement had it's hinge crack too. I never bothered replacing it, and it hasn't gotten any worse.

Some people seem to like opening their DSes up to the "last click" (i.e. 180 degrees). I don't do this, because it just doesn't feel like it's meant to be opened that far.

Perhaps those with the most dramatic hinge-crack issues are those that regularly push their DS to that last click.

Or maybe not. Just a theory.

Bionic Monkey

Marlor wrote: »

Bionic Monkey wrote: »

Sometimes it gets worse, sometimes it doesn't. I had my initial DS replaced after the hinge cracked, and a few months later, the replacement had it's hinge crack too. I never bothered replacing it, and it hasn't gotten any worse.

Some people seem to like opening their DSes up to the "last click" (i.e. 180 degrees). I don't do this, because it just doesn't feel like it's meant to be opened that far.

Perhaps those with the most dramatic hinge-crack issues are those that regularly push their DS to that last click.

Or maybe not. Just a theory.

My wife and I never did that, and we both got the hinge crack. Definately not what causes it.

Marlor

Bionic Monkey wrote: »

Marlor wrote: »

Some people seem to like opening their DSes up to the "last click" (i.e. 180 degrees). I don't do this, because it just doesn't feel like it's meant to be opened that far.

Perhaps those with the most dramatic hinge-crack issues are those that regularly push their DS to that last click.

Or maybe not. Just a theory.

My wife and I never did that, and we both got the hinge crack. Definately not what causes it.

I had a hinge crack on my DS too, so it's certainly not what causes it.

However, I think it may be a factor in the more dramatic hinge crack issues. Those you occasionally see pictures of where the crack has widened massively, or the whole hinge has fallen apart.

I found a hinge crack on my DS within a couple of months of buying it. I then waited eight months before getting it fixed. It didn't get any worse once it had cracked right through, so I'm guessing that the worst hinge-crack problems must be related to people doing something to their DS (like opening it right up 180 degrees).

Lindsay Lohan

Mine did get worse too - even though I never go beyond the click either. It started as that fine crack that you can hardly see in a photo. I called Nintendo, they told me it wouldn't get worse. A few months later and the crack was large enough that if I wasn't a nervous stressed-out idiot that chews his fingernails I could have slipped one into the crack. That's when I had mine replaced.

Marlor

Herby wrote: »

Mine did get worse too - even though I never go beyond the click either. It started as that fine crack that you can hardly see in a photo. I called Nintendo, they told me it wouldn't get worse. A few months later and the crack was large enough that if I wasn't a nervous stressed-out idiot that chews his fingernails I could have slipped one into the crack. That's when I had mine replaced.

Mine widened to about 0.7mm soon after it appeared, but then stayed that wide for the next six months.

I only ended up getting it fixed before the warranty ran out "just in case".

It hasn't re-appeared since then.

Daedalus

Really the way Nintendo's warranty works there's no reason not to get your system fixed whenever it needs it. My DS's warranty ended up effectively three years long because of the way Nintendo resets your warranty anytime you send your system in to be repaired.

Harakhti

I called Nintendo about my out of warranty broken hinged DS. Rep said it'd cost $82 for a fix, or they could give me a refurb'd DS lite for $95. Might as well just buy a new lite for the price .

Lindsay Lohan

Harakhti wrote: »

I called Nintendo about my out of warranty broken hinged DS. Rep said it'd cost $82 for a fix, or they could give me a refurb'd DS lite for $95. Might as well just buy a new lite for the price .

I would have pushed back on that, up to a manager or higher. This is a known manufacturing issue on the first runs of white DS Lites. There is no way I'd accept that from them given they have acknowledged it was their mistake.

Shady3011

Stop scaring me, guys. I want to get another DS Lite, and you guys are not helping.

Marlor

Shady3011 wrote: »

Stop scaring me, guys. I want to get another DS Lite, and you guys are not helping.

It's nothing to worry about. If you treat your DS well, it will be fine... even if it does end up getting a hinge crack.

Shady3011

Marlor wrote: »

Shady3011 wrote: »

Stop scaring me, guys. I want to get another DS Lite, and you guys are not helping.

It's nothing to worry about. If you treat your DS well, it will be fine... even if it does end up getting a hinge crack.

But I'm superficial about stuff like that!

Bionic Monkey

Herby wrote: »

This is a known manufacturing issue on the first runs of white DS Lites.

Actually, it's a problem with all DS lites.

Masume

My black DS Lite developed a crack, which didn't seem to get much larger but since my warranty was about up I sent it in anyways. Longest week of my life about. I recieved a like new one back (Not sure if it was new outright or a new casing) but I found that the top screen has a pixel out. VERY hard to notice, it only shows up on pure black, but still kind of annoying. Still debating if it's worth sending back or not again, I'd have to hoard the misses DS.

Jengo

Well my DS's hinge cracked like 6 months ago and eventually a chunk of the hard plastic came off. So now I can see into the white plastic and inner hinge. It's still held up alright, the top half hasn't popped off or anything so really even if the hinge breaks I don't think it's a big deal. More like a minor inconvinience since it wont lock into place anymore but it's still completely playable.

Unfortunately for me I'm like a year out of warranty now. So word to the wise, if you're still in warranty get it fixed while you can, there isn't much reason not to do it.

Jeffy

Has anyone's Lite hinge downright cracked right off that it is extremely inconvenient to play? Mine has a small crack. I just noticed it after reading this. 80 bucks to have it replaced. What a scam. I got mine day 1. It's not a big deal yet, but if it gets worse, completely unacceptable.

Mangaroo

are there any tips on preventing this? home fixes?

Jeffy

I heard crazy glue always does the trick. I'm not gonna try tho. Sticking to my hands when I play = nono.

SirToasty

If you have a crack at all, you should press to have it repaired for free as the original problem was a manufacturing defect.

Jeffy

I called Nintendo and said I needed to pay the fee for it and I have had mine since day 1.

Akito01

Mangaroo wrote: »

are there any tips on preventing this? home fixes?

I wish I'd invested in one of those clear Armorlite cases you can buy for $10 before I had the accident that let to my own DS' having a cracked hinge (which shortly broke off entirely). Right now, that Armorlite is the only thing holding my DS together -the top of the DS no longer locks into place, which can be a minor hassle from time to time, but is a cheap and effective solution until I can afford to get a proper replacement unit.

Jeffy

Can you give us a link to that? Like to know what it looks like.

Akito01

http://www.joytech.net/images/products/94-1-DS%20Lite_Armorlite%20Case_Large.jpg

Jengo

That looks quite nifty, good find.

Deaderinred

wow.. am i the only one here to still have a launch day black lite and have none of this cracking business? not even my phat ds had any problems (cept some marks on the touch screen) i had that from launch day too, i play my ds lite nearly every day and used to carry it around in my bag with me to work and stuff.. either im really really lucky here or i just luck after my shit better i have no idea.

just so i can figure out how this is happening, are you guys unfolding the top screen ALL the way back? or just to the first "click" ? ive always just left it at the first click but i notice it can go further but i never bothered with that since the first click position is fine.

maximumzero

I love that people still think that's it's only a problem with launch DSes, and only in white.

Anywho, my issue is that I got mine replaced but when I log in to my nintendo I can't re-register the new one because all it says is "THANKS FOR REGISTERING YOUR DS LITE!"

Bionic Monkey

Deaderinred wrote: »

wow.. am i the only one here to still have a launch day black lite and have none of this cracking business? not even my phat ds had any problems (cept some marks on the touch screen) i had that from launch day too, i play my ds lite nearly every day and used to carry it around in my bag with me to work and stuff.. either im really really lucky here or i just luck after my shit better i have no idea.

just so i can figure out how this is happening, are you guys unfolding the top screen ALL the way back? or just to the first "click" ? ive always just left it at the first click but i notice it can go further but i never bothered with that since the first click position is fine.

*sigh*

Folding it all the way back has no bearing on the hinge crack. The color of the DS has no bearing on the hinge crack. The region of the DS has no bearing on the hinge crack.

The hinge crack is not user abuse, it is a manufacturing defect.

MHYoshimitzu

This might be the thread to ask since we're talking about repairs.

My Dad's girlfriend has been having a problem with her DS that I've never heard of before.

She claims that while she plays now, the left side of the screen is noticibly dimmer than the right, and that she actually has to "hold" the one side of the screen to get the backlight to come back on the whole way. She's had her DS for two years and it's out of warranty.

I've never heard of anything like this, but if anyone has heard of this problem, I'd like to hear from you. Do you think Nintendo would be willing to repair it?

Even if they do, it would be hard to get her away from the damn thing. I have her currently addicted to the Phoenix Wright series, and she just started Apollo Justice over the weekend. And my Dad got a DS for his birthday yesterday, so we're slowly becoming a Nintendo-oriented family again. My little brother is the last one who needs to be converted.

Deaderinred

Bionic Monkey wrote: »

Deaderinred wrote: »

wow.. am i the only one here to still have a launch day black lite and have none of this cracking business? not even my phat ds had any problems (cept some marks on the touch screen) i had that from launch day too, i play my ds lite nearly every day and used to carry it around in my bag with me to work and stuff.. either im really really lucky here or i just luck after my shit better i have no idea.

just so i can figure out how this is happening, are you guys unfolding the top screen ALL the way back? or just to the first "click" ? ive always just left it at the first click but i notice it can go further but i never bothered with that since the first click position is fine.

*sigh*

Folding it all the way back has no bearing on the hinge crack. The color of the DS has no bearing on the hinge crack. The region of the DS has no bearing on the hinge crack.

The hinge crack is not user abuse, it is a manufacturing defect.

so if its not user abuse please enlighten me without sarcastically sighing to how it is a manufacturing defect, considering the fact that my launch day lite, used every day since launch, has no crack nor does it show signs of developing.

"it just happens" is not a valid excuse.