Chosen Solution

Blue powerlight. Volume. I can even get it to go to the 3DS firmware update menu. But I can’t see anything on either screen. After re-assembling my 3DS XL, we booted up the system to see the bottom screen turn on and the touchscreen function but got no display for the top screen. With some digging, we concluded it was the top screen LCD ribbon connector and went back to reconnect it. Indeed, the connector was crooked and we fixed it soundly. Upon our second re-assembly, we can no longer get either screen to display anything. I have tried a great number of things, such as: Making sure the wifi card is connected Reseating the bottom LCD ribbon connector (I’m not sure if this is in all the way.) Reseating the thinner ribbon connector next to the bottom LCD ribbon connector (The clasp on this connector was broken. However, it stays in like a champ and I’m confident this is not the problem) Any help would be greatly appreciated! I can provide pictures of whatever is needed.

These are the things that I have found to cause this problem:

  1. Loose connectors
  2. Bad lower LCD I doubt the lower LCD is bad in this case since it worked before. So that means that you likely have a loose ribbon cable somewhere. If it were me I would start with the cable that has the missing tab lock. Even though it stays in it might not be getting a good connection. I’ve seen some consoles that have a tab lock missing and even though the cable stays in just fine the cable isn’t locked down on the pins how it should be so it doesn’t work. These locks aren’t just to keep the cable in the socket they are also to push the cable down onto the pins of the connector. So I would start with that. The next thing I would do is go through and reseat every ribbon cable on the lower screen. They all have to be seated correctly in order for the screens to work. If one of them isn’t it will cause the problem you are having. It would help to have a pic of the cables after you reseat them so I can verify that they are seated correctly. Be sure the pics are straight on so the image angle doesn’t trick me!

Are you still having this problem?

I didn’t even have to do that my mother turened it off and she told me to let it rest!