iPod battery replacement

[funkycfunkydo]

I'm trying to decide whether to send my iPod into apple to replace the battery for $100 or order a kit with a 30% larger battery for $30. I'm definitely leaning to the $30 (including shipping) battery but I would like to know if anyone has had any significant trouble replacing a battery at home.

[dwtheman]

funky,
looks like nobody here has been brave enough to do this or haven't had our ipod's long enough. but if i were in your situation i would order the kit! Let us know how it goes when you've done it plz.
cheers, DW

[MBHockey]

Lots of people on iPodlounge.com have gotten this to work quite well. I hear the results are fantastic, and it isn't that hard to do.

[funkycfunkydo]

i finally got the battery in. i found that the included tools were helpfull but wore down quickly. The hardest part was definately getting the back off. its almost like there's a step missing in the instructions. also confusing was the first step of lay the pod down face up followed by all the steps with it face down. its currently charging up and looks lke it will work. though it was a bit tedious and nerve-racking, i would recomend anyone with $30 and 35 minutes to spare to get it (if they need a new battery, that is)

[mnewman]

I installed a new battery in my original 5GB iPod. As noted, getting the back off is a real trick. The battery came with a plastic tool, but that didn't do the job so we used a tiny metal screwdriver. That worked fine and we managed to avoid scratching or bending the case.

After that, installing the battery is a snap. But, if you're my age (55) you'll definitely need your reading glasses!

I now get up to 11 hours use out of the iPod -- a definite improvement over the 3 or 4 hours I was getting out of the old battery.

However, one new and unusual problem has surfaced. If I charge the iPod and then don't use it, it completely loses it's charge in about a week. In fact, it loses the charge so completely that settings like date and time are lost.

Any ideas?

[funkycfunkydo]

Perhaps a new thread would be a more effective tool in answering your question.

[pickle]

I've been considering my options with batteries recently and have been leaning towards getting a whole new iPod altogether, partly because my hold switch is screwy (it sometimes doesn't turn off hold), and the back is starting to pop outwards on the left side... not to mention I only get about 3-5 hours of play time on the battery and it goes dead if I leave it idle for a few days. Thing is, I'm still in school and don't have any money for a new iPod. I hadn't heard about this battery kit until now, and it doesn't sound like a bad idea.

My two questions are:
1) Do you think the back being a little bent out will effect taking it off, putting it on, etc?
2) Where can I find this kit?

Thanks.

[funkycfunkydo]

if the back is bulged out a little on one side i think that make it a lot easier to take it off (easier to acces the clips) The particular kit i used is at http://eshop.macsales.com/Catalog_Item.cfm?ID=6943&Item=NWTIPOD8503