Chosen Solution
I’m having a problem similar to the “iPod Classic NOT RESPONDING to any touch!” thread. The bottom ‘play/pause’ button doesn’t work well and the ‘skip back’ button doesn’t work at all. I took the device apart and have found the 2 problem buttons aren’t clicking like the others. You can literally hear the ‘click’ when I press the working buttons but the bottom button barely makes a sound and the right is silent. They all FEEL like they’re clicking but, I don’t know. I’m guessing the buttons have just ‘gone bad’ or something? There’s a lot of data on this ipod and was wondering if its possible to just replace the 2 buttons?
ali, What you can do is measure the switch itself first. Attach the leads from your multimeter to the bottom two contacts, you should see that the switch does have some resistance, and total continuity when depressed. If the switch itself checks out okay, you may have to replace the logic board. If the switches do not work, you ‘could’ try to replace those. It will be difficult to find the right microswitches. You could purchase a broken iPod or a non-working logic board at places like Ebay. then unsolder the switches and exchange them. BTW the switches are the same on a 5th gen. Video. Hope this helps, good luck
Just bought an IPOD second hand, with the same issue (play button did nothing). I was pretty ticked that the guy didn’t tell me. After digging into it, I pulled the tape off the button and flipped the metal disc. Using a dental pick, I scraped all debris off the bottom of the disc, as well as the contact point on the logic board behind it. Now it works. Huzzah.
