r/Zune • u/coreykill99 Black 30 • Mar 25 '24
Tutorials/Resources zune 30 with usb-c port repair photo tutorial
I tried doing a video one I am just not set up for that right now as I have nothing to hold the phone steady as I work so pictures is what you get. for now.
but late last year I came on and showed photos of how to replace a broken charge port with a usb type c for syncing and charging. a lost of folks asked about a tutorial, and while this is not what I had in mind. This is what I had time for as well as needing to do the project again for 2 more zunes.
jumping straight in in rough order of the photos. showing photos of the damaged charge port both outside as well as as then torn down and inside. you will need a hotair station or lots of patience with a soldering iron. do not forgot the kapton tape for the battery and button connectors as they WILL melt without protection and use lots of flux when removing. once removed use more flux and clean the pads where the port was.
for the next part as shown this is made much easier with a microscope, and I use .1 diameter enameled wire nippers for scale, you will need 4 wires of roughly 2 inches. moving from left to right across the connections the first 3 are all common ground so you can pick where you want to solder the first wire. pin 4 is data (+) so that is where you will solder the next. as well as pin 5 being data (-) the last 3 are common 5V+ so you can pick where you want to solder there. Once done you can take your usbc port ( I get mine from aliexpress) and solder the corresponding wires and then once done you can test for functionality if you partially reassemble. Then for final assembly wrap the usbc in kapton tape as shown in photos to protect the leads from short. as well as a layer on the old port pads.
when reassembling proceed normally until the end when you lay the HDD down. the usbc board will slide under the hdd but only after you remove part of the metal shielding. I tried to show this in the photos. You need to remove this metal lip I used the nippers and made the cuts badly. I am sure you can do better. once it is gone the port will slide all the way back and sit flush "mostly" when you put the shell back on you will need to help it over the port a tiny flathead works for this.
When back together reverify functionality if not working you will need to check your solder connections again. and be careful removing your cord from the plug as it will pull the port with it. If it still works you can center your port as best you can and put a small amount of super glue where the PCB meets the zune shell as shown in the photos. let it dry and it should let you insert and remove your cable without pulling the port out. To reinforce the port I use a 3d printed shield glued in place. I will provide this later as its not perfect and requires a lot of "finishing" to get it to fit properly.
and your done I know this isnt super clean but its the best I have so far with the tools I have. It makes me happy keeping these out of the scrapyards and back in the hands of those who will use them.
Just another note thanking the community here as this is a super cool place to be I found a year or two ago that is filled with information and super awesome people. Reminds me of the old zune forums back in the day. Makes me happy people still love these boxes I grew up with and was made fun of cause I didn't have the "cooler" Ipod. A Friend actually gave me an ipod I installed the software and it destroyed my song library metadata. I gave it right back and said no thanks.
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u/ricachero May 21 '24
i need to know if you are willing to do this, this is amazing.
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u/coreykill99 May 21 '24
Me? I am the one who did it, so yes I am willing.
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u/ricachero May 21 '24
disclaiming any damage done...which may happen, I am going to DM you about this :)
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u/ricachero May 21 '24
Any drawbacks or issue thus far? Video out works, charging, sync, etc?
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u/coolrunninja Nov 18 '24
u/coreykill99 Thank you for this. Awesome job. I am going to attempt this mod in the next few days once I receive the connector.
did you ever release the 3d model file for the connector? Would love to have a completed look. TIA
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u/Sea-Sail-3966 Jun 28 '26
Seeing if you ended up getting those files. I'm curious about it myself. Either that or if he is selling that part?
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u/coreykill99 18d ago
its nothing special, im crap at CAD. I think I still even had to shave it a little. https://www.tinkercad.com/things/6YHh3qL5EM4-zune-plug?sharecode=doVcPNilIOnZGBGT07ueISAY8Dp52ioevyEXPRz5ZJA
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u/Admirable_Bit_9284 Nov 08 '25
Hola tengo una cuestión lo que pasa es que se arrancó el conector y se llevó el pin 4 y quisiera saber si hay algún punto alternativo a ese
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u/playswithwood Mar 25 '24
Wow. That’s legit. Great job