Kobo Clara BW Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comments: 0

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 - 45 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the motherboard in your Kobo Clara BW eReader.

The charging port is soldered to the motherboard, so you'll need to replace the entire motherboard if you want to replace the port.

Following this guide will remove your eReader's IP (Ingress Protection) rating, making it susceptible to water damage.

After this repair, follow this guide to calibrate your eReader to your replacement motherboard. If you don't, you might experience "ghosting" or visual artifacts of the E ink.

Kobo supports their eReaders with a warranty. If your device is still under warranty, Kobo may be able to help. Before starting a repair, review your warranty information or check support documentation.

Tools

Parts

Kobo Clara BW Motherboard - Genuine

Step 1

Drain your eReader's battery as much as possible before starting your repair. Ideally, it should be fully discharged.
Optionally, to drain the battery faster, navigate to More → Settings → Energy saving and privacy and set Automatically go to sleep after and Automatically power off after to Never.
When working on or near the battery, don't use sharp metal tools to avoid puncturing and shorting the battery.
Unplug all cables and fully shut down your eReader.
Your screen should be black and say Powered off.

Step 2

Lay your eReader down so the back cover is facing up.
Insert the flat edge of an opening pick between the frame and the bottom left corner of the back cover.
Push the pick downwards at a slight angle until it slides under the back cover.

Step 3

Slide the pick toward the bottom right corner to release the clips along the bottom edge.

Step 4

Remove the pick and reinsert it under the bottom left corner.
Angle the pick flat under the back cover and rotate it around the bottom left corner to release its clips.
If you're having trouble, try twisting the pick to lift the corner clips out of their slots.

Step 5

Slide the pick toward the top left corner to release the clips along the left edge.

Step 6

At this point, you should be able to grip the back cover and release its remaining clips. If not, slide a pick under the perimeter of the back cover until you can grip an edge.
Grip the left edge of the back cover and lift it away from the eReader to release the remaining clips.
Remove the back cover.
During reassembly, align the back cover over the eReader and press along the perimeter until all its clips snap back into place.

Step 7

The entire surface of the eReader's internals is covered in a thin, plastic-like waterproof coating. Keep the following in mind as you continue disassembly:
While this won't hurt your device, removing the coating compromises the device to potential water damage.
The coating is brittle and can flake into many small pieces. Heating the coating helps, but working with it is still a time-consuming process.
The ZIF connector locking tabs are coated in a gel that can jam the hinge and keep the locking tab from completely unlocking. Make sure the tabs are completely upright before disconnecting any cables.
Depending on your repair, you might have to remove the coating from ZIF connectors and their cables.

Step 8

Heat an iOpener and lay it on the battery connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or a heat gun.

Step 9

Use the tip of a spudger to scrape up the coating along the white battery connector head—enough so you can grab clumps of it with pointed tweezers.

Step 10

Use pointed tweezers to peel off all of the coating around the battery connector head and its socket.
If the coating becomes too brittle and hard to peel off, reheat the connector and try again.
This is a meticulous process! Failure to remove enough of the coating could damage the plastic head during disconnection, so take your time!

Step 11

Insert the point of a spudger under the edge of the battery connector head opposite of the cable.
There's a surface-mounted component close to the connector. Be careful not to touch it with your spudger!
Lift up the connector with the spudger to separate the rest of the coating and disconnect the battery.
During reassembly:
Inspect the connector head and its socket for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.
Peel off the coating, heating the area when the coating becomes too brittle.
It doesn't have to look pretty! You just need to remove enough coating so the connector head sits properly in its socket.

Step 12

There are surface-mounted components next to the power button ZIF connector. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid dislodging them.
Insert the tip of a spudger under the right side of the ZIF connector's black locking tab.
Lift up the locking tab with the spudger to unlock it.
The locking tab should be nearly vertical when unlocked. If not, gently push the tab forward to compress the gel and completely unlock the tab.

Step 13

Apply a heated iOpener to the power button ZIF connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or a heat gun.

Step 14

Because of the awkward angle, the next two steps requires some patience to avoid tearing the cable. Work slowly and apply heat regularly.
Use blunt nose tweezers to grip the power button cable close to the head
Twist the tweezers toward the top of the eReader to separate enough coating for the cable head to be angled above the battery.
Give your tweezers enough room so you don't puncture the battery as you twist them.
Gripping the tweezers closer to the tip can help you get a tighter hold on the cable.

Step 15

Grip the power button cable close to the head and pull it away from its ZIF connector slowly and steadily to separate the coating.
If the coating feels stubborn, reheat the connector and try again.
Keep pulling on the cable until it comes completely out of its socket.
During reassembly:
Inspect the head of the cable and the ZIF connector for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.
Peel off the coating—heating the cable and the ZIF connector when the coating becomes too brittle.
It doesn't have to look pretty! You just need to remove enough coating to have the cable sit properly in its connector.

Step 16

Use the flat end of a spudger to lift up the locking tab on the digitizer cable ZIF connector.
The locking tab should be nearly vertical when unlocked. If not, gently push the tab forward to compress the gel and completely unlock the tab.

Step 17

Apply a heated iOpener to the digitizer cable ZIF connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or a heat gun.

Step 18

Use blunt nose tweezers to grip the digitizer cable close to the head and pull it away from its ZIF connector slowly and steadily to separate the coating.
If the coating feels stubborn, reheat the connector and try again.
Keep pulling on the cable until it comes completely out of its socket.
During reassembly:
Inspect the head of the cable and the ZIF connector for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.
Peel off the coating—heating the cable and the ZIF connector when the coating becomes too brittle.
It doesn't have to look pretty! You just need to remove enough coating to have the cable sit properly in its connector.

Step 19

There are surface-mounted components next to the display ZIF connector. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid dislodging them.
Insert the flat end of a spudger under the right side of the ZIF connector's black locking tab.
Lift up the locking tab with the spudger to unlock it.
The locking tab should be nearly vertical when unlocked. If not, gently push the tab forward to compress the gel and completely unlock the tab.

Step 20

Apply a heated iOpener to the display connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or a heat gun.

Step 21

Use blunt nose tweezers to grip the corner of the display cable closest to the charging port.
Pull the cable away from the ZIF connector slowly and steadily at a level angle to separate the coating at the corner.
If you're having trouble, try rocking the cable side-to-side while pulling.
Gripping the tweezers closer to the tip can help with getting a tighter hold on the cable.

Step 22

Repeat the previous step for the other corner until the the cable comes completely out of its socket.

Step 23

Lift up the display cable and peel off any remaining coating holding it to the motherboard.
During reassembly:
Inspect the head of the cable and the ZIF connectors for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.
Peel off the coating—heating the cable and the ZIF connector when the coating becomes too brittle.
It doesn't have to look pretty! You just need to remove enough coating to have the cable sit properly in the connector.

Step 24

Lift the display cable out of the way of the backlight cable underneath.
Use the point of a spudger to lift up the blue locking tab on the backlight cable ZIF connector.
The locking tab should be nearly vertical when unlocked. If not, gently push the tab forward to compress the gel and completely unlock the tab.

Step 25

Apply a heated iOpener to the backlight connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or a heat gun.

Step 26

Use blunt nose tweezers to grip the backlight cable close to its head and pull it away from its ZIF connector slowly and steadily to separate the coating.
If the coating feels stubborn, reheat the connector and try again.
Keep pulling on the cable until it comes completely out of its socket.
During reassembly:
Inspect the head of the cable and the ZIF connector for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.
Peel off the coating—heating the cable and the ZIF connector when the coating becomes too brittle.
It doesn't have to look pretty! You just need to remove enough coating to have the cable sit properly in its connector.

Step 27

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four 2.4 mm‑long screws securing the motherboard.

Step 28

Slide an opening pick under the top left corner of the motherboard and lift it up enough to grip the motherboard with your fingers.

Step 29

Lift the top edge of the motherboard and pull it toward the top of the eReader to remove it.
During reassembly, perform the following:
Slide the charging port into its slot at a slight downward angle before pressing the motherboard flat to the frame.
Follow this guide to update the VCOM number on your eReader to match your screen.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Remember: after repairs, your eReader is no longer IPX8 waterproof.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before you install it.

Make sure each of your device's main functions still work, e.g., LED backlight, touch, Wi-Fi, etc.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers Community for help.

Author

Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Member since: 16/01/22

151892 Reputation

Kobo Clara BW Motherboard Replacement

Introduction

Tools

Parts

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