Kobo Libra Colour Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comments: 0

Kobo Libra Colour Motherboard Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 - 45 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the motherboard in your Kobo Libra Colour 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.

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.

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

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 Libra Colour 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

Flip your eReader over so the screen is facing down.
Angle an opening pick straight down, and insert its tip under the top right corner of the back cover, near the power button.
Push downward and pry up with the pick until you feel it slide between one of the clips and the frame.
You may have to test a few spots along the corner until the pick slides between one of the clips.

Step 3

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

Step 4

Angle the pick flat under the back cover and rotate it around the bottom right 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 bottom left corner to release the clips along the bottom 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 right 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.
Depending on your repair, you might have to remove the coating from ZIF connectors and their cables.

Step 8

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector.
Don't pry against the motherboard, as you risk breaking small, surface-mounted components.
Your E-ink screen will continue to say Powered off even after disconnection—this is normal!

Step 9

Heat an iOpener and lay it on the digitizer cable ZIF connectors for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or a heat gun for 30 seconds.

Step 10

Use the tip of a spudger to scrape the coating along the ZIF connectors' black locking tabs—enough so you can grab clumps of it with pointed tweezers.
Use pointed tweezers to peel off the coating around the black locking tabs and their hinges on the ZIF connector.
If the coating becomes too brittle and hard to peel off, reheat the connectors and try again.
This is a meticulous process! Failure to remove enough of the coating could damage the locking tab during disconnection, so take your time!

Step 11

Use the point of a spudger to lift up the locking tabs on the ZIF connectors.
The locking tabs should be nearly vertical when unlocked. If not, remove more coating until the tabs can move freely.

Step 12

Apply a heated iOpener to the digitizer cable ZIF connectors for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or a heat gun for 30 seconds.

Step 13

Slide one arm of a pair of pointed tweezers underneath the cables to separate the coating securing them to the motherboard.
You only need to separate enough coating so you can grip the cables with blunt nose tweezers.

Step 14

Because of the awkward angle, this step requires some patience to avoid tearing the cables. Work slowly and apply heat regularly.
Use blunt nose tweezers to pull the cables away from their ZIF connectors slowly and steadily at a level angle to separate the coating.
Gripping the tweezers closer to the tip can help get a tighter hold on the cables.
Keep pulling on the cables until they're completely disconnected.
During reassembly:
Inspect the ends of the cables and the ZIF connectors for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.
Peel off the coating, heating the cable and the ZIF connectors when the coating becomes too brittle.
It doesn't have to look pretty! You just need to remove enough coating to have the cables sit properly in their connectors.

Step 15

Apply a heated iOpener to the display cable ZIF connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or a heat gun for 30 seconds.

Step 16

The display cable ZIF connector is larger and requires a different procedure to disconnect properly.
Use the tip of a spudger to scrape the coating along the ZIF connector's black locking tab—enough so you can grab clumps of it with pointed tweezers.

Step 17

Use pointed tweezers to peel off the coating around the locking tab and its hinge on the ZIF connector.
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 locking tab during disconnection, so take your time!

Step 18

Use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry along the length of the locking tab to separate any remaining coating.
Don't pry hard at the corners of the locking tab to avoid snapping it.

Step 19

Insert the flat end of a spudger under the middle of the locking tab and lift to unlock it.
The locking tab should be nearly vertical when unlocked. If not, remove more coating until the tab can move freely.

Step 20

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 21

Repeat the previous step for the other corner until the entire cable is disconnected.
Lift up the cable and peel off any remaining coating holding it to the motherboard.
During reassembly:
Inspect the ends 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 22

Apply a heated iOpener to the interconnect cable's ZIF connector on the motherboard for 90 seconds to soften the coating.

Step 23

Scrape off and remove the coating on the interconnect cable ZIF connector located on the motherboard.

Step 24

Use the tip of a spudger to lift up the locking tab on the ZIF connector.
Use tweezers, or your fingers, to grip the blue pull tab on the interconnect cable and disconnect it.
During reassembly:
Inspect the ends 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 25

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the seven screws securing the motherboard:
Four 2.4 mm‑long screws
Three 3.9 mm‑long screws

Step 26

Don't pry against the battery during this step.
Use a spudger to lift up the motherboard enough so you can grip it with your fingers.
Pull the motherboard toward the opposite side of the tablet to slide it out of its two clips.
Remove the motherboard.
During reassembly:
Slide the motherboard under its clips before pressing it flat to the frame and reinstalling the screws.
Follow this guide to update the VCOM number on your tablet 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, page-turn buttons, 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 Libra Colour Motherboard Replacement

Introduction

Tools

Parts

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