So I need to fix a headphone jack on my girlfriend's mp3 player. It's a Creative Zen Micro, and most likely past it's warranty. I've been researching it some and it seems like the filmsy headphone jack is a pretty common thing with this model. I found a great step by step tutorial on how to fix it yourself. It looks easy, but it ultimately requires some soldering. Soldering seems pretty easy.... can anyone tell me otherwise, or have any tips for me?

i've never soldered before and i soldered a pickup into my first bass

it is easy. just make sure you "tin" the wires before you solder them to any contacts, coat the wire with a thin layer of solder. and don't melt the solder with the iron touch the iron to the contact and let that heat up enough to melt the solder

Here's the page with the instructions.

http://www.noboundrees.com/Micro_Fix/

and here's the photo of the soldering. looks to me like it's just a matter of reinforcing what's already there. Am I wrong?

anonymous said:



+1


I also would not use anything over a 30 watt iron (15-30 selectable would probably be good for this) and I persona;lly would use 60/40 .032 solder. 64-2055 is the part number for a decent soldering iron for what you want to do from radio shack. It's cheap too, like $10.99.

what does "tin the wires" mean?

you melt a thin layer of solder on the bare end of the wire that you are soldering. it makes for a stronger solder and makes your life a hell of a lot easier when soldering.

that was me above being to lazy to log in

If all goes wrong, make sure you have a hammer handy. Throwing a violent fit helps right many wrongs.

I'll keep a row of hummel figurines, and a mallet around as "Plan B"

Thanks, now I'm jonesing to fix my Creative Zen Xtra. Ugh.

that would work.... unless the etch is broken in which you will have to trace the etches on the back of the board and mod it.

it worked.