Ipod's headphone jack only plays 1 side of headphones

You can't fix the part you have. If you want to open the iPod, you can buy a replacement part from a place like this

http://www.rapidrepair.com/shop/ipod-parts.html

But it's a bit expensive, so you may want to buy a broken iPod (of the same type and thickness ) on eBay. Most iPods are broken for the hard drive or the logic board, so the headphone jack is likely to be fine (and you'll gain some other spare parts).

Here's a helpful guide.

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPod/iPod-5th-Generation-Video/95

i had a similar problem. took it apart and looked real close at the solder connection of the headphone jack. it was broken so i just resoldered the connection and the headphone worked as normal. sometimes can be asimple fix if you have the skills for take apart.

hi two great suggestions but
if you look at
http://www.rapidrepair.com/shop/ipod-parts.html
and scroll down to jack cable, this is $10 and
further to "headphone module" this is $35. that
is a fairly inexpensive fix.
post back if you need tips to open your unit.
go;)d luck dusk

For a VIDEO iPod, the part is $50.

I have had that problem too, and it seems to be also mitigated by rotating your headphone's plug until it hits the sweet spot in the jack and comes back to playing in stereo out both earpieces.

...that is good info. maybe you can open the unit
and look at female jack connection. there should
be at least two(maybe three) touch points (pronges)
connecting to or on the jack you are pushing in.
you should be able to see this and correct by careful
bending it if not touching. try...... go;)d luck, dusk

You mean to tell me that I can't send my ipod in and get it fixed? That I have to do a self fix on it? My Ipod is doing the same thing..otherwise it works great.. pain when using it during exercise or in the car but otherwise I do not need the jack.

I'm sure Apple will be glad to fix it for you, and it will probably cost about half way to a new comparable (or better) iPod. If it's still under warranty, by all means, have Apple fix it or replace it (at no cost to you).

This category is actually for the older iPods (without color display), so fixing it yourself is the reasonable option.

(more recent iPods have their own separate categories)

HHHmmmm I have 4 Ipods. Mine is a 30 gig and I think the display is in color. I would have to check it out. LOL!! But I have had it for like 2 years at least. Is this considered an old one? We also have a small Ipod which we got like 4 years ago. It needs a new battery. And two nano ipods that we just got a few months ago.
thanks for the info

I'm just observing that newer iPods have their own category in THIS forum. Just look at this listing of categories under *iPod + iTunes*.

http://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa?categoryID=1

The iPod category is for the older iPods (not covered in the other categories), which happens to be full-sized iPods with a black-and-white displays.

But people with newer iPods are free to post in any category they want. 🙂

this is a joke.... all these ipod users with the same silly problem and apple charging a fortune to fix an obvious design flaw.