click wheel not working on my nano 4th gen

It is definitely something to do with the connector. My daughter has a nice red 4th gen, and it developed a fault where the scroll wheel would only work if the connector cable was instered into the nano (not necessarily to a PC or power brick at the other end). If you took it out, the nano appeared to work, but the scroll wheel did nothing.

It is now migrating towards working only intermittently, even with the connector inserted, and needing it to be 'waggled' to make it work.

If anyone has any ideas what to do to resolve this problem, I'd be very grateful. Is there anyone I can send it to to get it fixed. Is it possible to open a nano up? Any good ideas, because she is going rapidly into terminal decline without her cool red nano.

I hate to say it, but I think this video shws the likely problem - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh3kPGzawNk&feature=related

I think about 4:50 minutes in, it shows disconnecting the ribbon cable from the click wheel that connects to the 'logi-board'. This is positioned right in fron of the connector we have been discussing.

I bet this connection has come loose, and our fiddling with the power connector at the bottom is helping it make connection - even if only temporarily.

I just wonder if any of us have the nerve to go for a full strip down, and report back on progress?

I found a pretty simple way to keep the wheel and buttons working without the charging cable. I opened up the bottom of my nano with a pair of tweezers and took out the casing around the dock connector port with a screwdriver. There will be a small amount of space between the back casing of the nano and the port. I used scissors to cut a small piece off of a paper clip and wedged it in between that space... and the wheel worked! The paper clip piece puts pressure up on the port so it provides the same effect as the charging cable trick, and it was small enough for me to be able to screw the casing back onto the bottom of the nano. I can still connect it to my computer, so it's working as good as new.

I hope this helps anyone who still has this this problem! I was about to give up until I found this thread. If the piece of paper clip isn't thick enough to push the port up inside the nano, try wrapping it in tape until it is. I was going to do this myself but the paper clip alone was enough to do the trick.

My daughter's clcik wheel was completely dead with all attempts failing, so she was waiting to see what the 6th gen would be like.

I'm not sure what others think, but my daughter makes heavy use of the video feature on her nano, so the 6th gen seems to be quite a major step backwards. So she is considering buying a 5th gen (my middle daughter has one of those and he likes it - shame the fm radio only works with the headphones and not in her docking speakers - suggestions gratefully received). I guess she'll need to buy fast as the 5th gen stock will be used up quickly.

As it was effecitively dead, I have used the Youtube guides to dismantle her 4th gen. It seems to me as though the ribbon cable for the click wheel goes across the power/docking station connector. It looks to me as though it gets rubbed/flexed/kinked on the left hand side when this connector is used, and I think that might have caused the fault. I've ordered a replacement for the click wheel workings (costing £6.99 - http://www.parts4ipods.com/epages/es115703.sf/enGB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es115703shop/Products/78788) and I'll try to fit it. I'm estimating chance of success at about 5%, but we'll see how it goes. It is never really going to be the same again, I'm sure.

my god your a genius,was about to bin my pod but followed your advice and so far seems to be working......thanks so much your a star!!!!

I agree with your theory completely but one question. Do I have to keep persisting with tilting of the white cable? Becaude it only works when the white cable is in the right spot. When I take it out, it doesn't work again.

Hi Codachrome - yes, I believe I have the same problem with my wife's 4th gen nano. Clickwheel stopped working after unplugging it from the Bose speaker station. Tried your advice, and noticed that the Menu button actually had a small effect, but unfortunately nothing else is working. What a shame - the machine doesn't even have a scratch. No probs with my 1st gen nano.

I have tried everything mentioned and STILL my click wheel does not work at all.I hold down menu and the centre button to reset and nothing happens.I plug in my charger cable to wiggle the pins,nothing happens.I reset my ipod through iTunes and it then asks me to select my language but I cant because the click wheel does not work.No matter what I do the click wheel refuses to respond in any way.I put on hold and take it off again so the backlight comes on and I try to reset my ipod,but guess what NOTHING HAPPENS.my iPod Nano 4th generation is completely useless.I cant even change the volume.The only way I can listen to son gs is by shaking it to activate the shuffle function but cant hear as the volume is too low.I'm so sick of this

I EFFIN LOVE YOU!!!
:]
THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER AHHHHHHHHHHH

:]
Thank you
after doing this as cautiously
as humanly possible my nano is back
i just hope my piece stays wedged in there

:] im sooo happy

Hi Everyone!

Reading the success stories gave me hope... that my iPod won't become a fancy (& expensive!) paperweight. But sadly it hasn't worked for me.

I'm wondering if anyone here has had the same problem with the *1st Generation iPod Nanoi* and found a successful resolution. The wiggle-waggle solution with the connector cable did not work for me.

The touch-wheel does not respond to any movement though I could easily lock/unlock and reset. iTunes was recognising it as was my computer and I could add & delete songs but just not get it to play.

I didn't need to update (but did anyway) and as a last resort restored it... and now its worse as it asks me to select langugage and i can't !

This is unfuriating... please help someone...anyone!

Thanks in advance.

Zubin

That is a brilliant answer to the problem of my daughter's 4th gen pink nano! Thankyou very much! One happy, music loving 7 year old girl!

Codachrome wrote:
Question: Have any of you been using your nano with a docking station or a stereo that has a docking port? I have a theory that certain docking ports cause damage to the pin structures inside the nano. Try this: (1) Insert your white charging cable that came with the ipod. (doesn't need to be plugged into anything on the other end.) (2) Hold the ipod with the screen facing you. (3) _the he part_ that is plugged into the ipod...slightly tilt the bottom of it away from you so that the pins inside move toward you. (4) Is your click wheel responsive again?

I tried to do this, but in your number (3) it says, "the he part" and I have no idea what that means. However, I gathered from other posts by people who must be more clarvoiant than me, that one needs to wiggle the connector. When I do this nothing happens unless I apply constant pressure. Unfortunately, I think your suggestion has made the problem worse, because I used to be able to get it to work sometimes, after resetting it repeatedly, for a short time, now it won't work at all. So, thanks for talking me into breaking it completely. Do you work for Apple?

I took it to an Apple Store and the guy at the "Genius Bar" played with it for about 20 minutes and couldn't figure it out (some genius), so of course he told me they could replace it for $79. But I've always thought that Apple products were crap, so I think the best fix is to buy a Zune or Sony Walkman MP3 player.

Try codachrome's fix at your own risk. "Question: Have any of you been using your nano with a docking station or a stereo that has a docking port? I have a theory that certain docking ports cause damage to the pin structures inside the nano. Try this: (1) Insert your white charging cable that came with the ipod. (doesn't need to be plugged into anything on the other end.) (2) Hold the ipod with the screen facing you. (3) the he part that is plugged into the ipod...slightly tilt the bottom of it away from you so that the pins inside move toward you. (4) Is your click wheel responsive again?" I tried this and now my iPod is permanently broken.

The best fix for any malfunctioning Apple product (if it's out of warranty) is to throw it away and buy some other company's product, it'll be cheaper by far, work better and last longer and with most products you can get some support even after it is out of warranty.

Codachrome:

This is the problem with mine. (I googled to find a solution and came across this) My clicker just stopped working and i tried what you said and it worked wonderfully. In a way, its ok because I wanted to get an itouch anyway. Is there a way to prevent this in the future?

Not to mention, is there anything i should be aware of if i get an itouch?

Thanks.