TomTom XL Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Sean Higginson

Comments: 3

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

20 - 30 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to remove or replace the Motherboard in the TomTom XL.

Tools

Parts

New Tom Tom XL Touch Screen

Step 1

Slip a small plastic opening tool underneath the screen bezel, gently sliding it around the inside edge.
Starting at the corners, carefully pry up the screen bezel.

Some models have 2 Torx T-6 screws that must be removed first. One is under the C in the FC mark, the other is at the very beginning of the white bar code field. The bezel may be black with a silver stripe on the outside.

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Step 2

Remove the four Phillips #00 screws around the edge of the screen.

The frame is sometimes part of the bezel.

Morten - 05/02/21

Step 3

Slide a small plastic opening tool under the top portion of the metal frame and gently lift it up.
Slide the plastic opening tool around the inner edge of the metal frame until it feels loose.
It may take some time to release the frame from the housing. Some force may be necessary—but be careful not to bend the frame's fragile interior bracket.
Remove the frame from the housing.

Step 4

Lifting from the upper edge of the screen, tilt the screen away from the device.
Tilt the screen slowly. Flipping the screen up too quickly may damage the display cable.

Step 5

Remove the three Phillips #00 screws connecting the motherboard to the plastic housing:
Two Phillips #00 screws are located at the bottom of the first picture.
The third screw is hidden under the orange ribbon cable, near the screen.
You may have to carefully lift the screen in order to reach this screw.

The ribbon cable can be removed. Loosen the ribbon cable by carefully sliding the white plastic strip away from the black part. There’s some sticky stuff under the cable, but it’s possible to unstick the cable if done carefully.

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Step 6

Flip the screen and motherboard over.
Gripping the plastic casing, disconnect the battery cable connector from the motherboard.
Disconnect the speaker cable connector from the motherboard.
Remove the motherboard and screen from the housing.

Step 7

Using your thumbs or the flat end of a spudger, push back the white tabs on the display cable ZIF connector.
Gently pull the orange display cable out of the ZIF connector.
The display cable should slide out easily, but it may still have some adhesive on the underside. If you feel resistance, gently lift up on the ribbon cable while pulling it from the socket.