Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

27

Time Required

                          40 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

2

  • Game Boy Advance Teardown
  • 12 steps
  • Gameboy Advance AGS-101 Blacklight Mod
  • 15 steps

Flags

1

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Introduction

Just created a guide on how to install a AGS-101 screen in the Gameboy Advance.

It’s not hard to do and it’s pretty neat to have blacklight screen build in.

Hopefully you will enjoy doing this with using my guide!

Good luck!

What you need

Step 1

              Game Boy Advance Teardown
  • Remove the back battery cover by pinching down on the tab and pulling outward.

Remove the back battery cover by pinching down on the tab and pulling outward.

1024

Step 2

  • Remove the six back panel screws using a Y1 screw driver.

Remove the six back panel screws using a Y1 screw driver.

Step 3

  • Remove bottom back panel screw with a Phillips #1 screw driver.

Remove bottom back panel screw with a Phillips #1 screw driver.

Step 4

  • Remove the back panel by pulling away with one hand and the front secured in the other hand.
  • Beware of right and left triggers, the right and left panels, and the power switch falling off as the back panel is removed.

Remove the back panel by pulling away with one hand and the front secured in the other hand.

Beware of right and left triggers, the right and left panels, and the power switch falling off as the back panel is removed.

Step 5

  • Remove left and right triggers by lifting and pulling them away from the system.
  • Do the same for side panels.
  • For finicky or jammed triggers only. Adjust and correct triggers and reassemble. Most jammed triggers are caused by buttons misplaced or jammed in its enclosure.

Remove left and right triggers by lifting and pulling them away from the system.

Do the same for side panels.

For finicky or jammed triggers only. Adjust and correct triggers and reassemble. Most jammed triggers are caused by buttons misplaced or jammed in its enclosure.

Step 6

  • Remove the gray On/Off Switch by pulling up and away from the unit. Replace with another switch if necessary.

Remove the gray On/Off Switch by pulling up and away from the unit. Replace with another switch if necessary.

Step 7

  • Remove the three screws on the circuit board with a Phillips #1 screw driver.
  • The last screw on the right is not included on some Game Boy Advance systems.

Remove the three screws on the circuit board with a Phillips #1 screw driver.

The last screw on the right is not included on some Game Boy Advance systems.

Step 8

  • Pull circuit board away from the front panel by pulling up at the bottom of the circuit board, keeping the top ribbon still connected.
  • Beware not to damage the top ribbon by pulling up gently.

Pull circuit board away from the front panel by pulling up at the bottom of the circuit board, keeping the top ribbon still connected.

Beware not to damage the top ribbon by pulling up gently.

Step 9

  • Remove the rubber button pads from their pockets.
  • Remove the plastic buttons and the D-pad from beneath the rubber pads with tweezers or by hand.

Remove the rubber button pads from their pockets.

Remove the plastic buttons and the D-pad from beneath the rubber pads with tweezers or by hand.

Step 10

  • Use a spudger/tweezers/fingernail to unlatch the LCD ribbon port by pulling the grey tabs on the sides upwards (towards the top edge of the PCB).
  • Once the LCD ribbon port has been unlatched, the LCD ribbon should very easily slide out and can be removed with zero force using fingers or tweezers.

Use a spudger/tweezers/fingernail to unlatch the LCD ribbon port by pulling the grey tabs on the sides upwards (towards the top edge of the PCB).

Once the LCD ribbon port has been unlatched, the LCD ribbon should very easily slide out and can be removed with zero force using fingers or tweezers.

Step 11

  • Use the spudger to lift the screen from the front panel. Place the spudger in the space directly left of the D-pad.
  • The screen and the front panel is connected by a black tape that could rip if not removed carefully.
  • You can use an iOpener or a hair dryer on the other side of the front panel in order to soften the black tape.

Use the spudger to lift the screen from the front panel. Place the spudger in the space directly left of the D-pad.

The screen and the front panel is connected by a black tape that could rip if not removed carefully.

You can use an iOpener or a hair dryer on the other side of the front panel in order to soften the black tape.

Step 12

  • Use the tweezers to remove the black tape if needed.

Use the tweezers to remove the black tape if needed.

Step 13

              Cut the plastic from the shell
  • Cut the plastic from the shell, aligned with red markers.
  • Use a cutter to cut the big pieces of plastic.
  • Use the cutter again to cut some plastic from the shell. This is required for the LCD to fit properly.
  • Only cut the plastic that sticks out! It’s possible that the red markers are not 100% accurate.
  • First things first, there are 2 GBA models. 32 pin motherboards and 40 pin motherboards, before you order anything, make sure which model you have. The GBA’s starting with a 0 is a 40 pin, if it start with a 1 it’s a 32 pin. Please advise Google if you are not sure which model you have.

Cut the plastic from the shell, aligned with red markers.

Use a cutter to cut the big pieces of plastic.

Use the cutter again to cut some plastic from the shell. This is required for the LCD to fit properly.

Only cut the plastic that sticks out! It’s possible that the red markers are not 100% accurate.

First things first, there are 2 GBA models. 32 pin motherboards and 40 pin motherboards, before you order anything, make sure which model you have. The GBA’s starting with a 0 is a 40 pin, if it start with a 1 it’s a 32 pin. Please advise Google if you are not sure which model you have.

Step 14

              Make it flat
  • Use a knife or a flathead screwdriver to flatten it. Make it as flat as possible and take all the plastic away.
  • Do this for all sides which you have cut before.

Use a knife or a flathead screwdriver to flatten it. Make it as flat as possible and take all the plastic away.

Do this for all sides which you have cut before.

Step 15

              Fit the screen
  • Inspect if everything is cut and if everything is flat. If it looks good, then proceed!
  • Don’t worry about the front. Most of the times the front is still good, the cutting at the back side won’t be visible when everything is in. But please check before you proceed.
  • Test if the screen sits flush.
  • Make sure that the screen fits good. There is not a lot of space in the shell. If you proceed anyway, you could damage the screen. Cut some more plastic if needed.

Inspect if everything is cut and if everything is flat. If it looks good, then proceed!

Don’t worry about the front. Most of the times the front is still good, the cutting at the back side won’t be visible when everything is in. But please check before you proceed.

Test if the screen sits flush.

Make sure that the screen fits good. There is not a lot of space in the shell. If you proceed anyway, you could damage the screen. Cut some more plastic if needed.

Step 16

              Attach lens
  • Place a new lens in the shell.
  • It should look like the 2nd picture. It should be attached with the tape that’s already on the lens. Make sure that the lens is clean and not damaged!

Place a new lens in the shell.

It should look like the 2nd picture. It should be attached with the tape that’s already on the lens. Make sure that the lens is clean and not damaged!

Step 17

              Place the screen in the shell
  • Now take the plastic foil from the screen.
  • Put the screen in the shell.
  • You can attach some double sided tape in the corners of the screen to make it fit easier (make sure it’s thin) it’s not required. Remember not to touch the screen when the plastic security foil is removed.

Now take the plastic foil from the screen.

Put the screen in the shell.

You can attach some double sided tape in the corners of the screen to make it fit easier (make sure it’s thin) it’s not required. Remember not to touch the screen when the plastic security foil is removed.

Step 18

              Place the buttons
  • Place the buttons in the shell.
  • Place the start/select rubber in the shell.

Place the buttons in the shell.

Place the start/select rubber in the shell.

Step 19

              Place rubbers
  • Put the rubbers in.
  • You can also place the L/R buttons in already, but it won’t be a problem to do this later if you want.

Put the rubbers in.

You can also place the L/R buttons in already, but it won’t be a problem to do this later if you want.

Step 20

              Fold the LCD cable
  • Fold the LCD cable in a “Z” form. The cable is too long, this needs to be done, otherwise it won’t fit.

Fold the LCD cable in a “Z” form. The cable is too long, this needs to be done, otherwise it won’t fit.

Step 21

              Install the adapter
  • Now it’s a good time to take the adapter with you!
  • Plug the LCD cable in the ZIF socket as displayed in the 2nd picture.
  • Fold the LCD cable in the “Z” form again and place the adapter on the screen as displayed in the 3rd picture.

Now it’s a good time to take the adapter with you!

Plug the LCD cable in the ZIF socket as displayed in the 2nd picture.

Fold the LCD cable in the “Z” form again and place the adapter on the screen as displayed in the 3rd picture.

Step 22

              Attach tape if needed
  • Usually there is tape on the bracket, but if not, just place some anti-electrical tape to secure it.
  • Don’t forget to fold the cable in the “Z” form.

Usually there is tape on the bracket, but if not, just place some anti-electrical tape to secure it.

Don’t forget to fold the cable in the “Z” form.

Step 23

              Place motherboard back in
  • Place the motherboard in. WHEN the motherboard is at place, then proceed.
  • Put the screws back in, highlighted in red.
  • Some models have a third screw.
  • The 2nd picture shows when everything is in place with the screws in.

Place the motherboard in. WHEN the motherboard is at place, then proceed.

Put the screws back in, highlighted in red.

Some models have a third screw.

The 2nd picture shows when everything is in place with the screws in.

Step 24

              Attach ribbon cable
  • Open the ZIF connector again and put the cable back in.
  • If the cable won’t fit, please check your adapter and repeat step 21.
  • Close the ZIF connector with the LCD ribbon cable in. Make sure the red cable from the adapter is at it’s place as shown in the 2nd picture.
  • The 3rd picture shows how it needs to be.

Open the ZIF connector again and put the cable back in.

If the cable won’t fit, please check your adapter and repeat step 21.

Close the ZIF connector with the LCD ribbon cable in. Make sure the red cable from the adapter is at it’s place as shown in the 2nd picture.

The 3rd picture shows how it needs to be.

Step 25

              Solder the red cable
  • This is the pin you need! It’s the LEFT leg of DA1 !
  • Put tape on the other IC’s. Just to prevent bridges and just to be sure that you have the correct pin.
  • Solder the red cable to the LEFT leg of DA1.

This is the pin you need! It’s the LEFT leg of DA1 !

Put tape on the other IC’s. Just to prevent bridges and just to be sure that you have the correct pin.

Solder the red cable to the LEFT leg of DA1.

Step 26

              Route cable and place buttons
  • Route the cable as shown in picture 1.
  • The 2nd picture shows when it’s all good and finished.
  • Now place the bumpers and the L/R buttons (if not done earlier). Don’t forget to place the on/off button back too!

Route the cable as shown in picture 1.

The 2nd picture shows when it’s all good and finished.

Now place the bumpers and the L/R buttons (if not done earlier). Don’t forget to place the on/off button back too!

Step 27

              Place back cover and test
  • Place the backplate back and put the screws back in.
  • That’s it! If everything is done it should work now. Have fun gaming!

Place the backplate back and put the screws back in.

That’s it! If everything is done it should work now. Have fun gaming!

That’s it! If everything went as it should, you can play the GBA/GBC/GB games with your blacklight screen!

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                                                                                      3 other people completed this guide.

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                    koppie007

Member since: 08/22/2013

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Rinchanlife - Jan 31, 2020

Reply

How would I add a way to control the brightness? is it as simple as soldering in an extra chip and wire?

koppie007 - Jan 31, 2020

Hi!

No, you can’t control the brightness with this mod. But I will try to create the IPS mod guide soon (hopefully next week)! With the IPS screen mod, you can control the brightness. But… you need to solder 3 wires. One on the TP2, and the other 2 cables for R and L buttons. You need to hold select, and press R and L to increase and decrease the brightness.

The IPS screen is a different screen with a special adapter. I’ll try to create the guide soon.

Perhaps it’s possible with another adapter for controlling the brightness on the AGS-101, but I don’t have this kind of adapter.

koppie007 - Feb 6, 2020

Hi there again!

Just finished the IPS mod guide!

Link: Game Boy Advance IPS Backlight mod

If you have questions/need help, please let me know.

Good luck!!

D.J. Haynes - Mar 16, 2021

Reply

Do the ips v2 mod and the ags 101 mod require the same amount of plastic cutting?

koppie007 - Mar 17, 2021

Hi! No. The IPS v2 mod takes less amount plastic cutting. But it’s different (for the plastic that needs a cut) regarding the AGS-101 mod.