Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

25

Time Required

                          2 hours

Sections

4

  • Nikon D500 Memory Card Cover Disassembly
  • 4 steps
  • Nikon D500 Back Panel Removal
  • 6 steps
  • Nikon D500 Top Panel Removal
  • 8 steps
  • How to Fix a not working metering mode
  • 7 steps

Flags

2

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Introduction

It could still be changed using a Tethering software, but didn’t want to have to lug a laptop to just change it. I could program buttons for doing individual modes, but there was no way to replace another button with that functionality.

Sometimes hitting it just right had it working correctly, but that didn’t work.

It had been sent in to Nikon for service, but they returned it with “No Fault Found” and they had cleaned it, replaced the grip rubber… which was a lie; the disassembly, clean, and then reassembly fixed the issue. This took about 8 weeks, and about $300 (as it was out of warranty).

That the issue returned pissed me off enough that was going to do the repair myself. I had found one person with some videos of opening it up, but had not been able to find anything (nor anything on this site…).

I didn’t think at the time to capture pictures, and don’t feel like opening up the camera again! If I need to do so in the future, I will definitely do so, or if I can get my hands on a broken D500.

What you need

Step 1

              Remove 2 exposed screws
  • Remove the 2 screws beside the memory slots, then close the cover.
  • Note: make sure to remove the memory cards first!

Remove the 2 screws beside the memory slots, then close the cover.

Note: make sure to remove the memory cards first!

1024

Step 2

              Remove 2 screws under grip
  • Remove the 2 screws under the rubber grip part by peeling back the rubber grip
  • Try not to damage the double sided adhesive under the rubber.

Remove the 2 screws under the rubber grip part by peeling back the rubber grip

Try not to damage the double sided adhesive under the rubber.

Step 3

              Remove 2 screws under rear grip
  • Remove the 2 screws under the rubber pad marked in red.
  • Try not to damage the double-sided adhesive under the rubber.
  • Note: There is a 3rd screw under the flap, which holds the back to the top (marked in yellow). If needing to remove the back panel not just the memory cover flap, it can be removed at this time as well.

Remove the 2 screws under the rubber pad marked in red.

Try not to damage the double-sided adhesive under the rubber.

Note: There is a 3rd screw under the flap, which holds the back to the top (marked in yellow). If needing to remove the back panel not just the memory cover flap, it can be removed at this time as well.

Step 4

              Lift out panel
  • Lift out the assembly panel, it should come free without much force.
  • May open the panel to release it.

Lift out the assembly panel, it should come free without much force.

May open the panel to release it.

Step 5

              Remove top screw
  • Remove the screw above the viewfinder

Remove the screw above the viewfinder

Step 6

              Remove the bottom panel plate
  • Remove the 4 screws holding the plate to the bottom.
  • Remove the bottom plate

Remove the 4 screws holding the plate to the bottom.

Remove the bottom plate

Step 7

              Remove screws from the bottom
  • Remove the 4 screws (1 was under the plate)

Remove the 4 screws (1 was under the plate)

Step 8

              Remove Screw under grip
  • Remove the screw under the grip

Remove the screw under the grip

Step 9

              Remove Screw on Left
  • Remove the exposed screw on the Left side

Remove the exposed screw on the Left side

Step 10

              Carefully remove the back assembly
  • Carefully pull the back plate off the camera
  • There are 2 ribbon cables that need to be disconnected from the main board to free the rear panel from the camera.

Carefully pull the back plate off the camera

There are 2 ribbon cables that need to be disconnected from the main board to free the rear panel from the camera.

Step 11

              Remove Grip
  • Carefully remove the Rubber grip from the camera
  • Careful to not damage the double-sided adhesive

Carefully remove the Rubber grip from the camera

Careful to not damage the double-sided adhesive

Step 12

              Remove the Left Rubber

Step 13

              Disconnect the diopter
  • Remove the diopter cap from the end of the diopter (use a flat head or pry tool)
  • Un-screw the screw from the diopter

Remove the diopter cap from the end of the diopter (use a flat head or pry tool)

Un-screw the screw from the diopter

Step 14

              Remove Screw on Right
  • Remove the screw that had been hidden under the memory slot cover.

Remove the screw that had been hidden under the memory slot cover.

Step 15

              Remove Front Screws
  • Remove the screw under the top assembly, had been hidden by the grip.
  • Remove the 2 screws from the bottom of the mirror box
  • Remove the lens or lenscap prior to doing this step to gain access, then reattach.
  • Remove the screw from beside the accessory socket

Remove the screw under the top assembly, had been hidden by the grip.

Remove the 2 screws from the bottom of the mirror box

Remove the lens or lenscap prior to doing this step to gain access, then reattach.

Remove the screw from beside the accessory socket

Step 16

              Remove Screw on Left
  • Remove the screw from the left side, had been hidden under the rubber

Remove the screw from the left side, had been hidden under the rubber

Step 17

              Disconnect from main board
  • Disconnect the 2 ribbon cables from the main board.
  • Disconnect the wifi sub-board with the wifi cable from the main board

Disconnect the 2 ribbon cables from the main board.

Disconnect the wifi sub-board with the wifi cable from the main board

Step 18

              Lift Top assembly free
  • Carefully lift the top assembly free.
  • Note, there is a thermal pad on the left hand side, almost right under where the strap lug is. Careful to not damage it.

Carefully lift the top assembly free.

Note, there is a thermal pad on the left hand side, almost right under where the strap lug is. Careful to not damage it.

Step 19

              Identify area
  • Once the top assembly is disconnected from the rest of the camera, the area for the service is highlighted in the green.
  • Connect an anti-static strap to the magnesium shell, making sure it touches some unpainted part, to make sure you don’t damage any components.
  • (This picture came from an ebay part listing)

Once the top assembly is disconnected from the rest of the camera, the area for the service is highlighted in the green.

Connect an anti-static strap to the magnesium shell, making sure it touches some unpainted part, to make sure you don’t damage any components.

(This picture came from an ebay part listing)

Step 20

              Remove screw
  • Carefully remove the retaining screw that secures the soft ribbon cable that has components on it.
  • Careful to not damage the part in any way, as may break traces.

Carefully remove the retaining screw that secures the soft ribbon cable that has components on it.

Careful to not damage the part in any way, as may break traces.

Step 21

              Locate Mode Dial wiring harness
  • (Sorry, don’t have image of the screw removed)
  • Once unfolded, Locate the white socket with the tiny ribbon cable (it’s about about 4 mm wide)

(Sorry, don’t have image of the screw removed)

Once unfolded, Locate the white socket with the tiny ribbon cable (it’s about about 4 mm wide)

Step 22

              Disconnect wiring harness for Mode Dial
  • (Sorry, don’t have an image of this step)
  • Using tweezers, gently release the latch part of the socket.
  • Release the wiring harness from the socket, careful to not damage it.

(Sorry, don’t have an image of this step)

Using tweezers, gently release the latch part of the socket.

Release the wiring harness from the socket, careful to not damage it.

Step 23

              Inspect and reseat harness
  • (Sorry, don’t have an image for this step)
  • Inspect the end of the connector for any corrosion, remediating if any is found.
  • Reseat harness in the connector gently, using tweezers.
  • Engage the latch holding the harness into place.

(Sorry, don’t have an image for this step)

Inspect the end of the connector for any corrosion, remediating if any is found.

Reseat harness in the connector gently, using tweezers.

Engage the latch holding the harness into place.

Step 24

              Optional: help keep harness from moving
  • (Sorry, don’t have any images of this step)
  • I used a tiny bit of scotch tape to help keep the harness from moving at all. This would be optional, as if it’s still under warranty, would make it obvious someone had opened the camera up.

(Sorry, don’t have any images of this step)

I used a tiny bit of scotch tape to help keep the harness from moving at all. This would be optional, as if it’s still under warranty, would make it obvious someone had opened the camera up.

Step 25

              Refold the flex cable
  • (Sorry, do not have an image for this step)
  • Fold the flex cable back up, and secure with the screw, careful to not over tighten.

(Sorry, do not have an image for this step)

Fold the flex cable back up, and secure with the screw, careful to not over tighten.

To reassemble the camera, follow the Prerequisite guides in reverse order.

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                    Wolphin

Member since: 11/11/2019

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