Easy as pie

crwdns2853023:0crwdne2853023:0

My iPhone 5 has been a great phone since I bought it in 2012. After two years, the battery life began to shorten, and in recent months, it would go dead after only 10 minutes of video. I would have paid Apple to fix it, but the nearest Apple store is a three hour round trip, plus the time in the store, and I'm too busy for that.

crwdns2853024:0crwdne2853024:0

This was easy as pie with the ifixit online guide, but people should always read the comments for snags and tips that others have found.

crwdns2853025:0crwdne2853025:0

My photo shows a trick I thought of to help with opening the phone. A sturdy clothes hook makes a great third hand for pulling on the suction cup, while getting in with the plastic opening tool. I was having a hard time before trying this, but with the hook, I had the phone open in less than a minute.