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Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the highway flex cable in the OP-Z. The flex cable includes the USB-C port, and the line-out / headphone jack.

What you need

  1. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement, Back Cover: step 1, image 1 of 3 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement, Back Cover: step 1, image 2 of 3 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement, Back Cover: step 1, image 3 of 3

    • Unlock the four rubber feet by turning them 90° counterclockwise using your thumb or finger tip.

    • There is a tiny mark on every foot facing the bottom edge of the OP-Z. After turning them they should face towards the short edge where the on/off switch is.

    Edit

  2. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • When turning the OP-Z over again the bottom plate should come off by itself (thanks gravity).

    • If the bottom plate won’t come off you might want to make sure every foot is rotated correctly and gently tug on one of them.

    Edit

  3. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the bottom plate including the rubber feet.

    Edit

  4. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement, Battery: step 4, image 1 of 2 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement, Battery: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • Use your fingernail or a spudger to lift the battery on the right side where the notch is.

    Edit

  5. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the battery.

    • When installing the new battery make sure you put it in contact side first.

    Edit

  6. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement, Expansion Module: step 6, image 1 of 2 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement, Expansion Module: step 6, image 2 of 2

    • Use your finger or a spudger to push up on the small tab on the bottom of the module.

    • Lift the module up and out of its recess bottom first.

    Edit

  8. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the module.

    • When inserting another module make sure you put it in outputs first. Then push down the bottom part for the tab to engage.

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  9. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement, Midframe: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the five Torx T4 screws.

    Edit

  10. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • Place a spudger in the cutout of the extension module to lift the midframe.

    • Be careful not to damage the highway flex cable underneath.

    • Don’t remove the midframe yet. It is still connected to the rest of the OP-Z.

    Edit

  11. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 3 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 3 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 10, image 3 of 3

    • Flip the midframe over to gain access to the flex cable connector underneath.

    Edit

  12. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 2 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 2

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the flex cable from the front panel assembly.

    Edit

  13. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement, Highway Flex Cable: step 12, image 1 of 2 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement, Highway Flex Cable: step 12, image 2 of 2

    • Use a spudger to disconnect the highway flex cable from the DSP board.

    Edit

  14. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 2 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 2

    • Use the spudger to disconnect the flex cable from the encoder board.

    Edit

  15. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 3 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 3 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 14, image 3 of 3

    • Slowly pry the USB-C connector out of its recess. Use the flat end of a spudger on the small nib on the USB-C board.

    • The connector is slightly glued down.

    Edit

  16. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 3 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 3 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • Insert the pointy end of the spudger into the line-out jack and lever it up carefully.

    • The jack connector might sit tight and is slightly glued down.

    Edit

  17. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 3 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 3 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 16, image 3 of 3

    • The highway flex cable is slightly adhered to the midframe. To remove it, gently push it out from underneath.

    • A small transparent part may pop out. This is the light guide for the bluetooth indicator. Just hinge it back onto the midframe as seen here.

    Edit

  18. Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 3 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 17, image 2 of 3 Teenage Engineering OP-Z Highway Flex Cable Replacement: step 17, image 3 of 3

    • Peel the highway flex cable off the midframe and remove it.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

2 other people completed this guide.

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Tobias Isakeit

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3 Comments

It worked! Sort of. I bought a highway flex cable replacement and a new battery hoping it would solve an issue. The good news is I was able to replace it, and it’s function as before I replaced the flex cable. The only challenge really was that the audio cable plug in the new flex cable assemble was slightly bigger than the one I removed. I really had to force it down. During reassemble it was important to start left to right too - and it was easier to plug that last cable before installing the audio and USB C sockets. The issue I was trying to solve: My OP-Z will only power on when plugged in. I bought the OP Z used, and it worked fine for a while. But for reasons I can’t explain it stopped working with battery power alone. I tried all the solutions I found online including resetting the battery, firmware, etc. I’m just sharing this in case someone else has the same issue. Other than that, the new flex cable works just like the one it replaced, and I have an extra one now! Thank you!!!

thompsonkmt - Reply

I didnt replace my highway flex cable but I did repair the rotary encoders cuz the magnet holders kept popping out of the bearings.

Eric M - Reply

ATTENTION, some devices do not have Torx 4 screws, but much smaller ones! Why hasn't this been corrected here all this time? ...I really wonder what the point of this kind of tutorial is, if the dimensions are wrong...?

Hybyscut - Reply

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