You will likely have to replace the whole part. The click wheel buttons in these iPods are part of the click wheel, so you can’t clean underneath it easily like you would with a later generation iPod.
There’s a little black switch at the top of the logic board. Make sure that the hold switch on the outside of the iPod is in the same position as the little black switch inside.
The hold switch probably got misaligned when you put the iPod back together. You need to open it again, and move the hold switch on the back panel into the same position as the little black switch on the logic board, and put it back together like that. Then, when you move the hold switch, it should work. Also, before putting it back together, you can turn on the iPod and make sure that the little black switch on the logic board works.
iPods will not sync via FireWire after the hard drive is replaced with flash storage. You need to use a Y-cable to sync it. One end should be plugged into a FireWire charger, and the other end into the computer.
Are you trying to charge it via USB? You need to use a 30-pin to firewire cable and charger, or an iPod dock. The 3rd gen iPod can’t charge with a USB cable like the other iPods can.
Are you trying to charge it via USB? You need to use a 30-pin to firewire cable and charger, or an iPod dock. The 3rd gen iPod can’t charge with a USB cable like the other iPods can.
You may need to replace the hard drive cable. I can’t guarantee that it will fix the problem, but it’s worth a try. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Hard Drive Cable Replacement
You may need to replace the headphone jack. iPod 5th Generation (Video) Headphone Jack & Hold Switch Replacement I can’t guarantee that this will fix it, but it’s worth a try.
UPDATE: I took apart my iPod again, and after a lot of pushing, checking, and pushing again, I got the battery to fit in. I had to use a piece of foam and some double-sided tape to secure my hard drive instead of the blue rubber pads to make the battery fit in height-wise. This is OK in my situation, because I have replaced the hard drive with a compact flash card, but actual hard drives need the cushioning from the blue pads so they don’t break as easily.
I ordered a replacement battery here on iFixit, and it is slightly larger in size than the original. To make it fit height-wise, you need to take the blue pads off the hard drive, which would make it wobble around. Additionally, the battery is a bit thicker, so it doesn't slide into the case easily, and I don’t want to break anything by forcing it. Anyone else have a similar problem with a battery they ordered on here? I expected better than this from iFixit. My old battery still works, so I will use that for the time being.
UPDATE: I took apart my iPod again, and after a lot of pushing, checking, and pushing again, I got the battery to fit in. I had to use a piece of foam and some double-sided tape to secure my hard drive instead of the blue rubber pads to make the battery fit in height-wise. This is OK in my situation, because I have replaced the hard drive with a compact flash card, but actual hard drives need the cushioning from the blue pads so they don’t break as easily.
I ordered a replacement battery here on iFixit, and it is slightly larger in size than the original. To make it fit height-wise, you need to take the blue pads off the hard drive, which would make it wobble around. Additionally, the battery is a bit thicker, so it doesn't slide into the case easily, and I don’t want to break anything by forcing it. Anyone else have a similar problem with a battery they ordered on here? I expected better than this from iFixit. My old battery still works, so I will use that for the time being.
So, as soon as you press the menu or center button, it resets? Sounds more like a logic board problem. (Have you tried restoring it in iTunes?)