Sony PS3 60GB HDMI failure repair?

[BarkingGhost]

Morning All,

I have an original PS3 60GB Playstation. A couple of nights ago the unit's video output ceased to work. I had been watching Blu-ray movies on this unit on a one year old plasma TV and I was using the HDMI output on the PS3.

At the time the unit failed, the plasma reported No Signal on the HDMI input the PS3 was connected to. I turned the PS3 On/Off, power cycled, tested on the other three HDMI inputs on the plasma TV, tested on an LCD flat panel's two HDMI inputs, and then tested again on another LCD flat panel's HDMI inputs.

I can turn the unit on and off via the front touch-sensitive button, via the Bluetooth registered remote control, etc., but I cannot get video output over the PS3's HDMI output. I do not have the proprietary A/V cable to test the viability of analog Component video output.

This unit is naturally out of warranty. I am trying to get a guess-timate on what Sony might charge to repair the unit. I do not know if they charge a flat-rate, or if they charge depending on the failure. Anyone know?

[bhampton]

But... you do have the composite cable set that it came with right?

Have you tried that?

Have you tried a different HDMI cable?

-Brian

[bhampton]

As far as I know out of warranty PS3's are exchanged with refurbished units for a flat rate of $149.

Look around a bit and you will see info about holding the power on button for a while which resets the way the PS3 looks for which AV output to use. Trying that may be all you need to do. I think it's just hold the power on button till it beeps again.

-Brian

[BarkingGhost]

Originally Posted by bhampton

But... you do have the composite cable set that it came with right? Have you tried that? Have you tried a different HDMI cable?
-Brian

I have tried multiple HDMI cables, including the one I use with my PS3 Slim (I have two PS3 consoles). I have not tried the Composite A/V cable. I actually forgot all about that. Let me dig that out of storage.

[BarkingGhost]

Originally Posted by bhampton

As far as I know out of warranty PS3's are exchanged with refurbished units for a flat rate of $149.

Look around a bit and you will see info about holding the power on button for a while which resets the way the PS3 looks for which AV output to use. Trying that may be all you need to do. I think it's just hold the power on button till it beeps again.

-Brian

Whether the unit is on or off, if I hold the on/off button down until the a) the unit comes on and b) another audible sound is made (rapid beeping) nothing changes on HDMI.

If I press the on/off button in prolong fashion the unit will just shut itself off, which is predicted and normal. Is there a hard reset button on this thing? Can a PS3 be booted without a hard drive?

[kingofgrills]

Did you try the stock composite cable or component cables yet? That really should be your next step troubleshooting.

[BarkingGhost]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

Did you try the stock composite cable or component cables yet? That really should be your next step troubleshooting.

I tried this late last night. Using the Sony proprietary A/V Composite cable I can get a 480i picture to display. Everything appears to be normal. I went into the Video Settings and toggled through the HDMI output (RGB, Y/Pb/Pr, Auto) and this did nothing for me.

I am trying to find where it might be a video timing issue. Let's say the displays either do not accept and no longer continue to accept a 1080P24 signal as would be the BD playback. I verified that wasn't the case by connecting my PS3 Slim and validated the display inputs.

Its almost like the 60GB PS3 doesn't realize the HDMI output isn't working. Suggestions to try before sending it into Sony? My fear with Sony is that I may not get a 60GB PS3 version but something else entirely.

[lokir1]

Originally Posted by BarkingGhost

I tried this late last night. Using the Sony proprietary A/V Composite cable I can get a 480i picture to display. Everything appears to be normal. I went into the Video Settings and toggled through the HDMI output (RGB, Y/Pb/Pr, Auto) and this did nothing for me.

I am trying to find where it might be a video timing issue. Let's say the displays either do not accept and no longer continue to accept a 1080P24 signal as would be the BD playback. I verified that wasn't the case by connecting my PS3 Slim and validated the display inputs.

Its almost like the 60GB PS3 doesn't realize the HDMI output isn't working. Suggestions to try before sending it into Sony? My fear with Sony is that I may not get a 60GB PS3 version but something else entirely.

try holding the reset button immediately after hitting the power button or immediately pressing and holding the power button after hitting it the first time this should reset the settings also form prior 1st hand experience sony will send back a refurbed unit of the same class that you send them so a 60 gig will get a 60gig back an 80 etc etc so dont be worried to send it to em if need be

[bseivxx]

I also have a 60 gig. Ive had it it for 2 and a half years now with pretty much no problems. The exact same thing happened to me 6 months ago.
I had to switch back to standard A/V cables. From standby mode you hold down the power for 10 seconds it powers on makes a long series of beeps and the lights flash and it resets into standard A/V. Once you can see everything on screen with standard A/V cables, go back to the system settings and switch it back to HDMI mode. I also run my PS3 on my projector using component cables and I've had it do the same thing from component cables. I thought it was the projector, then the ps3 system and then the wires. But now I don't know what causes it. Maybee it just loses sync?
Hope this helps.

[BarkingGhost]

Originally Posted by bseivxx

I also have a 60 gig. Ive had it it for 2 and a half years now with pretty much no problems. The exact same thing happened to me 6 months ago.
I had to switch back to standard A/V cables. From standby mode you hold down the power for 10 seconds it powers on makes a long series of beeps and the lights flash and it resets into standard A/V. Once you can see everything on screen with standard A/V cables, go back to the system settings and switch it back to HDMI mode. I also run my PS3 on my projector using component cables and I've had it do the same thing from component cables. I thought it was the projector, then the ps3 system and then the wires. But now I don't know what causes it. Maybee it just loses sync?
Hope this helps.

When you say, "standby mode" you mean the main power switch on the back is set to On, and the unit is not being used, right? I can already see everything using the standard A/V cable. I'll give it another try in a little bit.

[BarkingGhost]

Originally Posted by lokir1

try holding the reset button immediately after hitting the power button or immediately pressing and holding the power button after hitting it the first time this should reset the settings also form prior 1st hand experience sony will send back a refurbed unit of the same class that you send them so a 60 gig will get a 60gig back an 80 etc etc so dont be worried to send it to em if need be

I didn't know there was a reset button. I need to go find this and whack it around a bit.

[bhampton]

If you get to the point where you consider sending it in... you should, if possible, deactivate both the game and video capabilities from the master account.

Hopefully... this will clear up and you don't have to go through with getting a refurb. I recently did an exchange with Sony and they won't de-activate the old system for games,... they did for video.... They say they can de-activate all the systems of a master account remotely but they only do it once per account so I would have to wait till I go through a few more systems.

=Brian

[Warjack Prime]

The same thing happens to me sometimes but it's my TV. I have a Westinghouse and their tech said it's a known issue. You just unplug the TV power cable from the back of the TV for a few minutes and plug it back in. That works for me.

My symptoms is that I get audio but no video and the TV gives the no signal message like it can't read the video signal.

[BarkingGhost]

Originally Posted by Warjack Prime

The same thing happens to me sometimes but it's my TV. I have a Westinghouse and their tech said it's a known issue. You just unplug the TV power cable from the back of the TV for a few minutes and plug it back in. That works for me.

My symptoms is that I get audio but no video and the TV gives the no signal message like it can't read the video signal.

This isn't the same thing. Sorry, but I have tested this on three different displays with known working HDMI inputs, and via seven different HDMI cables. The HDMI inputs were validated by means of a PS3 Slim and DirecTV HD equipment.

[BarkingGhost]

Originally Posted by bhampton

If you get to the point where you consider sending it in... you should, if possible, deactivate both the game and video capabilities from the master account.

Hopefully... this will clear up and you don't have to go through with getting a refurb. I recently did an exchange with Sony and they won't de-activate the old system for games,... they did for video.... They say they can de-activate all the systems of a master account remotely but they only do it once per account so I would have to wait till I go through a few more systems.

=Brian

This will be interesting. I have no idea what the master account password might be. I created the account some 28 months ago and never had reason to be prompted for it again.

Someone suggested I toggle the rear main power switch and then hold down the front On/Standby button until I heard three quick beeps. But, when I try this I only get three beeps separated and the unit comes on naturally with video across the proprietary A/V Composite cable.

I'm considering going into the system menu and doing a hard firmware reset to see if that does anything, but I guess I should try to access the master account first and deactivate those items you mentioned.

[bhampton]

Hey,

Wish I could be more helpful but thought I should mention that nearly everyone forgets the password for the master account or in unaware they ever made one in the first place. From what I can remember it's very easy to get back to the password. Sony asks you for your birthday or something and you're in. I can't fully remember though because my PS3 trouble was a few months ago and I tried to forget it.

If you get composite video and you can't get HDMI video... Really sound like you could have a partly damaged system. Wish I could be more helpful, maybe after coffee.

-Brian

[stringent]

While not a fix for HDMI, you might be better off purchasing the official Sony PS3 component cable and trying that, at least you will get a decent resolution off your TV rather than the original composite cables.

[Musashi]

This happened to me once; it mysteriously fixed itself a couple days later. Not sure what to advise here.

[BarkingGhost]

I followed Sony Support's email direction and did the following:

Flip the main power rocker switch on the back. Press and hold the front power button while fripping the rear rocker switch back on. I released the front power button after heard the second 'beep'.

On the screen via the proprietary Composite cable, I was informed that it detected an HDMI device and was prompted to decide if I wanted to use it. I chose yes, the screen went blank (presuming it shut off the Composite output), checked the relevant HDMI input and nothing.

I powered down and moved to two other HDTV displays and nothing on the Composite of HDMI. Sony Support's email said if this didn't resolve my issue I had option #3, which is to spend $149 to have them repair it.

Considering I have only played Blu-ray movies on this $499 PS3, I am not so inclined to exceed the current ownership costs which are now at $250/year. Before trying the above, I did plug the unit back into the home network, upgraded the firmware to 3.15, deactivated the master account for games and video, and performed a Default Settings reset.

I truly believe something in the HDMI video output stage is toast, and I am not willing to raise the investment in this particular BD playback device from $499 to $648. Sony simply needs to better support their high-dollar products considering I no where near put this unit to elaborate use. Shameful.

Now let me go buy a disposable BD player.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by stringent

While not a fix for HDMI, you might be better off purchasing the official Sony PS3 component cable and trying that, at least you will get a decent resolution off your TV rather than the original composite cables.

Hey Barking,... You may want to try this suggestion. The Sony component cables are about $20 or maybe less if you buy used at a place like Gamestop. I used the component cables for a while and I don't remember if they only give you up to 1080i but with the set I had at the time the component cables did nearly as well as the HDMI.

I agree that what you did via Sony support email indicates the HDMI output seems to have been zapped.

-Brian