Tips, Tricks and Fixes

[saprano]

Originally Posted by Jafo

There is another, new to me, method of fixing the YLOD other than reflowing.
http://www.haxnetwork.net/showthread...145#post102145 don't know if using these 4 washers will work or not, but I guess it is worth a try.

I came here to post this. Seems like it works cause he said it's been a year since he used the washers. Wow.

[Uxi]

Originally Posted by Jafo

There is another, new to me, method of fixing the YLOD other than reflowing.
http://www.haxnetwork.net/showthread...145#post102145 don't know if using these 4 washers will work or not, but I guess it is worth a try.

I'm gonna try that next.

change the solder which is in Lead-free into a Leaded Solder...
And do a complete reballing of the BGA's...

Wish someone was offering this as a service.

[master_8ball]

My 80gig PS3 crashed again

I turned it on, got into an online match of Battlefield for a minute and then it just turned off. Its flashing red not yellow so I don't know if that's the same as the YLOD. The game is stuck inside, the fan test doesn't work, though I have never tried it before so I don't know if my model does it anyways. Restarting and unplugging everything doesn't work. I'm not too happy, I sent it in for repairs close to a year ago.

At this point I would rather buy a new PS3 the most recent model than send it in and pay again. Any suggestions that don't involve gutting it and re soldering?

I don't have anything backed up either... So will I lose all my game saves, files and stuff but my trophies will be good and I can re download my PSN games? Can I connect the hard drive to my pc and pull stuff off?

edit: I just pulled the hard drive out and then back in, suggested in an article but it didn't do anything.

[garageinc2001]

Is no one mentioning the djwhetzel vid on youtube? Thats the one I used to reflow mine.

[SlmShdy1]

Hey guys, I fixed my YLoD back in February with the re-flow process and it worked like a charm. Only problem now is that it has randomly shut down on me twice since the fix. During normal play, it'll shut down as if it were about to get the YLoD. It'll shut down, beep at you, and have a blinking red light. After pressing the power button once to get it to stop blinking and a second time to get it to turn on, everything works fine.

Is it possible I didn't use enough thermal compound during the repair and it's simply overheating during gameplay? I might open it back up to apply some more or try out that washer theory, but I'd like some advice first.

[Rike255]

Originally Posted by SlmShdy1

Hey guys, I fixed my YLoD back in February with the re-flow process and it worked like a charm. Only problem now is that it has randomly shut down on me twice since the fix. During normal play, it'll shut down as if it were about to get the YLoD. It'll shut down, beep at you, and have a blinking red light. After pressing the power button once to get it to stop blinking and a second time to get it to turn on, everything works fine.

Is it possible I didn't use enough thermal compound during the repair and it's simply overheating during gameplay? I might open it back up to apply some more or try out that washer theory, but I'd like some advice first.

Reflowing is more of a temporary fix than a permanent one. If you got YLOD once, you'll likely get it again. I'd make a backup asap just in case. I don't know anything about this washer method (can't check it out at work) so can't help you there.

Depending on the type of thermal compound you use, less is more. The compound is actually only meant to fill in the air pockets from the uneven metal surfaces. You get better heat dispersion from metal to metal contact than metal to compound, so as long as you get a nice even coat that doesn't limit metal to metal contact, you're good.
For reference, I used Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound (pretty common stuff, considered to be high quality), and a drop the size of a grain of rice was more than enough to cover the PS3 CPU or GPU. Spread it out evenly with an old credit card so that there's a very thin layer covering the entire chip.

[master_8ball]

If I buy a new slim, can I take the hard drive from my fat and put it in the slim to grab the save game files off it?

[aygie]

Originally Posted by master_8ball

If I buy a new slim, can I take the hard drive from my fat and put it in the slim to grab the save game files off it?

No, no way of getting that information back unless you fix the broken PS3 and do a backup unfortunately.

[master_8ball]

Originally Posted by aygie

No, no way of getting that information back unless you fix the broken PS3 and do a backup unfortunately.

Thanks man, this sucks

I might try this washer deal...

[aygie]

Originally Posted by master_8ball

Thanks man, this sucks

I might try this washer deal...

Yeah its a pain in the ass but it prevents people just selling hard drives full of games. If you do manage to get it fixed make sure you deactivate the system too!

[master_8ball]

Originally Posted by aygie

Yeah its a pain in the ass but it prevents people just selling hard drives full of games. If you do manage to get it fixed make sure you deactivate the system too!

Well if I fix it I will back it up and put it in the bedroom I think, end up getting a slim anyways as this is bound to happen again I am sure. I just want my game saves back, and I dont know the last time I synced my trophies.

[master_8ball]

I tried the washer method... didn't do anything...

I have mine all apart again, going to go get a heat gun and some thermal compound and give the reflow a try... after watching the video its much less complicated than I thought it would be, I figured it would be running new solder lines on the motherboard or something.

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by master_8ball

I tried the washer method... didn't do anything...

I have mine all apart again, going to go get a heat gun and some thermal compound and give the reflow a try... after watching the video its much less complicated than I thought it would be, I figured it would be running new solder lines on the motherboard or something.

I'm about to try the washer too on my original ps3. I've bought them. Just need to take the time to open it.

[master_8ball]

Originally Posted by fsavoie

I'm about to try the washer too on my original ps3. I've bought them. Just need to take the time to open it.

The washers I used were a bit smaller in diameter than what was suggested, not sure if that would make a difference or not, I just used what I already had at home. Might grab some washers of the same size he used when I go to home depot as well.

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by master_8ball

The washers I used were a bit smaller in diameter than what was suggested, not sure if that would make a difference or not, I just used what I already had at home. Might grab some washers of the same size he used when I go to home depot as well.

I'm not quite sure it would make a difference... as I'm not convinced it can really fixe the ps3... but again it cost almost nothing to try...

[master_8ball]

Okay so I re flowed my PS3, got it all back together. Turns on and goes to the xmb, all my data is still good ie. pictures, wallpapers, game saves.

But...

When I hit eject it just does the double beep like there is no game inside but there is. I didnt take the BD drive apart and pull it out earlier as I thought it would spit out if it ran. Also when I try to launch a PSN game it looks like it begins to load but just sits at a black screen until I turn it off...

Not sure whats going on, when it turned on I thought I was home free.

EDIT:
Took it apart and found that the ribbon on the bottom of the BD drive wasnt fastened properly, attached that and put it back together and all is good, everything working perfectly including PSN games.

[Alan Gordon]

This afternoon, I was checking out something on my computer via the PS3, and the PS3 powered down by itself.

I decided I'd check it out a few minutes later... and when I did, the PS3 started powering up like normal, but then the green light turned a funky color, and then went red. It happens every time I do this.

Does anyone know what causes this problem?!?!

~Alan

[Moefiz]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

This afternoon, I was checking out something on my computer via the PS3, and the PS3 powered down by itself.

I decided I'd check it out a few minutes later... and when I did, the PS3 started powering up like normal, but then the green light turned a funky color, and then went red. It happens every time I do this.

Does anyone know what causes this problem?!?!

~Alan

Alan....did you try turning it off from the power switch on the back and un-plugging it...

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Moefiz

Alan....did you try turning it off from the power switch on the back and un-plugging it...

Yep!

Still does it!

~Alan

[Baritonic21]

was the light yellow before turning off? if so u may have to reflow or write a eulogy