Tips, Tricks and Fixes

[bageleaterkkjji]

is there any fix for the memory card slot to work....its not doing anything when i put a memory card in it?

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by bageleaterkkjji

is there any fix for the memory card slot to work....its not doing anything when i put a memory card in it?

Do you have the PS3 with the built-in card reader or are you attaching a separate card reader?


fuad

[bageleaterkkjji]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Do you have the PS3 with the built-in card reader or are you attaching a separate card reader?


fuad

built in

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by bageleaterkkjji

built in

Well BEFORE you open it up, I would see if ALL of the slots on the reader are faulty. Sometimes it's just one particular slot, like the SD card slot, that is faulty and everything else is fine. If this is the case, that means the ribbon cable is intact and the PCB board is faulty (the wiring on the slot may be loose). This problem requires you to find parts that would work, which is not simple electronics.

If none of the slots are working, then it could be a loose ribbon cable that was not attached properly or was detached during transport. You could try to open it up (ONLY if your warranty is over) and see what the problem is. You do have to get the two tops off the PS3 to check out this problem. Attaching the loose ribbon is easy.

PCB board fault is hard to fix. Loose ribbon is easy.


fuad

[bageleaterkkjji]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Well BEFORE you open it up, I would see if ALL of the slots on the reader are faulty. Sometimes it's just one particular slot, like the SD card slot, that is faulty and everything else is fine. If this is the case, that means the ribbon cable is intact and the PCB board is faulty (the wiring on the slot may be loose). This problem requires you to find parts that would work, which is not simple electronics.

If none of the slots are working, then it could be a loose ribbon cable that was not attached properly or was detached during transport. You could try to open it up (ONLY if your warranty is over) and see what the problem is. You do have to get the two tops off the PS3 to check out this problem. Attaching the loose ribbon is easy.

PCB board fault is hard to fix. Loose ribbon is easy.


fuad

well i dont have any of the other 2 memory cards so i guess ill have to see if the ribbon is loose thanks ( i must not have put it back on? because ive took it off before lol)

[BrahmaBull]

Originally Posted by BrahmaBull

JD Electronics
203 W Main
Owosso, MI 48867

his ebay seller name is: jdelectronone

The service is 79.99 + 15 shipping + the cost to originally ship it. ($14 for me)

All the reviews I have read about this guy have been good. Anyone's box he wasn't able to repair got a refund for the $79.99.

He claims a 90% success rate.

I have not received the unit back but I just spoke to him on the phone, and he says I should get it in two days.

Hey guys, finally was able to hook the PS3 up - works perfectly!

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by BrahmaBull

Hey guys, finally was able to hook the PS3 up - works perfectly!

Sweet!!!

[Slec]

Congrats. hope you didn't go through withdrawal while is was out!

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by bageleaterkkjji

well i dont have any of the other 2 memory cards so i guess ill have to see if the ribbon is loose thanks ( i must not have put it back on? because ive took it off before lol)

Yeah, I did that when I did my YLOD fix; didn't put the cable back on. It was the last wiring to do before screwing the case in. Hopefully the problem the ribbon not being connected.


fuad

[tqmilymi]

So my 40gb PS3 stopped working yesterday. No problems of late that I've noticed, though I haven't been using it much. The problem is I turn it on and nothing happens. The system powers up, and it seems to accept and eject discs okay, there's just no audit/video connection to the TV, and I've tried hooking it up to a few TVs (all with the same result).

I've had this console for about 1 year and a little less than 10 days, so it seems to have broken *just* after the manufacturers warranty expired. I purchased it through Amazon.com using my Amazon.com Chase card and after contacting the credit card company this afternoon they said it should be covered under the credit card company's extended manufacturer's warranty.

Anyone have suggestions on how I can fix my problem (I read through this thread and didn't see any similar problem), or any experiences working with Chase on an extended manufacturer's warranty?

Thanks.

[Marine Mike]

tqmilymi,

Have you tried turning it on by holding down the power button to reset the video/audio settings?

[Rike255]

@WriteSimply, how's your PS3 working since you did that reflowing? I did the reflow process on Thursday last week and my system worked great until saturday night, but then unfortunately it looks like it overheated and shut down. Turned it back on and it worked, then came back a while later and YLOD again.
The guy who made the Youtube video recommends doing it again and doing the process for a little longer this time.

I think when I put on the two metal plates that put pressure on the CPU/GPU and heatsink, I didn't screw them in tightly enough so there wasn't a good enough connection to transfer the heat, which is why it overheated and thus YLOD again.

Ordered some better thermal paste for my next attempt, hopefully it lasts longer than 3 days this time!

[tqmilymi]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

tqmilymi,

Have you tried turning it on by holding down the power button to reset the video/audio settings?

Marine Mike - Just reset the settings as you suggested and no luck fixing it.

[RiseDarthVader]

Rike255 did you apply some new thermal paste? You have to remove the old thermal paste layer first. And don't make it too thick. It should be extremely thin just enough to allow the heatsink to make contact.

[Slec]

Just a random question. Has anyone else had their PS3 just randomly reset itself (video and audio settings)? Mine does this every once in awhile (3 times in over 2 yrs) and I know my dad's has done it atleast once in the last 15 months.

I turn mine on and it comes on...beeps twice, then I have to redo the setttings. Never near a firmware update

I'm not overly bothered by it, just curious. 60G unit if that means anything.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by tqmilymi

Marine Mike - Just reset the settings as you suggested and no luck fixing it.

Try switching out the HDMI cable.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Rike255

@WriteSimply, how's your PS3 working since you did that reflowing?

Well the last time I played it was yesterday. Didn't check it today. But no issues so far.

It certainly does not behave like a brand new original 60GB but that's to be expected. My PS3 will have the fan blowing on full even if I'm not doing anything sometimes. I put that as wear and tear of other chips heating up rather than the Cell and RSX; a look at my mobo when I was reflowing certainly shows that other chips have had signs of extreme heat-up! I also put the full-on blow as the mobo heating up in general.

But like I said, so far no issues. PS3 fixed last Wednesday (April 8th 2009) and still fine.

I did the reflow process on Thursday last week and my system worked great until saturday night, but then unfortunately it looks like it overheated and shut down. Turned it back on and it worked, then came back a while later and YLOD again.
The guy who made the Youtube video recommends doing it again and doing the process for a little longer this time.

Well djwhetzel's method was different than mine. I studied his video for a while before I decided on my approach. To recap, 15 secs RSX and 15 secs Cell, 30 secs RSX and 30 secs Cell, then another 15 secs RSX and 15 secs Cell all at 2-inch distance. All of this AFTER a 20-40 secs warmup at 5 inch, and another 40 secs cooldown blow after the reflow at high then low temperature. AND of course, keep the heatgun moving as you don't want to over do it as to damage the chips and letting the solder flow to the other parts of the mobo. A flat working space - as flat as you can come up with - is best.

I think when I put on the two metal plates that put pressure on the CPU/GPU and heatsink, I didn't screw them in tightly enough so there wasn't a good enough connection to transfer the heat, which is why it overheated and thus YLOD again.

Oh you DEFINITELY have to put them back almost EXACTLY as you found them. The two metal plates that holds the heatsink/fan to the mobo must be screwed in as flat as you found them. You certainly don't want to overcrank the screws but it has to be installed properly since otherwise it won't make contact.

Like I said in my post, I put in an extra dollop of thermal paste - a drop and a half - on each chip prior to putting it all together, since I saw how much Sony used it and also how easily it seemed to spread when the heatsink is screwed in.

Ordered some better thermal paste for my next attempt, hopefully it lasts longer than 3 days this time!

This is what I used. I wanted to cop a cheap one but then I figured the PS3 IS a gaming console - as well as my most prized electronics component! - that I better not go cheap.

I've used another thermal paste before and that that one was easily spread out. This one is difficult to apply because it almost dries up too fast (still not a curing one). Using my previous experience with thermal paste, I put enough to cover the chips so that the layer LOOKS like the color of the paste while still be pretty thin. AND THEN I put a dollop before the screwing in. I certainly used a lot more than a single-line of paste than the YouTube video.


fuad

[tqmilymi]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Try switching out the HDMI cable.

I've tried different HDMI cables. I also have a 60gb PS3 and have tried hooking the 40gb PS3 up using the cables and connectors from the 60gb one and vice versa. Still no luck. It's definitely the 40gb console, not any of the cables/connectors or televisions.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by tqmilymi

I've tried different HDMI cables. I also have a 60gb PS3 and have tried hooking the 40gb PS3 up using the cables and connectors from the 60gb one and vice versa. Still no luck. It's definitely the 40gb console, not any of the cables/connectors or televisions.

Have you tried the component cables that came with the PS3?

Unfortunately it sounds like something is wrong with your PS3 hardware wise considering its been working normally up to this point. Unless someone else has ideas, I think its time to call Sony.

[adamh]

anyone know of issues with hdmi not working on the original 60 gig version? component works and have tried all troubleshooting like different cables, ports, different tv, resetting with power button etc.. it just wont work. even when i change the audio on the hdmi settings it give me a connection error. any advice would be great, im fine with component but would like hdmi to work for audio reasons.. thanks!!