So I've researched the issue, and have come to the conclusion that there isn't a fix but I figured many of the members on here are much more knowledgeable than myself so I'd take a shot in the dark and ask for some help/advice...
From what I've read it seems to be a relatively common problem:
-After not using the PS3 for about 2 weeks, I turned it on to watch a XVID file, after only about 1-2 min it turned off by itself and the power light started blinking red.
-I tried turning the PS3 back on many times and just got a green light, then 3 beeps, then a amber light for about a 1/2 second then a blinking red light.
-I doubt it's the HDD because I have tried reconnecting it several times and I tried to put in another SATA laptop drive I had laying around and it still didn't work.
-I thought that it might be the power supply but I figured since I was getting power (lights) that was the problem.
-I read that this is sometimes caused by over heating but the system was only on for a max of 2 min.
I've read that my best bet is to send it in to sony for $150, and I've explored other companies that fix PS3s but they charge about $50 for diagnostics w/o a promise to fix it. I have fixed many xbox 360s and I am a PC tech so I am fairly capable.
It goes without saying, but any help would be great and sorry for the longer than necessary post...
Sounds like it's the YLOD. I just fixed a PS3 that I bought off someone with that problem. Sometimes you can fix them, sometimes you cant. It probley needs to be reflowed or heat gunned. I heat gunned mine and its working great, for now. Hope you can fix it or just shell out 150 to sony for a refurbished one, or get a brand new one and sell the broken one.
Originally posted by Beno420: Sounds like it's the YLOD. I just fixed a PS3 that I bought off someone with that problem. Sometimes you can fix them, sometimes you cant. It probley needs to be reflowed or heat gunned. I heat gunned mine and its working great, for now. Hope you can fix it or just shell out 150 to sony for a refurbished one, or get a brand new one and sell the broken one.
Pretty much what I figured... You have any good guides for homebrew reflowing? I have a heat gun and silver 5 - I've reflowed a few 360s but I haven't had much luck with the heat gun though...
Well to tell you the truth, that was the first PS3 I have fixed or ever attempted to fix. I bought it off craigslist for like 60 bucks with a controller and a game inside of it and figured I would have broke even or close to it even if the console couldnt be fixed. I just took it apart with a guide on the web (googled it) and then took my heat gun out and did a reflow with it like I was doing one for an xbox 360. It was pretty simple, but if you haven't had much luck with it then I would say to find someone that can reflow, send it to sony for 150, or sell it and get another one. I didn't even test it out to make sure it had power lol. I was very lucky and bored at that time.
Wooly's Xbox 360 guide is how i based it off of. Never even tried to look up a PS3 one since they are both just motherboards with chips on them.
With the heat gun just make sure your not too close to the board. If you get too close with it and it gets too hot, the flow of air could move the chips ever so slightly and it could just be a paperweight afterwards. Then there are clamps on top that put pressure on the chips and just bend them just a little bit. That is what I did and the PS3 has been running games, movies, and everything ever since. I could fix it for you but thats solely up to you. I would also buy it from you if you decide to sell it. Good luck and I hope your as lucky as i was.
That is why it is safer to do the reflow with an oven...that gives you even heat without any concern about component movement. There is also a "washer fix" where you put washers on the heatsink screws...thus making the heatsink that much tighter.
