Ok, so I think my PS3 just broke; it was plugged in and the red light was on to show it was in stand by, I pressed the on button and it bleeped but didn't come on, tried again, then tried pressing the eject button and the same thing happened so I tried adjusting the power cable at the back to check it was in properly and heard a quiet fizzing sound and now the console seems to be completely dead (can't get the red light to come on). I'm freaking out because it's an imported 60GB Hong Kong PS3 (I'm in the UK) that I bought about a year ago off some guy who I have no idea how to contact anymore, and I'm pretty sure he just bought it off someone else anyway so I have no warranty or anything.. It's worked fine up until now and I have no idea what could have caused this problem...
Has anyone heard of something similar happening? or does anyone have any idea what might have happened to it? I'm guessing (and hoping) it's just something like the PSU blew and I'll be able to replace fairly cheaply and easily, but what's the chance that the damage is more severe? Does anyone have any idea how much it'll cost to get fixed? If it is just the PSU does anyone know where I could order a replacement from? Could I send the console to Sony to get it repaired (I'd assume for a price) even though it's imported? Any help would be greatly appreciated cause as I said, I'm really feaking out here...
I would first just try changing the fuse for the cable plug.
If it is broken then I believe you would only be able to send it to Hong Kong for repair (the downside of imports). Calling Sony would answer this for you.
Thanks for the help liamrabey, I tried my PS3 with the cable from my PC which is working fine and to no avail. I contacted Sony and informed them of the situation but they told me that, as was expected, because it's not a European console they can't replace or repair it. They advised me to get in contact with the Playstation Hong Kong branch and see what, if anything they can do for me but given that the call is bound to take forever (will they even have any English speaking operators?) and cost a small fortune, and the delivery to send the console out to Hong Kong for repair, and, I'd assume for them to send it back would cost another not-so-small fortune, and that's only if they will do anything about it at all, I'm just not sure it's worth the effort...
Ordering a new PSU online seems like the easiest option at this stage, but still; £100 just for a PSU seems pretty extortionate, and I can't be sure that that's the only problem with the console either... I guess the upside to replacing the PSU myself is that I could do that PS3 disc swap mod that I've been wondering whether or not to do for a while while I'm at it but I dunno;
What would other people recomend?
How likely is it that other components got damaged when the PSU blew?
Does anyone know of anywhere else where I could get ahold of a new PSU for cheaper, or get my PS3 repaired in the UK?
Has anyone had any experience with trying to send consoles off to Hong Kong for repair?
Again, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Edit: Looking through the list of components at that webite you linked me to, I noticed you can get a new mains connector switch (https://www.ps2repairs.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=54&products_id=544), is it possible that it's just my connector switch which got damaged? Does anyone know how I could I find out whether it's just the connector switch or the PSU that's damaged?
One option is to find someone you know who has a PS3 bought near you and use their receipt to take it back to the shop.
Its worth a try....I did it once with a PS2 that I accidentally broke whilst chipping it. I used a friends receipt, took it back to the shop, they gave it a quick test and then replaced it for a brand new one.
You are lucky with the receipt trick. Most of the stores in the United States now scan and print the serial number of the unit on the receipt! I suppose to prevent exactly what you were doing. :(
I have a 60 Gig unit that simply did NOTHING when you plugged it in. Not even a red light would come on. Completely dead.
I opened it and tried a different power supply, a different connector (like the one linked to on the UK site above) -- didn't help. I was CERTAIN that it was going to be the power supply too -- shows what I know.
I swear the PS3 motherboards are a HUGE pain and they seem to fail more than any other part (other than the blu-ray drives).
