Yellow Light of Death Has Struck My PS3!

**River_Rat_459** · 05-08-2010, 16:04

Bad news: my PS3 developed the yellow light of death overnight. My son was playing a game on it last night and I noticed the fan was running on high speed. Once he turned off the system, it was left alone for the night. This morning, I went to fire it up and got the "YLOD". I tried the simple fixes you can Google on the 'net, but nothing worked.

Good news (sorta): it looks fixable. I could probably ship it off to Sony for $150 and wait 6-8 weeks, but screw the that! I found a two-part video on how to possibly fix it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Ic1_TY-GU&hd=1. I also downloaded a .PDF version that looks to be about the same set of instructions. Basically I need to go get a heat gun for about $20-$25 and some thermal compound for about $10 from Radio Shack.

My question: Does anyone know of someone who has tried this repair method and if so did it work?

**ASignorelli** · 05-08-2010, 16:10

WTF? I never heard of that before. I thought it was only a Xbox problem. Do you have your PS3 in the open or a confined space?

**River_Rat_459** · 05-08-2010, 16:12

It's in the open. It sits on a small platform next to the TV cabinet.

**Pakman3000** · 05-08-2010, 16:41

Damn dude. If you need a replacement for cheap, let me know and I'll add you to a Best Buy private auction for friends and family if I haven't done so already.

**River_Rat_459** · 05-08-2010, 16:45

I appreciate it TLOG. My dad is checking one of his work sites tomorrow to find the heat gun he had. Once he finds it, I'll try the guidance in the video and see if I can recover it.

**DaCajun** · 05-08-2010, 19:46

If you mess it up with a heat gun you can not reverse it and it is screwed. Sony would then probably not repair it or charge you more. What you are doing with the heat gun is remelting the solder connection on the core and hopefully it flows back around the connections correctly. Try this other very simple method first before you try the heat gun. I here it works very well. Link to site PS3 YLOD fix

**River_Rat_459** · 05-08-2010, 20:04

I read up on what the whole "reflowing" entailed with the heat gun, but this washer method is worth a try. It'll definitely save some of the tearing down, which when you have big fingers like me is a pain in the butt. Thanks for the find, Caj.

**Pakman3000** · 05-08-2010, 20:16

Check your email.

**MaximusR3** · 05-08-2010, 22:48

did sony really tell you 6-8 weeks?

when i sent mine in i had it back within a week of shipping it off, but that was a while back so things may have slowed down since then. but 150 is a bit much to pay for an issue that isn't exactly unheard and of no fault of your own. Hopefully you can get it going again with some DIY methods

**River_Rat_459** · 05-08-2010, 23:31

To be honest, Max, I'm going by the messages that I've seen posted around the net in the past year in regards to the cost and time required for repair. I didn't call Sony today, and I'm not in a hurry to either. This is the second time I've had to repair my PS3 (the first being earlier this year when I had to replace the blu-ray drive). If it bites the dust after this repair attempt, I may as well take it out for target practice with my 12-gauge.

**MaximusR3** · 05-08-2010, 23:55

just make sure you pull out that hard drive before you blast it, so you can salvage as much data as you can for the next one you get. Then just pop it in the new PS3 and either use it if it's bigger or the same size as the other hard drive, or do a backup onto an external drive and then swap the new one back in and restore the data to the new drive

we'll be here if you need assistance :ugeek:

**DaCajun** · 05-09-2010, 01:53

Originally Posted by MaximusR3

just make sure you pull out that hard drive before you blast it, so you can salvage as much data as you can for the next one you get. Then just pop it in the new PS3 and either use it if it's bigger or the same size as the other hard drive, or do a backup onto an external drive and then swap the new one back in and restore the data to the new drive

we'll be here if you need assistance :ugeek:

Max they don't work that way. A new PS3 will not recognize the data on the old HDD. When a HDD is put into a PS3 it is formatted then coded to only work with that PS3. That was my problem when I had to get a new one when mine got the YLOD still under under warranty. When you put a HDD from one PS3 into another it will reformat for that new PS3. But I back mine up on an external once a week or when I have a save that I really don't want to lose. The backup will transfer to the new PS3 HDD except for some data like KZ2 since the saves for that game are locked from being copied or transferred.

**MaximusR3** · 05-09-2010, 01:57

well damn it all to hell, i thought it would let you swap since it was already formatted for a PS3, i didn't think it had to be formatted to each individual PS3 :?

very well then River, shoot the hell out of it or bash it with a baseball bat, Office Space style

**River_Rat_459** · 05-09-2010, 13:08

Alrighty...I just finished up putting the PS3 back together after using the washer method that Cajun pointed out. It was easy to do, as I only had to remove the blu-ray drive and power supply. I think the thing that took me longest was grinding down one of the washers to make it fit on the lower right-hand area.

Unfortunately, this procedure didn't work. I was hopeful that it would, but it just didn't work out that way. I guess I will try the heat gun method later once I get the gun from my dad.

I thought I'd share some notes as I go along that may be helpful to anyone who has to get into their PS3 later on:
Note the wire in the photo below (sorry for the quality):

In my particular model (an original 80 GB fatboy model with backwards compatibility), this runs from the WI-FI/Bluetooth transmitter to a connection point near the rear. The wire itself seems to be rather sturdy, but the soldered connection points look fragile. This wire had a small piece of tape that held it against the casing of the power supply, probably to avoid snagging. Again, the main thing here is to be mindful not to snag it.

In any of the videos or instructions I have found online, I have not heard anyone mention how much spring is in these retaining plates. No big issues here, but the potential to fling the screw across the room is there.

Finally...

These there items were essential in my case. The 100 proof whiskey was to drink away the sorrowful fact that I could not play me beloved PS3. The aspirin was for the ensuing headache. There's a cup of coffee was necessary to wake my ass up from aforementioned drinking and headache.

**DaCajun** · 05-09-2010, 16:30

Sucks to here that washer thing didn't work. Hope you have better luck with the heat gun. Just remember if you have to buy a new PS3, Sony is offering extended warranties which are at a very good price compared to the ones the retailers sell you.

**River_Rat_459** · 05-09-2010, 16:31

Originally Posted by DaCajun

Sucks to here that washer thing didn't work. Hope you have better luck with the heat gun. Just remember if you have to buy a new PS3, Sony is offering extended warranties which are at a very good price compared to the ones the retailers sell you.

And if it comes to that, I will most certainly be getting the extended warranty.

**smoke** · 05-10-2010, 14:08

Originally Posted by River_Rat_459

Originally Posted by DaCajun

Sucks to here that washer thing didn't work. Hope you have better luck with the heat gun. Just remember if you have to buy a new PS3, Sony is offering extended warranties which are at a very good price compared to the ones the retailers sell you.

And if it comes to that, I will most certainly be getting the extended warranty.

I wouldn't jump on it quite that quick. Find out how much the warranty is first, compared to shipping it in for repair. Its not like this thing is breaking every other weekend. If you've had one issue since you've had your PS3, I would just send it in the 1 time, and be done with it.

It is a statistical fact, that extended warranty's are not worth the amount you spend on them, as 90% of all break-fixes occur after the warranty expires.

**ASignorelli** · 05-10-2010, 15:12

yeah, $150 is a huge price, but I though Sony had a good recovery program... you still have your original box with all the instructions and warranty? You should check that out, cause it could possibly be fixed for FREE.

**River_Rat_459** · 05-10-2010, 17:18

Originally Posted by ASignorelli

yeah, $150 is a huge price, but I though Sony had a good recovery program... you still have your original box with all the instructions and warranty? You should check that out, cause it could possibly be fixed for FREE.

Yeah, I still got the box it came with, but it's long out of warranty. I think we've had it a little over two years now. The wife got it for me for a gift, but she never bought the extended warranty. :cry:

The thing about it is not just the $150 +tax, but the amount of time. Supposedly it's a 6-8 week process though I don't know if it's true. It's probably foolish to be so impatient, but I think I'll give the heat gun method a try first and then take it from there if it doesn't work.

**smoke** · 05-10-2010, 17:24

Originally Posted by River_Rat_459

Originally Posted by ASignorelli

yeah, $150 is a huge price, but I though Sony had a good recovery program... you still have your original box with all the instructions and warranty? You should check that out, cause it could possibly be fixed for FREE.

Yeah, I still got the box it came with, but it's long out of warranty. I think we've had it a little over two years now. The wife got it for me for a gift, but she never bought the extended warranty. :cry:

The thing about it is not just the $150 +tax, but the amount of time. Supposedly it's a 6-8 week process though I don't know if it's true. It's probably foolish to be so impatient, but I think I'll give the heat gun method a try first and then take it from there if it doesn't work.

This is where it all comes down too. How much is your time worth? Though they say it might be 6-8 weeks, that's probably worst case, infact it may be sooner, they always err on the side of safety.

$150.00 bucks and 6 weeks is still cheaper then buying a brand new PS3 with an extended warranty.

**XxSilentxFartxX** · 05-10-2010, 17:26

you can make the switch to the 360

I have made these repairs before. The second link that you have works pretty well. Otherwise they are right if you mess with it it voids all warranty. I can fix it but that also voids all warranty. I dont have a sony certification though. just microsofts. I do issue my own warranty but its not lifetime. I take them case by case. Id have to see what im dealing with to let you know if i can do it...

**DaCajun** · 05-10-2010, 19:33

Originally Posted by smoke

Originally Posted by River_Rat_459

Originally Posted by DaCajun

Sucks to here that washer thing didn't work. Hope you have better luck with the heat gun. Just remember if you have to buy a new PS3, Sony is offering extended warranties which are at a very good price compared to the ones the retailers sell you.

And if it comes to that, I will most certainly be getting the extended warranty.

I wouldn't jump on it quite that quick. Find out how much the warranty is first, compared to shipping it in for repair. Its not like this thing is breaking every other weekend. If you've had one issue since you've had your PS3, I would just send it in the 1 time, and be done with it.

It is a statistical fact, that extended warranty's are not worth the amount you spend on them, as 90% of all break-fixes occur after the warranty expires.

From Sony's site:

With the PlayStation Protection Plan, you can extend the same coverage from the original manufacturer’s one-year warranty for one or two additional years. The pricing includes all shipping charges and repairs, which are performed by PlayStation-trained service technicians at SCEA-authorized repair facilities. The PlayStation Protection Plan is available beginning in May 2010. PSP owners can also choose the Accidental Damage Plan, which provides coverage for cracked-screen damage in the event of an unexpected drop. See pricing below:

* PS3 – 1-year extension ($44.99) or 2-year extension ($59.99)
* PSP – 1-year extension ($29.99) or 2-year extension ($39.99)
* PSP Accidental Damage – 1-year ($39.99) or 2-year ($49.99)

http://us.playstation.com/support/prote ... /index.htm

These are still cheaper than what you get from places like Best Buy, Gamestop, or any of those places.

Well I think they are worth it. So far EVERY system I've ever owned has broke or burnt out from over use

with in the extended warranty time and I every time I get a new replacement. Usually the price drops and when I bring it back to Best Buy I get the replacement and the difference in money from what it cost me originally and what it cost now. Usually $100 credit back every time. Same thing when I just replaced my PS3 in February, I got a new PS3 slim and $100 credit back at Best Buy. I doubt the Sony warranty will work that way though.

**River_Rat_459** · 05-13-2010, 11:54

The bad news: the heat gun method did not solve the problem. Additionally, I was able to swap my power supply with a friends and found that it wasn't the problem, nor was there anything wrong with my supply to begin with. The conclusion is that the motherboard and/or the processors are officially dead. I'm sure it wasn't a power surge, since I've got all of my electronics on a surge protector.

My best guess is that it got more overheated than I first thought. I'm suspicious that one of my kids may have done something else to it (like jarred it or knocked it down while it was running hot), but nobody is fessing up to that and I doubt they will. At worst, I'm out $10 for the tube of thermal compound I had to buy.

The good news: I've got some connections and outlets to get a good deal on a new system. Obviously, I'll be buying the extended warranty this time! One deal I'm looking at may be a 250 GB system with BFBC2 and GOW3 for about $400 plus shipping. I've got my old hard drive and a external drive case to mount it in, so hopefully I'll be able to recover most of my saved games.

DBG - Go ahead and e-mail your address info to me at bigdaddywv@gmail.com. Since I'm going to have to wait about another week for payday and will probably get my own copy of GOW3, I'll go ahead and send Cajun's copy to you since you were next on the list. I'll probably mail it out tomorrow.

**David_3033** · 05-13-2010, 12:50

Originally Posted by River_Rat_459

DBG - Go ahead and e-mail your address info to me at bigdaddywv@gmail.com. Since I'm going to have to wait about another week for payday and will probably get my own copy of GOW3, I'll go ahead and send Cajun's copy to you since you were next on the list. I'll probably mail it out tomorrow.

I just sent you my work address and home. Either one is fine with me. Thanks. :mrgreen:

**River_Rat_459** · 05-19-2010, 19:37

The new 120 GB baby has arrived, along with BFBC2 (Limited Edition), GOW3, and an Intec Turbo Shock 3 controller (anyone ever used this brand?). They also threw in an extra HDMI cable.

I've got to download the obligatory system updates (YAWN) and try to restore my game saves. I'll be catching up with you all sooner or later.

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