Repair Your Sony PS3 YLOD\RLOD Problem (3 Beeps + Flashing Red Light)
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If you’re here then your PlayStation 3 is probably not booting up or only booting up for a short time. This is followed by 3 beeps and a flashing yellow and or red light. If this is the issue you are having with your PS3, then you’re in good company. This seems to be a major issue that has effected PlayStation 3 systems around the world. Sony wants $150 + shipping to repair this problem. This problem has been termed the “Yellow Light of Death” ( YLOD ) and I have also seen it listed ad the “Red Light of Death” ( RLOD ). Fortunately for all of your gamers who have been frantically searching for YLOD (RLOD) repair instructions, this site has just what you’re looking for. When our PS3 developed the red flashing light issue I, like you, began searching for answers on the Internet. I ran across reset procedures such as holding the power button on until the PS3 enters a reset mode. I ran across PS3 Repair Guides for $29 and up. But I also ran across the video listed below. At first it seemed like it might be too good to be true, but after performing this procedure on our YLOD effected PS3, I can tell that it does work. You only need a few tools (including a heat gun) and some thermal heat sink compound. Arctic Silver 5, the heat sink compound mentioned in the video, can be found on eBay and as well as online and local electronic stores.
Please be aware that the instructions for disassembling the PlayStation 3 were not accurate for my 40gb unit. Take your time and don’t force anything as you may cause more problems that could render your PS3 truly dead. I have successfully applied this Yellow Light of Death repair on three PlayStation 3 units and so far they all seem to be functioning correctly. Watch the video and follow along very carefully. I used an in expensive Wagner heat gun which got a little hotter than 350c, I simply held it back from the main board a bit more. I did use the Arctic Silver 5 high density heat sink compound and purchased it from one of the electronics vendors listed right below. Fix Your PS3 Effected With the Yellow Light of Death
I hope you have as much success resurrecting your dead PS3 as I had with mine. Post your questions and comments here on this page, I’ll try to help when time permits. Give a shout out to gilksy1 on YouTube for making the video also. Good luck fixing your broken Sony PS3 game console!  |
John:
Hey cool, this is what I have been looking for. Some guy is selling repair for $40 on ebay, but I want to try it myself first. Thanks for the post!
10 April 2010, 12:05 amLizzy:
I used the repair services at gophermods.com and they fix my PS3 for $69. They use the Arctic Silver thermal paste also. I had a game stuck in the machine and they returned it with my repaired PlayStation 3. Check them out for reliable repair service.
10 April 2010, 6:21 amPS3 Gamster:
How long does this PS3 repair work for? I read on another blog that this is just a temporary fix. I don’t know if I wanna take my PS3 apart cause it seems like theres a lot of stuff I’m gonna have to put back and what if I don’t do it right? This YLOD fix seems like a lot work work for a temporary PlayStation 3 repair. Why do they call it YLOD Yellow Light of Death if really it should be RLOD Red Light of Death? My PlayStation 3 has a flashing red light not yellow.
10 April 2010, 6:43 amMark:
The first PS3 I repaired is going on four months now. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully, keep track of where each set of screws go (ie: place them in separate piles), don’t force anything to come apart and it should work just fine. Some people may want to send their PS3 in for repair, but this is a great fix for those of us who like to save money and tackle things ourselves.
Good luck with your PS3 Repair!
Mark
10 April 2010, 8:12 amMark:
Upldate: I have run across several people on the Internet who have stated that this is only a temporary fix. The two I have done are still working just fine. I have a feeling some people are not applying the heat long enough, remember, a second is “one thousand one, one thousand two, etc”. When I repaired mine I applied the heat gun for something like 20 seconds as opposed to 15 as stated in the video. Another consideration is the thermal heat compound. No, they are not all the same. I highly recommend the Arctic Silver paste, and apply it extremely thin. The idea is to create a thin layer keeping the metal heat sink off of the the processor. Too much will reduce the heat transfer from one to the other. When re-assembling your broken (now fixed) PlayStation 3 (PS3) be extremely careful not to flex your motherboard. If you flex the board even the slightest bit you may create the same problem you’re trying to fix with the re-flow process. When you apply the heat to these areas of the motherboard you’re trying to melt the solder that has crack, re-establishing the connection(s). Good luck and post your questions or comments.
Mark
19 April 2010, 7:35 amTony:
Mark, I also have a 40GB unit and the board does not match the video. Gilsky unplugs his battery but that is not the way my battery is attached. What did you do? I left the battery in place when I did the reflow. For a minute, it was success but then YLOD. I read on another page that not disconnecting the battery would not allow the board to reset. Also wondering about the power supply…though can’t see how since the unit is getting power to blink the red light!
20 April 2010, 9:14 amMark:
Hi Tony, the battery as you can see from the image toward the top of this page has been removed. If you look closely, you can see it will slide one way (against springs) and pop out. You insert it the same way by placing one side in and pushing it a little until the other side drops down. I know this sounds vague, but look really closely and you should be able to see which way the battery will move. Use a small flat head screwdriver or something similar. Let me know if you don’t understand and I will post some better directions for you on how to remove the battery. I think it’s best to remove the battery as you don’t want any power to the board while heating it, I doubt this has anything to do with your YLOD though. If you’re going to try the repair again, I would suggest sort of warming the the entire board on both sides with your heat gun. As Gilksy shows, heat each section, but try going a few seconds longer on each area. The idea is to actually melt the solder without toasting any components. I assume many people are being cautious with their heat process or maybe people are applying too much heat compound. Too much compound can actually create resistance in the heat transfer. When assembling the PS3, but sure not to flex the board also, or this could undo your hard work in the reflow process.
Good luck!
Mark
Let me know how you make out.
20 April 2010, 3:46 pmTony:
Thanks for the info. That helped. Redid the board holding the heat gun 1-1 1/2 inches away and closer to 20 seconds for each part on both sides. Unfortunately, to my dismay, the repair did not work. When you power the system up, it goes through the routine and ends with the flashing red light. Unless the problem lies in the power supply, looks like I will be forking some bucks over to Sony.
21 April 2010, 9:28 amMark:
One of the ad links on this page should show YLOD repair for $69. I think it was a University tech. department or something like that. I was thinking about using their service myself if mine fail again. They do it right and guaranty the repair for something like 3 months.
Good Luck!
21 April 2010, 9:27 pmcarlos:
Bueno mi hermano yo hise todo lo del video ii con calma y a la verdad me esta trabajando de lo mas perfecto grasia al video
24 April 2010, 6:04 pmGM-GUY:
I just got the YLOD yesterday. It was on a 60GB launch machine (came with Talledega Nights) and has been fine this whole 3.5 years. About 1 month ago it shut off on me while playing MAG – but fired right back up. Yesterday – YLOD, no luck on restarts.
I found a youtube video series by gilksy, and I fixed my system !!! I was then able to back up my stuff.
Some things I did differently, due to past circuit board experience:
1) I ran the heat slightly higher than 350C, probably 400C.
2) I kept the heat on and moving about twenty seconds per area (see video) then when over all areas again for another 20 seconds total.
3) I used Arctic Silver heat sink past from Radio Shack and left it abit thicker than almost see through. You want enough to make solid contact with no voids, excess with cause stress on the chip when it heats up while running and potentially crack a solder joint.
My guess is that the heat profile in the IR reflow oven during assembly was off and allowed what is call a ‘Cold Joint’ these are susceptable to cracking. The heat gun, while not at full temp, will have a tendency to reflow the bad joint. The balance is how hot to get the board with out causing damage to the chips or the board material itself (hole wall cracks and pad lift).
I will advise if/when I get the YLOD again – but I’ll be looking for sales on the new PS3′s
2 May 2010, 11:05 pmMichael:
I have mine all torn apart and will reflow tomorrow (forgot to get a heat gun, lol). I will post me results.
10 May 2010, 10:31 pmMichael:
Confirmed!!!! Worked for me. Thanks so much Gilsky. Also I am not going to use it for a while and let it sit for a month or so to see if that cuts down on the life expectancy of the fix. I have a spare.
thanks again. any help please feel free to ask.
11 May 2010, 7:37 pmMark:
Hey Michael, thanks for posting your results! I’m glad it worked for you too. There should be class action lawsuit against Sony for this issue. These PS3s are not lasting as one might expect for a $400 machine. Our’s is not used as a blue ray, it’s not kept in any thing, we keep it clean and it’s not used non-stop. This thing should have lasted years longer.
Mark
11 May 2010, 7:57 pmGerry:
Ok where do I find the PDF?
7 June 2010, 8:49 amGM-GUY:
Got the YLOD again after about 1 week
My advice, fix it anyway you can, update your trophies, and use the ethernet cable copy method and save your stuff.
7 June 2010, 10:41 amandimlee:
there are a lot of DIY sites that you can find online that will show you how to properly fix any problems on your ps3. for yellow light problems.
15 June 2010, 10:04 amwrcooper:
This worked perfectly. Dude you are the bomb !!!
4 July 2010, 9:21 pm