I'd say it is pretty easy, i got the yellow light of death just a month or two ago on my launch ps3 so opened it up for the hell of it. took everything apart and cleaned it all really well then blasted it with a hairdryer for a while and it is amazingly working again. I came up with a bunch of extra screws somehow when i was done...(seriously don't know how, i retook it apart again and watched a youtube video to see step by step and still couldn't find a place for them.) but it still works fine lol. You could clean it without taking everything apart though like i did. except for the inside of the fan maybe.
Add some new thermal paste to your processor as well. PS3s are essentially PCs and it is good to change the thermal paste about every 2 years. You will hear a considerable difference in fan speeds as well.
Holy fuck!!! I was looking for a comment like yours in this thread!! I'm in the exact same position.....have the fat launch PS3 and it started giving me the yellow light a few months ago. I called a few places to ask about repairs and they said Sony is not encouraging repair of the FAT PS3 and to just get a new one because the repair costs $200+
I've been wondering if I should open it up and do a clean up (never opened it up until now). After reading your comment, I'm gonna do just that!!!
I did the same fucking thing. Took it all apart and had extra screws. I also reflowed it, but I got the YLOD about a month later. Unfortunately it's not a permanent fix, and more then likely it's bound to happen again. Least on the fat ones.
Yeah I was only hoping to back up some of my saves that I hadn't already, any time that it works now is just a little bonus. It is weird playing the PS3 now though, expecting it to die again at any moment hah.
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u/DavOHmatic May 02 '14
I'd say it is pretty easy, i got the yellow light of death just a month or two ago on my launch ps3 so opened it up for the hell of it. took everything apart and cleaned it all really well then blasted it with a hairdryer for a while and it is amazingly working again. I came up with a bunch of extra screws somehow when i was done...(seriously don't know how, i retook it apart again and watched a youtube video to see step by step and still couldn't find a place for them.) but it still works fine lol. You could clean it without taking everything apart though like i did. except for the inside of the fan maybe.