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  • How to Fix the Yellow LED of Death

How to Fix the Yellow LED of Death

August 31st, 2009 / Niraj Shah / Guides & Tutorials
11

The Yellow LED/Light of Death (or YLOD) on the PlayStation 3 indicated a hardware failure. It’s similar to the Red Ring of Death (RROD) on the Xbox 360 but less common, according to Sony. It’s frustrating if you have ever experienced this problem before, as you cannot start up your PS3 or even eject the disc. The YLOD can mean one of several things: faulty power supply, disconnected CPU/GPU, fan/cooling failure, or excess dust/dirt.

YLOD:

The YLOD is actually easy to fix in most cases, and most problems involving the YLOD are CPU/GPU related. I encountered the YLOD over the weekend and managed to fix it within a few hours thanks to a tutorial on YouTube (included below). If your console is still under warranty, you should send it to Sony to get it repaired for free. Otherwise, doing it yourself is the best option (or Sony will charge you $150 + tax).

Your warranty is void if you follow the instructions in the video below as you need to open the console up. You also need at least two hours to properly fix the issue, which includes complete disassemble (and assembly of the PS3) and reflowing the solder. If you prefer text based instructions, you can download a detailed PDF guide here.

What you need is:

  • Philips screwdrivers (#1 x4 and #00 x2-1/2)
  • Torx (T-10) screwdriver or similar flathead
  • Heat gun capable of 500ºc
  • 2 hours of free time

Video Tutorial (Part 1):

Video Tutorial (Part 2):

[Download PDF Guide]

Tutorial, Videos, YLOD

11 comments on “How to Fix the Yellow LED of Death”

  1. kite says:
    August 31st, 2009 at 10:34 AM

    Thats a load of bull! An easy fix method? Having to re-solder everything is not good. You may as well wrap it in a blanket like the xbox when that RROD. Its very bad that this is a common theme with this gens consoles!

    Reply
  2. DaLi says:
    August 31st, 2009 at 11:41 AM

    hey Niraj no offense man but i think i just mentioned that in an article of mine , i think you never took a look at it or missed it by any chance ,anyways if u can check again you can see it , already fixed mine twice following gilksy guide and pdf the ones you posted are second handed , gilksy explains more by details :), if this happens again am gonna send it to sony to get it fixed for good even if i have to pay 200 … it took me an hour to fix it , it lasted a week and a half before i got the second one ……

    Reply
  3. DaLi says:
    August 31st, 2009 at 12:03 PM

    one more thing i think this guy is doing it wrong , because you should not move the board while doing this , your shaking the small peaces well nvm it works ……

    Reply
  4. Niraj Shah says:
    August 31st, 2009 at 12:10 PM

    @kite No one said anything about re-soldering. You use the heat gun to melt the solder all at once, and the CPU/GPU slots straight back in. A easy process compared to re-soldering.

    @DaLi This article was based off the one your originally wrote. I can’t find the PDF link, but I personally found the two above videos easier to use. I fixed my YLOD over the weekend with easy. If you are able to resend me the PDF link, I will add it to this article.

    I agree about moving the board around. When I did mine, it was on a flat surface with tin-foil underneath to reflect the heat back up, under the board. Worked like a charm!

    Reply
  5. DaLi says:
    August 31st, 2009 at 12:21 PM

    i guess when hardware stuff are fried this means thats it they are fried no other chance but to send to sony to get a new one 🙁 ah well gl for everyone fixing i hope no one gets this in the ps slim or that would be ……….. no idea what word to say …

    Reply
  6. DaLi says:
    August 31st, 2009 at 12:24 PM

    if the warrenty seal is torn off would sony still accept to fix it even if i have to pay , also that my warrenty passed its time… ? i don’t even wanna ask sony that question lol

    Reply
  7. John Dogbegah says:
    August 31st, 2009 at 1:25 PM

    I would rather send it to sony than mess with a $500 console

    Reply
  8. kite says:
    August 31st, 2009 at 11:50 PM

    @Niraj Shah
    Oh okay. still, this problem shouldnt exist in the 1st place. I used to get so much stick regarding xbox’s RROD and now there is a similar ps3 problem! I just think its shoddy. All of my old consolers pre 1994 are all still working fine! Bring back the old days of quality

    Reply
  9. DaLi says:
    September 1st, 2009 at 6:56 PM

    That’s because the old consoles since the ps1 and ps2 for example and the old nintendo were made in japan , since everything now is made in china , problems would occur , who cares though china got the cheapest handworkers on the planet for less cost production.

    Reply
  10. PlayStation Protection Plan Announced in UK - XTREME PS3 says:
    May 4th, 2010 at 2:15 PM

    […] the number of PS3s getting the Yellow Light of Death (YLOD) these days, its no surprise that gamers are worried about their precious consoles. Sony has now […]

    Reply
  11. DANKS says:
    September 3rd, 2011 at 5:41 AM

    @DaLi

    umm consumers care,
    obviously its better to buy products that are made well specially if your spending a few hundred bucks on it its only 3 hundred bucks but if it keeps breaking youd have to spend a few hundred every time it all adds up

    Reply

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