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Featured Guide

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

50

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

9

  • Smart Plate
  • 4 steps
  • Top Cover
  • 2 steps
  • Blu-ray Disc Drive
  • 3 steps
  • Motherboard Assembly
  • 6 steps
  • AC Inlet
  • 3 steps
  • Rear Cover
  • 2 steps
  • Heat Sink
  • 8 steps
  • Motherboard
  • 13 steps
  • Yellow Light of Death (YLOD) Fix Kit
  • 9 steps

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Introduction

This procedure may not completely revive your console. Since the “Yellow Light of Death” is a generic hardware error, the issue can range from an overheating CELL/RSX from dried thermal paste underneath the IHS, bad NEC/TOKIN capacitors, a short on the board, faulty RSX, etc. This guide may only temporarily fix consoles with a faulty flip chip (most likely RSX but CELL could also be at fault). An RSX/CELL replacement (requiring a BGA rework station) would be required to permanently repair a console with a faulty flip chip.

Note: Your PlayStation may look slightly different inside. Be cautious when performing this process on your machine.

What you need

Video Overview

Step 1

              Smart Plate
  • Use the tip of a spudger to remove the black rubber screw cover from the side of the PS3.
  • The screw cover may be underneath a warranty sticker. This sticker will change appearance, and show “VOID” after it has been removed.

Use the tip of a spudger to remove the black rubber screw cover from the side of the PS3.

The screw cover may be underneath a warranty sticker. This sticker will change appearance, and show “VOID” after it has been removed.

1024

Step 2

  • Remove the single 8.5 mm T10 Security Torx screw from the smart plate.

Remove the single 8.5 mm T10 Security Torx screw from the smart plate.

Step 3

  • Pull the smart plate toward the hard drive bay, then lift it off the body of the PS3.

Pull the smart plate toward the hard drive bay, then lift it off the body of the PS3.

Step 4

  • Be sure to keep track of the small metal bracket loosely held in the top cover, if equipped.

Be sure to keep track of the small metal bracket loosely held in the top cover, if equipped.

Step 5

              Top Cover
  • Remove the following seven screws:
  • Six 52 mm Phillips screws
  • One 30 mm Phillips screw

Remove the following seven screws:

Six 52 mm Phillips screws

One 30 mm Phillips screw

Step 6

  • Lift the top cover from its rear edge and rotate it toward the front of the PS3.
  • Remove the top cover.
  • There is a plastic hook located in a hole on the top back right hand side corner. Carefully push the plastic hook a bit from the rear of the machine with a spudger to release the rear right of the casing.

Lift the top cover from its rear edge and rotate it toward the front of the PS3.

Remove the top cover.

There is a plastic hook located in a hole on the top back right hand side corner. Carefully push the plastic hook a bit from the rear of the machine with a spudger to release the rear right of the casing.

Step 7

              Blu-ray Disc Drive
  • Disconnect the Blu-ray power cable from the motherboard.
  • Pull the connector straight up and out of its socket.

Disconnect the Blu-ray power cable from the motherboard.

Pull the connector straight up and out of its socket.

Step 8

  • Lift the Blu-ray drive from the edge nearest the power supply and rotate it away from the chassis enough to access its ribbon cable.

Lift the Blu-ray drive from the edge nearest the power supply and rotate it away from the chassis enough to access its ribbon cable.

Step 9

  • Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Blu-ray ribbon cable socket.
  • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.
  • Pull the ribbon cable out of its socket.
  • Remove the Blu-ray drive from the PS3.
  • If replacing the Blu-ray drive, transfer the power cable to your new drive.

Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Blu-ray ribbon cable socket.

Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

Pull the ribbon cable out of its socket.

Remove the Blu-ray drive from the PS3.

If replacing the Blu-ray drive, transfer the power cable to your new drive.

Step 10

              Motherboard Assembly
  • Pull the control board ribbon cable straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.

Pull the control board ribbon cable straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.

Step 11

  • Remove the two 12 mm Phillips screws securing the control board to the lower case.
  • Remove the control board and its attached cable from the PS3.

Remove the two 12 mm Phillips screws securing the control board to the lower case.

Remove the control board and its attached cable from the PS3.

Step 12

  • Remove the following eight screws securing the motherboard assembly to the lower case:
  • Seven 12 mm Phillips screws (ph2)
  • One 30 mm Phillips screw

Remove the following eight screws securing the motherboard assembly to the lower case:

Seven 12 mm Phillips screws (ph2)

Step 13

  • Remove the control board bracket.

Remove the control board bracket.

Step 14

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive bay cover away from the lower case.
  • Remove the hard drive bay cover.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive bay cover away from the lower case.

Remove the hard drive bay cover.

Step 15

  • Lift the motherboard assembly out of the lower case.

Lift the motherboard assembly out of the lower case.

Step 16

              AC Inlet
  • Remove the 7.7 mm Phillips screw securing the ground strap to the chassis.

Remove the 7.7 mm Phillips screw securing the ground strap to the chassis.

Step 17

  • Pull the AC-In cables slightly away from the rear cover for clearance to access the AC-In connector.
  • While depressing its locking mechanism, pull the AC-In connector out of its socket on the power supply.

Pull the AC-In cables slightly away from the rear cover for clearance to access the AC-In connector.

While depressing its locking mechanism, pull the AC-In connector out of its socket on the power supply.

Step 18

  • Pull the AC inlet out from the bottom of the rear cover, minding any of its cables that may get caught.

Pull the AC inlet out from the bottom of the rear cover, minding any of its cables that may get caught.

Step 19

              Rear Cover
  • While lightly pulling the rear cover away from the logic board assembly, use the flat end of a spudger to release the clips along the top and bottom edges of the rear cover.

While lightly pulling the rear cover away from the logic board assembly, use the flat end of a spudger to release the clips along the top and bottom edges of the rear cover.

Step 20

  • Remove the rear cover from the logic board assembly.

Remove the rear cover from the logic board assembly.

Step 21

              Heat Sink
  • De-route the fan cables from the plastic finger molded into the heat sink.
  • Disconnect the fan from the motherboard.
  • Pull the connector straight up and out of its socket.

De-route the fan cables from the plastic finger molded into the heat sink.

Disconnect the fan from the motherboard.

Step 22

  • Remove the two 9 mm Phillips screws securing the memory card reader to the chassis.

Remove the two 9 mm Phillips screws securing the memory card reader to the chassis.

Step 23

  • Lift the memory card reader out of the PS3 enough to access its ribbon cable.
  • Flip up the retaining flap on the memory card reader ribbon cable socket.
  • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.
  • Pull the ribbon cable out of its socket and remove the memory card reader.

Lift the memory card reader out of the PS3 enough to access its ribbon cable.

Flip up the retaining flap on the memory card reader ribbon cable socket.

Pull the ribbon cable out of its socket and remove the memory card reader.

Step 24

  • Disconnect the DC-In cables from the front of the heat sink.
  • Pull the connector toward the front of the PS3.

Disconnect the DC-In cables from the front of the heat sink.

Pull the connector toward the front of the PS3.

Step 25

  • Remove the five 9 mm Phillips screws securing the power supply to the chassis.

Remove the five 9 mm Phillips screws securing the power supply to the chassis.

Step 26

  • Lift the power supply by its front edge to clear the two posts attached to the motherboard.
  • Remove the power supply.

Lift the power supply by its front edge to clear the two posts attached to the motherboard.

Remove the power supply.

Step 27

  • Remove the four 16.5 mm shouldered Phillips screws securing the heat sink to the motherboard.
  • Remove the two brackets held under the screws you just removed.

Remove the four 16.5 mm shouldered Phillips screws securing the heat sink to the motherboard.

Remove the two brackets held under the screws you just removed.

Step 28

  • Lift the motherboard assembly off the heat sink.
  • The heat sink may still be held in place by the thermal paste. If this is the case, gently pry the heat sink away from the motherboard housing. Make sure to not bend the copper piping on the heat sink.
  • Be sure to apply a new layer of thermal paste when reattaching the heat sink.
  • Never applied thermal paste before? Our thermal paste guide makes it easy.
  • If you’re following the YLOD repair guide, stay tuned for where to apply the replacement thermal paste.

Lift the motherboard assembly off the heat sink.

The heat sink may still be held in place by the thermal paste. If this is the case, gently pry the heat sink away from the motherboard housing. Make sure to not bend the copper piping on the heat sink.

Be sure to apply a new layer of thermal paste when reattaching the heat sink.

Never applied thermal paste before? Our thermal paste guide makes it easy.

If you’re following the YLOD repair guide, stay tuned for where to apply the replacement thermal paste.

Step 29

              Motherboard
  • Flip up the retaining flap on the Blu-ray ribbon cable socket.
  • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.
  • Remove the Blu-ray ribbon cable.

Flip up the retaining flap on the Blu-ray ribbon cable socket.

Remove the Blu-ray ribbon cable.

Step 30

  • Flip up the flap on the memory card reader ribbon cable socket and remove the ribbon cable.

Flip up the flap on the memory card reader ribbon cable socket and remove the ribbon cable.

Step 31

  • Flip up the retaining flap on the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable socket.
  • Pull the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable out of its socket.

Flip up the retaining flap on the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable socket.

Pull the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable out of its socket.

Step 32

  • Disconnect the DC-In cable from the motherboard and set it aside.
  • Pull the connector straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.

Disconnect the DC-In cable from the motherboard and set it aside.

Pull the connector straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.

Step 33

  • Disconnect the PRAM battery from the motherboard.
  • The PRAM socket is delicate and has the potential to break off the motherboard. If possible, hold down the socket as you disconnect the PRAM battery cable.

Disconnect the PRAM battery from the motherboard.

The PRAM socket is delicate and has the potential to break off the motherboard. If possible, hold down the socket as you disconnect the PRAM battery cable.

Step 34

  • Rotate the PRAM battery slightly counter-clockwise and remove it from the motherboard assembly.

Rotate the PRAM battery slightly counter-clockwise and remove it from the motherboard assembly.

Step 35

  • Remove the blue 8 mm Phillips screw securing the hard drive cage to the chassis.

Remove the blue 8 mm Phillips screw securing the hard drive cage to the chassis.

Step 36

  • Push the hard drive cage toward the front of the motherboard assembly.
  • Remove the hard drive from the motherboard assembly.

Push the hard drive cage toward the front of the motherboard assembly.

Remove the hard drive from the motherboard assembly.

Step 37

  • Remove the two 3.7 mm #0 Phillips screws securing the chassis to the hard drive socket.

Remove the two 3.7 mm #0 Phillips screws securing the chassis to the hard drive socket.

Step 38

  • Remove the two 8.3 mm #0 Phillips screws securing the two halves of the motherboard together.

Remove the two 8.3 mm #0 Phillips screws securing the two halves of the motherboard together.

Step 39

  • Carefully feed the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable through the hole in the top motherboard cover.
  • Remove the top motherboard cover.

Carefully feed the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable through the hole in the top motherboard cover.

Remove the top motherboard cover.

Step 40

  • Remove the motherboard from the bottom motherboard cover.

Remove the motherboard from the bottom motherboard cover.

Step 41

  • Flip up the retaining flap on the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable socket.
  • Remove the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable from the motherboard.
  • Motherboard remains.

Remove the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable from the motherboard.

Motherboard remains.

Step 42

              Yellow Light of Death (YLOD) Fix Kit
  • Using the flat end of the spudger, remove the old thermal paste off the CPU and GPU on the motherboard.
  • Using a cleaner such as Arctic Silver’s ArctiClean or high alcohol content rubbing alcohol, clean the CPU and GPU.
  • Clean the thermal paste off of the heat sink in the same way.

Using the flat end of the spudger, remove the old thermal paste off the CPU and GPU on the motherboard.

Using a cleaner such as Arctic Silver’s ArctiClean or high alcohol content rubbing alcohol, clean the CPU and GPU.

Clean the thermal paste off of the heat sink in the same way.

Step 43

  • Using your fingers or the flat end of a spudger, remove the old thermal pads on the logic board as indicated:
  • Large square thermal pads
  • Small square thermal pads
  • Small rectangular thermal pads (located on the underside of the board, as highlighted in the second picture)
  • Some of the smaller thermal pads may be attached to the metal casing that surrounds the motherboard rather than the motherboard itself.

Using your fingers or the flat end of a spudger, remove the old thermal pads on the logic board as indicated:

Large square thermal pads

Small square thermal pads

Small rectangular thermal pads (located on the underside of the board, as highlighted in the second picture)

Some of the smaller thermal pads may be attached to the metal casing that surrounds the motherboard rather than the motherboard itself.

Step 44

  • Set the heat gun to “Low” or around 300C (575F), and let it run for a few seconds to reach operating temperature.
  • Holding the motherboard upright, warm up the entire board with the heat gun. The board should be warm, but not too hot.
  • This will prevent damage to the board caused by localized thermal expansion.

Set the heat gun to “Low” or around 300C (575F), and let it run for a few seconds to reach operating temperature.

Holding the motherboard upright, warm up the entire board with the heat gun. The board should be warm, but not too hot.

This will prevent damage to the board caused by localized thermal expansion.

Step 45

  • Set the motherboard on a support so that the CPU and GPU are completely supported and level.
  • The support should be something that can resist temperatures upwards of 300 degrees Celsius. Suggestions: scrap lumber, old books, cardboard box.
  • In the next few steps, you will be reflowing the solder under the chips marked in red.
  • Once you begin reflowing the chips, do not touch or move the motherboard until it is completely cool. Doing so can render the motherboard irreparably damaged.

Set the motherboard on a support so that the CPU and GPU are completely supported and level.

The support should be something that can resist temperatures upwards of 300 degrees Celsius. Suggestions: scrap lumber, old books, cardboard box.

In the next few steps, you will be reflowing the solder under the chips marked in red.

Once you begin reflowing the chips, do not touch or move the motherboard until it is completely cool. Doing so can render the motherboard irreparably damaged.

Step 46

  • Using a circular motion, evenly heat (using low heat) the two processors labeled “RSX” and “CELL” for 2 minutes while keeping the gun about 1/2" above the chip. For the Lower two areas heat for 30 seconds following the same distance guidelines from above.
  • Begin heating the GPU, marked “RSX”, and heat the chips in a zig-zag order.

Using a circular motion, evenly heat (using low heat) the two processors labeled “RSX” and “CELL” for 2 minutes while keeping the gun about 1/2" above the chip. For the Lower two areas heat for 30 seconds following the same distance guidelines from above.

Begin heating the GPU, marked “RSX”, and heat the chips in a zig-zag order.

Step 47

  • Continue heating the chips using the same circular motion as described above, for about 25 seconds each.

Continue heating the chips using the same circular motion as described above, for about 25 seconds each.

Step 48

  • Ensure that the motherboard has completely cooled before continuing this guide.
  • If you have not applied thermal paste before you can check our thermal paste guide whilst it is cooling.
  • Apply a thin bead of thermal paste on the CPU.
  • Using the thermal paste spreader card, spread the paste out thinly and evenly on the chip.
  • In the same way, apply a thin layer of thermal paste on the GPU.
  • Clean up any excess thermal paste off the motherboard.

Ensure that the motherboard has completely cooled before continuing this guide.

If you have not applied thermal paste before you can check our thermal paste guide whilst it is cooling.

Apply a thin bead of thermal paste on the CPU.

Using the thermal paste spreader card, spread the paste out thinly and evenly on the chip.

In the same way, apply a thin layer of thermal paste on the GPU.

Clean up any excess thermal paste off the motherboard.

Step 49

  • Apply the fresh thermal pads to the motherboard in the locations indicated:
  • Large square pads
  • Small square pads
  • Small Rectangular Pads
  • If you’d like to cut your own thermal pads, you’ll need material about 2-2.5mm in thickness. Thanks to user howardsarah34 for the exact measurements for the thermal pads.
  • Two 3cm x 3cm Squares
  • Ten 1cm x 1cm Squares
  • Five 1.5cm x 0.5cm rectangles

Apply the fresh thermal pads to the motherboard in the locations indicated:

Large square pads

Small square pads

Small Rectangular Pads

If you’d like to cut your own thermal pads, you’ll need material about 2-2.5mm in thickness. Thanks to user howardsarah34 for the exact measurements for the thermal pads.

Two 3cm x 3cm Squares

Ten 1cm x 1cm Squares

Five 1.5cm x 0.5cm rectangles

Step 50

  • Peel the remaining white plastic cover off the other side of thermal pads.

Peel the remaining white plastic cover off the other side of thermal pads.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order starting at step 41.

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                    Brett Hartt

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Franco - Oct 25, 2011

Reply

Done this twice, first time it lasted 2 weeks and the second time 10 days. I’ll do it one more time and if it goes again, I think I’ll be buying a new console.

Great repair guide, clear and simple -I don’t know why it’s rated as difficult -there’s no soldering or wiring to do.

hamza - Mar 15, 2017

great repaier guiad

ekozocas - Nov 20, 2011

Reply

Great kit! And it worked! We have brought the PS3 back to life! Hoping it stays this way! But for the price of the kit it is worth the try!

jshaas - Dec 1, 2011

Reply

I completed this repair last night. It wasn’t as hard as I thought, though it did take me almost 3 hours to accomplish. My PS3 is back up and running, and the fan is so guiet not I can hardly hear it.

I will add that these pictures provided are from a 60GB launch PS3. I have an 80GB (MGS4 Bundle), and some of the inner workings are a little different. The card reader remains attached to the upper casing, and the ground wire for the A/C switch is run under the power supply… as opposed to over it as it is in this guide.

Overall, this is a great guide and the kit was a great price. I hope my PS3 will remain operational at least through Christmas… I’ve got my eye on the UC3 Bundle; )

Kar - Dec 28, 2011

Reply

This is an excellent guide! I’ve had the YLOD before about a year ago, and my brother shipped it off to get it fixed for me (his COD:MW2 was stuck inside). It cost him $150 to get it repaired because the warranty had run out. While it did work for an entire year after the repair (which is very surprising with most people saying theirs only worked for about a month after getting it fixed), I definitely don’t think all that money was worth it. I am extremely pleased that I was able to fix it myself with absolutely no cost to me (I borrowed a heat gun and thermal paste from a friend). No cost is way better than $150 obviously. I do intend to sell my PS3 to Gamestop though and buy a new slim, which I hear is less likely to get the YLOD due to better cooling. I will most likely open it up at replace the thermal paste though, as I’ve heard the paste Sony uses is very cheap, along with a few modifications for better cooling.

Long story short, this guide just saved me $150 dollars. Also, my PS3 is the 60GB backwards compatible if that is of interest to anyone.