Trying to setup a used PS3, blinking red light, but I don't think it's heat

So my original 60GB model PS3 which is now on Rebug was running hot. NOT overheating mind you, but the fan would kick in a lot, it was always chugging hot air out, and when I used a temp monitoring app the CPU's temperature was a little high. Cleaning it out and replacing the thermal grease did not help, apparently the thermal compound from WITHIN the IHS has dried up... and I don't have the skills to nor could I find anyone that would be willing to de-lid a PS3 to fix that.

I was worried it was going to give up the ghost one day, so I got another 60GB model used to do a transfer about a year ago, though never got around to it. I did test the system when I got it by playing Folktale for about an hour or so on it, then installed the same version of Rebug on it.

Anyway, today I was planning to do the transfer, I installed a new 1.5TB harddrive in place of the original 60GB model it had (from my understanding, that is the largest a PS3 can handle,. 175TB and larger cause issues) and did a format, it seemed to be working fine. Then I did a system reset just to clear all the old user data and profiles out of it..... and that's when it messed up. After re-doing initial setup, choosing my settings, video output, entering a user profile, etc..... it then just beeped and the light started flashing red.... and I haven't been able to do anything else since.

Now, when I try to turn it on, the light turns green for a few seconds.... then it beeps, the light flashes yellow for a split second, but then goes to blinking red.

I tried to Google this and it says that it's overheating.... but I doubt that is the case since I was able to play a game for an hour on it last time I used it without issue, and all I was doing when it happened was resetting it, it's also in a very cold room at the moment. Regardless, I tried opening it... and it's clear the system had been opened before as the front logo-cover was taped on since the single nut-and-screw that holds it in normally was missing, a retaining screw for the HDD was missing, and two/three of the seven/eight screws that held the system closed were missing, but it seemed otherwise fine. When I opened it however, the system was actually clean! I wonder if the reason it was opened before was to clean it, but regardless, there was no dust buildup in it. The only issue I found was that the clip that clamps down on the optical drive cable was broken, though I am not sure if it was like that or my fault as I was taking it apart. Regardless, I was able to tape the clip down.

So now I have no idea what to do. I believe it's something to do with the software or the drive (I tried installing the original HDD back, no difference) because it was playing games before just fine, and it happened as it was about to finish a system reset, furthermore, you would think it would have cooled down in a cold room after a while but there is no difference whatsoever. All Google tells me is that it's overheating and to clean it out.

Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas? Or perhaps any kind of hidden debug/restore modes that might help either built into the PS3 or added into rebug?

 

hi Akuma , have you tried a Rebuild Database and Restore File System option yet ?. Also if you don't get any answers to your problem here try the below site.

https://playstationhax.xyz/forums/forum/3-help-forums/

 

HEY!

I'm running into this issue as well, and I have the 2nd gen PS3 slims running rebug. It was perfectly fine for a while then after rebooting it, the system went into the same state. I doubt its heat because it wasn't overheating at the time, I did leave it on for a bit (like max 30 minutes), but it didn't die after that.

The system does work when using the fan test mode though, I haven't tried recovery mode yet. D:

 

If you want to sell/give away the broken PS3, send me a PM.

 

I can't turn the system on at all to choose any options.

I want to fix it, not sell it, how is that helpful at all?

 

Sounds like generic YLOD to me. In OP's case, it sounds like the system was fucked around with already since it was missing screws... they opened it, who knows, maybe they used a heatgun on it and now it just died again?

If it's got YLOD, there isn't much you can do. Sure, you can heat it up again but it'll fail again shortly after most likely. It's not worth reballing unless you can do it yourself (most people cannot).

The fan test will still usually work with YLOD. That's not surprising.

 

I meant the PS3 that you were trying to replace. Delidding the PS3 chips is an easy job, so buying PS3s that overheat is a cheap way to get a working PS3 to resell.

I wasn't trying to be helpful.

 

does the fan spin
is there power to the usb ports

do you have a multimetre

12v rail is critical (main things connected, CPU & GPU power rail is derived from 12v Rail, the fan as well)
5vSTB rail is critical (main things connected, all standby crap, capacitive switches, basic logic to start up system and turn on 12v rail)

on the original PS3's, all voltage rails are always "on", switching is done on the motherboard.


check basic stuff first (power), ie no 12v rail will cause a red light (Green (1sec-ish), yellow, 3 beeps and flashy flashy mc red light-ness™)


More than likely you are dealing with corrupted NAND or NOR shizzzzzzzz, I can't help you with that sorry


PS. ReBalling won't do shiiiiit for heat related issues, the problem is with the connection between processor die and PCB substrate (green PCb the processor die sits on). It's encased in underfill.
Reworking BGA won't fix this..

To check if it's BGA or Solder bumps under die, heat chip to 180c, if it works again it's the solder bumps under the die.

This is why using a towel "fixes" xbox 360s