PS3 not reading discs. Please help.

[jltmaxx]

My PS3 was purchased on 1/19/08. It is model CECHE01. I'm 36 and do not play games, I just watch movies and probably only two a week at most. It does not see a lot of use. It is kept very clean and dusted once a week. I don't know why it is failing to recognize any discs inserted. It came with Motostorm and it's not recognizing this game either. Can someone please help me? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[edepot]

The PS3 had some lens problems when the CECHG came out, when a lot of the lens wouldn't read discs (like your problem). If it is still under warranty, you can send it to Sony to fix for free, or you can opt to change the lens mount. What you need to do is to open up the PS3 and change the lens, or lens with mount. The mount (or deck) is the part that also includes the lens motors. If you search on http://www.edepot.com/playstation3.html on "lens" you will see that different lens model numbers were included for different PS3 models. Your lens model number should be KEM-400AAA (with mount). KES = without mount. KEM = with mount. But to be sure, you should open it up to see. Then search on internet for people who sell your part, and change it yourself.

This is what the part should look like:
http://images.google.com/images?q=KEM-400AAA

Without lens mount:
http://images.google.com/images?q=KES-400AAA

I'd recommend you get it with the mount so you don't confuse which lens goes with what mount.


Models CECHH and later use a different type of lens (two lens instead of only one):

http://images.google.com/images?q=KES-410ACA
http://images.google.com/images?q=KEM-410ACA

But again, to be sure, you should open up you PS3 and check if you are going to order. If it has two lens, go for the later model, if it has one lens, go for the earlier model. If you have the CECHE, take some pictures of the motherboard as well.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1376 and post a followup there.

Another quick fix is to simply make sure you don't put dirty Blu-ray discs inside your PS3, as it might end up getting cleaned by the lens! Thus making your lens dirty. If it is just dirty lens, you can try to blow the particle off of it, or use those eyeglasses cloths to clean it. Don't use regular cloths or tissue as it will definitely scratch the lens! It is best you not touch it, as that lens is extremely delicate, so unless you have special cloths you can try wiping it clean and see if it works.

[jltmaxx]

After examining the problem more closely, the disc is not even spinning, nor is the motor engaging once the disc is inserted. Looks like maybe instead of a faulty laser, it may be the motor?????? Ever heard of this before?

[edepot]

It is hard to say. Is there a constant bubble in the top right corner of your screen? Does the Blu-ray disc icon pop up in the XMB? Does the playstation 3 suck in the disc? Or does it get stuck half-way in? If it sucks it in, and you get a bubble, but you don't get a blu-ray disc icon pop up, then that means the lens is most likely bad, and you need to change it.

You didn't answer if it was under warranty. If it is not, I suggest that you open it up and try first cleaning the lens, and if it doesn't solve your problem, change the lens (with mount if you opted to get the lens with the mount).

[jltmaxx]

Well, my warranty was out of daye by a mere month. After climbing the ladder on the phone with cust. service, I was able to reach the regional supervisor of C.S. and he agreed to repair my unit. It only took me 30 minutes of belly aching and pleading my case along with all the other Sony stuff I own. So, long story short, they replaced the lens. One funny note; they wouldn't even tell me what they did when I inquired. They cited confidentiality reasons and a lot of other legal jargon.