PS3 Repairs

[edepot]

Upon documenting the PS3, there were always topics on how to solve problems with YLOD or blu-ray reading problems. Apparently, there are four major ways to repair a PS3...

1) Change the Blu-ray lens.
2) Reflow the Cell or GPU
3) Shim the Cell or GPU
4) Change the power supply


The Blu-ray lens is quite easy... just purchase new parts and replace. Done.
Shimming is more difficult, it involves getting a piece of copper the same size as the Cell or GPU and then putting it between the chip and the heatsink.
Reflowing is heating the chips to a high degree, hoping it will melt the solder and reconnect at the disconnected places. This is usually done with a heatgun, or hairdryer. You can even put it in the oven (NOT microwave oven, but the fire/gas type).

It seems for all Blu-ray movie and game reading errors, replacing the lens will most likely solve your problem. For YLOD sometimes you just need to open up your PS3 and smell the power supply (if it was a recent breakdown) and see if it is a power supply problem (if it is you would need to replace it), if not then try reflowing or shimming.