PS3 Super Slim Yellow Light of Death (YLOD) Reflow Repair

Does your PS3 Super Slim switch on, show a green power light and then immediately shut itself down?

This type of fault is commonly referred to as the PS3 Yellow Light of Death (YLOD) or a PS3 motherboard failure.

Console Wizard provides a professional PS3 Super Slim YLOD reflow repair service for £59.99, using specialist computer-controlled BGA rework equipment.

The Yellow Light of Death indicates that the PlayStation 3 has detected a serious hardware fault and cannot complete its normal startup process.

Importantly, YLOD is a symptom of hardware failure rather than confirmation that one particular component has failed. Several different motherboard faults can produce similar symptoms.

Our engineers therefore assess the console and motherboard to determine whether the fault is suitable for our professional reflow repair.

If the repair is unsuccessful, a £20 inspection/diagnostic fee applies and the remaining repair payment is refunded.

Common PS3 Super Slim YLOD Symptoms

Your PS3 Super Slim may require motherboard repair if you're experiencing symptoms such as:

• PS3 Super Slim switches on and immediately turns off
• Green power light appears before shutdown
• Console won't complete its startup sequence
• PS3 turns itself off shortly after pressing power
• No picture appears on the television
• Console beeps and shuts down
• PS3 won't boot to the XMB
• Console previously suffered overheating problems
• PS3 completely unusable because it won't remain powered on

The exact behaviour can vary depending on the underlying motherboard fault.

What Is PS3 Super Slim YLOD?

The term Yellow Light of Death, commonly abbreviated to YLOD, is widely used to describe serious hardware failure within PlayStation 3 consoles.

On a PS3 Super Slim, the light behaviour may not necessarily look identical to that of an original Fat PS3.

The important symptom is that the console detects a serious hardware problem during startup and shuts itself down rather than completing the normal boot process.

This generally indicates that professional diagnosis and motherboard repair are required.

What Causes PS3 Super Slim YLOD?

There isn't one single component responsible for every PS3 Super Slim YLOD or immediate-shutdown fault.

Possible causes can involve:

• Motherboard component failure
• Power-delivery circuitry
• Processor-related faults
• BGA-related faults
• Ageing electronic components
• Previous thermal stress
• Other component-level motherboard failures

For this reason, we do not automatically assume that every PS3 Super Slim displaying YLOD symptoms simply has cracked solder underneath a processor.

The console needs to be assessed to determine whether our reflow repair is appropriate.

Professional PS3 Super Slim BGA Reflow Repair

Where appropriate, we carry out the repair using our computer-controlled Dark Infrared BGA rework equipment, as described on your existing service page.

This allows our engineers to carry out a controlled thermal reflow process on the motherboard.

Professional BGA equipment provides controlled heating rather than exposing the motherboard to the uncontrolled temperatures associated with DIY repair methods.

Accurate temperature control is particularly important when working with complex multilayer console motherboards.

We Don't Use Heat Guns or Domestic Ovens

You may have seen online videos suggesting that PlayStation 3 motherboard faults can be repaired using:

• Heat guns
• Hairdryers
• Domestic ovens
• Other uncontrolled heating methods

Console Wizard does not use these methods.

Uncontrolled heating can expose the motherboard, processors and surrounding components to unnecessary thermal stress and potentially cause additional damage.

Our reflow procedure is carried out using professional computer-controlled BGA rework equipment.

What Does the £59.99 PS3 Super Slim YLOD Repair Include?

Our £59.99 PS3 Super Slim YLOD repair service includes:

• Initial fault assessment
• Professional console dismantling
• Motherboard inspection
• Professional BGA reflow where appropriate
• Computer-controlled rework process
• Full internal cleaning
• Cooling-system service
• Upgraded thermal compound
• Professional console reassembly
• Startup testing
• Functionality testing
• 3-month warranty on a successful repair

Your existing repair already includes the full service, thermal-compound upgrade and three-month warranty, so I would retain all three prominently in the new description.

Full PS3 Super Slim Service Included

As part of a successful YLOD repair, we also give the console a full internal service.

Over time, dust can accumulate inside the PlayStation 3 and reduce the efficiency of its cooling system.

The console is professionally dismantled as part of the motherboard repair, giving us the opportunity to clean the internal cooling system before reassembly.

Upgraded Thermal Compound

We also replace the relevant ageing thermal compound as part of the service.

Thermal compound helps transfer heat away from the console's main processors and into its cooling system.

Ageing thermal material can become less effective over time, so renewing it forms an important part of servicing an older PlayStation 3.

What if the Repair Is Unsuccessful?

Unfortunately, not every ageing PS3 Super Slim motherboard can be successfully repaired using a reflow procedure.

If our engineers carry out the required diagnosis and determine that the console cannot be successfully repaired under this service:

A £20 inspection/diagnostic fee applies.

The remaining amount paid for the repair is refunded.

The £20 charge covers the engineering time involved in dismantling, inspecting, testing and diagnosing the console.

Your existing page already specifies this £20 unsuccessful-repair inspection charge.

What if a Different Motherboard Fault Is Found?

Because YLOD is a hardware failure indication rather than a diagnosis of one particular component, our engineers may discover that the console has a different motherboard fault.

If a different repair is required, we will contact you and explain what has been found and the appropriate repair required.

We will confirm any different repair cost with you before carrying out additional chargeable work.

Is My Data Safe?

A YLOD motherboard repair does not normally require the contents of the PS3 hard drive to be erased.

Your current repair page specifically states that customer data on the hard disk is safe during this repair.

As with any electronic-device repair, however, important data should always be backed up beforehand where the condition of the console allows it.

What if a Game Is Stuck in the Console?

If a game disc is trapped inside the PS3 Super Slim when the fault occurs, you can send the console to us with the game still inside.

We'll ensure the disc is kept with the console and returned to you.

Your existing service already provides for games trapped in the drive to be safely returned.

Does a PS3 Super Slim YLOD Reflow Last Forever?

No repair company should guarantee that a reflow repair on an ageing PlayStation 3 will last indefinitely.

A successful repair addresses the fault covered by the service, but it cannot prevent unrelated electronic components from failing in the future.

The condition of each PS3 is different and factors such as its age, previous operating temperatures, previous repairs and general motherboard condition can all affect future reliability.

For this reason, a successfully completed repair receives our:

3-month warranty covering the repaired fault.

Previous Repair Attempts

If your PS3 Super Slim has previously been subjected to a DIY motherboard repair, heat-gun treatment or other component-level work, we recommend letting us know.

Previous uncontrolled heating or motherboard work can affect the condition of the board and make subsequent diagnosis and repair more difficult.

PS3 Super Slim YLOD vs No Power

A PS3 Super Slim that is completely dead isn't necessarily suffering from the same fault.

If the console has no power indication whatsoever, the problem could potentially involve a different part of the power or motherboard circuitry.

This YLOD service is primarily intended for a console that attempts to start but then shuts itself down because a serious hardware fault has been detected.

If you're unsure which repair is appropriate, the console may require diagnosis first.

3-Month PS3 Super Slim YLOD Repair Warranty

A successfully completed PS3 Super Slim YLOD reflow repair receives our standard:

3-month warranty covering the repaired fault.

The warranty applies to the repair work carried out by Console Wizard.

It does not cover subsequent physical damage, liquid damage or unrelated component failures elsewhere within the console.

Local PS3 Super Slim YLOD Repair in Bolton

Looking for a PS3 Super Slim YLOD repair in Bolton?

Console Wizard provides professional PlayStation 3 motherboard repairs from our repair centre in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Local customers can bring their faulty PS3 Super Slim directly to us for professional diagnosis and motherboard repair.

UK-Wide PS3 Super Slim YLOD Repair

You don't need to live near Bolton to use Console Wizard.

We provide PS3 Super Slim Yellow Light of Death repair services to customers throughout the UK.

Customers outside the local area can send their faulty console to our repair centre for professional assessment and repair.

Our engineers will dismantle and inspect the console, carry out the appropriate professional reflow procedure where suitable, service the console and test it before return.

If the repair is unsuccessful, a £20 inspection/diagnostic fee applies and the remaining repair payment is refunded.

Why Choose Console Wizard for PS3 Super Slim YLOD Repair?

If your PS3 Super Slim switches on and immediately turns itself off, the console may have developed a serious motherboard fault.

Our £59.99 PS3 Super Slim YLOD reflow repair service includes:

• Professional motherboard assessment
• Computer-controlled BGA reflow where appropriate
• Professional Dark Infrared BGA equipment
• Full internal service
• Upgraded thermal compound
• Professional reassembly and testing
• 3-month warranty on a successful repair

We don't simply assume that every YLOD is caused by the same component. The console is assessed to determine whether the motherboard fault is suitable for our professional reflow repair.

If the repair is unsuccessful, only the £20 inspection/diagnostic fee is retained and the remaining repair payment is refunded.

                     One of our Computer Controlled Dark Infrared reflow stations

• Your data is 100% safe on the hard disk
• If a game is stuck in the drive, then this is safe and will be returned with your working console.

We will fully resolder your consoles main board, give your console a full service and upgrade the thermal compound used within the PS3. For your peace of mind we give you three months warranty.