[Millerbomb]

So my PS3 continues to have a YLOD. I have already attempted the heat gun fix 3 times and each time I get a day or 2 of play time before another YLOD . Is this common? Any time I did a reflow for friends it has lasted months. I have a CECHA if that makes any difference.

[lololhax]

Heat a bit harder, and let the console stay out it in the open not in some closed space. Usually fixes it, mine has been working for about 1 year now since I had my first YLOD.

[Nichibotsu]

that's not the fix for it... firstly, did you check if the fan started spinning faster than usual before it showed YLOD? if it does not, which thermal paste are you using? if it's a good one you have burned up your thermal sensor for the cpu and gpu, meaning the fan does not spin any faster than when the console is cold, reaching high temperatures extremely fast. If it does spin at full speed when playing than you have an issue with the thermal compound or either with the dissipator, but i think it's the sensor

[KillerBug]

If the fan is not spinning, or if it is spinning slow so that the system gets real hot, then you need a fan controller.

Other possible problems are not enough/too much thermal compound and/or warped contact surfaces between a chip and a heatsink.

One last, less likely possibility is that the reflow just barely worked...like if you forgot to use flux.

[Nichibotsu]

which he probably didn't use... Anyway, too much compound isn't really that much of a problem, as it will squeeze out due to pressure from the dissipator, ain't it?

[Millerbomb]

No flux was used and the fan was staying at a low speed before it happened. I'm confident in the amount and type of thermal paste I was using. So with a possible failed thermal sensor my only option is a fan controller mod? This might be a little more then the afternoon project I was hoping for.

Thanks for the help!

[Nichibotsu]

you can always buy one, or follow the guides KillerBug made for a DIY one, it's comparable to the readymade solution, but you have to know what you are doing or it may break your ps3 ( his words ) : )

[pereb27]

Besides the fan controller, I suggest that you remove the heatspreaders from the CPU/GPU and replace the paste underneath.

[Nichibotsu]

Originally Posted by pereb27 Besides the fan controller, I suggest that you remove the heatspreaders from the CPU/GPU and replace the paste underneath.

i think that's been done already : ) it's his third YLOD : )

[pereb27]

Originally Posted by Nichibotsu i think that's been done already : ) it's his third YLOD : )

Most people, even professional reflowers/reballers do not lift the heatspreaders to change the paste under them. So no, I wouldn't be so sure :P