Gamezilla

The Playstation 3 was launched in 2007 and was described as an fully featured entertainment system. Not only can you play gorgeous looking games, you can also watch high definition video via BluRay, digital TV and store photos, music and even connect to the Internet. GREAT! At launch, it was the most expensive next generation console on the market, costing £425. One would expect such an expensive piece of hi tech kit to last for years, and the fact that it’s made by electronics giants Sony only bolsters this believe. Boy how wrong can you be.

A design issue with some early Playstation 3 consoles means that it can be afflicted by the “yellow light of death” as its come to be known. Without warning, the console refuses to boot and only displays a flashing yellow light to let you know something has gone horribly wrong inside. Once the light shows, the console no longer works and has now become the thing that PS3 owners fear the most.

So what is this “yellow light of death”, and why does it happen? Well, Sony say that the light indicator itself is a general diagnostic alert that is not tied to a specific problem as such. Therefore Sony very much dislike the term “yellow light of death”. However, it does appear that one single repair does seem to remedy the problem, indicating that a specific issue is causing this.

So how can I fix my “Yellow Light of Death”?

Well this is when the problems start. Sony are willing provide a refurbished machine to those afflicted if you contact them, however they charge £128 for this, and there are no guarantees that this problem will not strike again. Often, customers begrudgingly get the consoles repaired by independent console repair companies. These companies say that many “Yellow Light of Death” problems are fixed by heating up the circuit board of the console. By using a process called ‘solder re-flow’, the connections between the components and the circuit board are heater to a temperature of over 200 Celsius which causes the metal solder joints to melt. The process is used to repair broken or dry connections.

OK, is there anything I can do to fix my Playstation 3?

There are some things that you may like to try yourself.

1) Heat could be a primary cause of the “yellow light of death”. With this in mind, if you Playstation 3 has been on for a while, turn off the console and let it cool for 20 minutes before turning it back on.

2) I know this is obvious, but sometimes we miss the simplest of things. Check that all cables are tightly connected.

Now, if the above DIY checklist didn’t help, there are some more options that could get your PS3 up and running again.

1) Send your Playstation back to Sony. Now this will be the course of action if your PS3 is still within warranty, however it could take 4-6 weeks to get your console back. If you PS3 warranty has expired, you will need to cough up £125 for a refurbished model, and as stated before, there are no guarantees that this will not fall foul of the “yellow light of death” in the future.

2) Contact the shop where you purchased the goods. The Sales of Goods Act 1979 means you have every right to get a replacement or suitable compensation since the PS3 should be built to last. With my PS3, purchased from GAME I contacted them about the issues and used these tips and directions to get the ball rolling. My PS3 went off to game, they sent me a refurbished model within 2 weeks and the fun and games started again. Back to COD I was… for about 4 days and the “yellow light of death” was winking at me once more. At this point, all my mates ranks were increasing and I was left wallowing in self pity. Back to GAME I went and this time, after much moaning I managed to get a £200 GAME voucher for to purchase a new one. I had to send off my old one first and the voucher came within 1 week.

So, there are ways of fixing it and getting a nice shiny new PS3 but it is not without playing the game so to speak and knowing your rights. I am a little annoyed that I purchased my PS3 when it was launched, but at least I can use the voucher to purchase a new model without the worry of the “Yellow Light of Death” coming back, or should I still be worried? Time will tell!