PS3 blu-ray drive dead

Yes, I use a clear disc that came with a DVD spool....

 

Well, I guess it's time to post. I've been reading the posts all day (being newly unemployed now gives me a great deal of time), and have so many thoughts running through my head now as I'm new to manual repairs of the PS3 that I need a second pair of eyes and mindful thoughts to help out now. Here's what I have so far:

- While playing Saints Row 2, the game ran fine but there were no voices when characters were talking, so I figured it's probably the laser.
- After rebooting the PS3, I no longer get the little loading bubble on the upper right hand part of the screen.
- I was able to eject the disk, and tried a BR movie, a DVD, and a CD, with no success.
- I opened up the PS3, didn't see a red or blue light coming from inside the drive, but after pushing the laser back, it did go back into position after doing the laser movement test.
- I am able to play downloaded games off of the PS Store.

Should I replace the laser like I'm thinking I should start off with, or am I missing something. Any thoughts would be so appreciated...I just want my baby back

 

I just replaced my br drive, I got the one out of a ylod ps3,
Works fine right now, my old drive did not spin but everything else seemed to work load disks, lens tried to focus etc.

I thought for sure it was the controler board since the HUB motor wasnts spinning

but replaced deck and lens and it works KES400 in 40gb ps3

THe nice thing about getting it out of a dead ps3 you dont have to disasemble the whole drive.

Lots of youtube videos on tear downs etc.

 

great Job coxwain, thats good to hear and you got official sony part so there is a relief there that you know it will last longer than those replacement parts on ebay.

With these DB drive issues its hard to know when its the problem of the drive, the motor, the laser, the board etc many scenerios.

 

Your issues sounds very much like mine, Although I bought my ps3 in this condition and did not see how it got there. When I put any disk in the bubble would not even show up, and also noticed that when I put the disk in it did not spin either it came back out in the same position almost, since when putting the disk in it does turn a little. I first took the bd drive from the broken ps3 and put it in my working 80G drive and it worked. So i came to the conclusion that it was the controller board of the 40g ps3. I tried to do the reballing of the nand chip and failed miserably and I think I fried the nand chip in the process(my fault for not having the right equipment). So the only way I was going to actually recover the 40 g was when I bought a working motherboard and matching controller board from ebay, since I had all the parts and I know my bd drive works and now i have a working ps3.

Since you can play demos I have a feeling that your nand chip might not be the problem. I did not try to change the IC first which would of been much easier to do then reballing the nand to another controller board. if you are good at soldering or know of someone who is good at soldering you can try to put a new IC chip on the bd controller board that fix works for some people. If that does not work then something else could be wrong on that board the nand swap as i mention is possible as one person was able to do it, but putting to much heat on this little chip can fry it easily.

Also Since I never had a laser problem since my db drive works I am not sure of the people here who have fixed their issue with swapping out lasers if they also did not get the bubble when loading the disk so i hope someone can jump in and answer that question.

 

At the console repair shop I am connected with those suppliers refuse to take returns on their dud lasers unless the controller chip is replaced too. They claim the Sony ones are over-volting causing a blowout on the BluRay emitter.

 

Update that will provide some useful information. So I finally saw the purplish blue light from the laser, and now I am getting the loading bubble to show up. The only thing is that the disk doesn't spin at all. Any new suggestions?

 

the bubble is a good sign you have updated to the latest firmware correct? it might be you need to replace the whole cage with laser unless you can find the motor alone. There is a guy on ebay http://myworld.ebay.com/fuzionelectronics&ssPageName=STRK:MEFSX:SELLERID for the price of what most ebayers sell the laser you can send him yours and he will fix it test it and send it back to you. One thing that I do not see mentioned is if they test the drive first before they attempt to fix it to know if its really a problem with the drive, you can contact them and ask.

 

Correct, the firmware is up to date. I'll definitely look into replacing the laser and cage, and possibly the repair guy. Thanks for your help Rich!

 

I have the same problem as you right now. and from what i have read the motor that spins the disk is bad?

 

spini937, you provided the following update below but never mentioned what you done to get the laser light/ loading bubble.

'Update that will provide some useful information. So I finally saw the purplish blue light from the laser, and now I am getting the loading bubble to show up. The only thing is that the disk doesn't spin at all. Any new suggestions?'

Any info you can provide may help as I never see the loading bubble but in inserted disk will spin/ ejects etc and I've also tried another laser.

 

This is where i am at to, the laser has color and moves but my disk will not spin at all. Should i just get KEM-400AAA ?

 

Sorry about that. I actually didn't do anything to get the bubble to come up. It started showing up after turning the PS3 on and inserting a disk later after my first post. To see the laser, I took the metal casing off of the drive and inserted a clear disk divider. They come in new packs of CD's. Since you'll be able to see through the CD, you'll be able to see what color the laser is. The new KEM is where I'm going to start, and then work my way from there if it doesn't work.

 

It doesn't sound like the laser is burnt out. The blu ray laser shouldn't actually be blue, but almost a purplish color. If there is no light, then the laser is burnt out, if you're getting a red light, then you should be able to play DVD's and CD's. Sounds like the laser is fine, but you may have something else wrong. Are you getting the loading bubble to show up when you insert a disk?

 

I do get the bubble in the corner, the laser light is a purplish color....

 

I have all the same as you the only thing is my disk dont spin at all.

 

Hi Guys, I have the same symptoms as the guy above me. The only difference is that my disk does spin with a bluray disk only for a couple seconds. Any other disk it doesnt see it at all.
I read this whole thread, and I guess it wasnt clearly described on when its the laser assembely, chip, or board.
Please let me know what route to take.
I am assuming that I need to replace the laser assembly, but I'd hate to be wrong and out 60 bucks.
Thanks guys!
Kurt

 

I will give the KEM-400AAA a try then. thx