How
to fix the 3RLOD Error: The 3 Red
Lights Of Death
Three (or 2) red lights on the ring
Your game console is warning
you that it is too hot! Turn it off and let it cool down for a
couple of
hours. Then after you turn it
back on it should be fine. If you still have the red lights, turn it
off again
and wait for a longer time,
maybe 4 or 5 hours. If it still occurs, you might want to call
Microsoft if it is
still covered under the
warranty. The number is 1-800-4MY-XBOX.
To prevent the red light
error, keep the console in a well ventilated place and try not to keep
it on for
extended periods of
time. Read on for directions on how to fix the error permanently.
This error
condition is apparently caused by a solder problem, in which the solder
joints on the
GPU/CPU have worked loose or
cracked. There seems to be a design engineering problem in the
way that the x-clamp holds
the CPU in place. But sometimes it is just a temperature problem
from
lack of proper ventilation,
causing the same result: The 3 Red Lights of Death. The clamps
tend to flex the mainboard causing the joints to unsolder from the
pressure and heat. There is more than one method of doing this repair. This is just one method that some prefer. There are other methods than this one.
Disclaimer:
The following instructions are for informational purposes for experienced repair technicians only.
I can not be held responsible for any damages that a
person may cause to their
electronic equipment or themselves, or others, or to personal property, etc..
Never work on
electronic equipment while it is plugged in.
Not intended for children or
unqualified or irresponsible persons.
You will need:
8 M5-.80 x 10 machine screws
16 #10 flat nylon washers
16 5mm flat metal washers
Artic
Silver thermal compound (or other good quality high temperature heat sink compound)
Procedure:
1) The first
thing you need to do is disconnect the power, then open the xbox &
remove all the internal parts. There is no need for special tools here, but
you may need a couple of torx screwdrivers or bits, size T8 &
T10. Some people use a stiff paper clip
or even a fork to carefully open the unit. Before opening the
unit be sure to turn it off and unplug the
power cord. You will have to remember where all of the parts are supposed to go when you put it back together.
2) Once you have
all the parts removed, DVD drive out, fans off, mainboard removed….then
carefully remove the x-clamps that hold the
heat sinks to the mainboard.
3) Next, you need to
clean the old heat sink compound off of the chips and heat sink. Be
very
careful while you do this, so
that you don't damage the chips themselves. I prrefer to use Q-tips and
91 % isopropyl rubbing
alcohol. Don’t rush this part, as it is important for the surfaces to be
perfectly
smooth for optimal conduction
of heat. The chips will shine like a mirror when clean.
4) You must now
replace the x-clamp with the screws and washers. Figure 1 is an
illustration with the
hardware replacing of the “X”
clamps.
Note that the nylon washers
are up against the mainboard on both sides, not the metal ones. With
two washers (1 nylon and 1 metal) on each side of the board, this
matches the original spacing provided by the x-clamp. Don't
tighten the screws all the way down yet. Just snug for now.
You will tighten them down more later.
5) This is an important
step follow the directions very carefully!
Once you have replaced the
heat sinks as in the illustration, set the mainboard back into the
bottom case, but don’t screw it down yet. Replace the power button board
with the lights, so we can see when the console overheats. It should be
okay to leave the DVD out for now. Leave the fans off for this part.
The video plug must be plugged in or the unit will auto-shut off.
Also, the power supply cord must be plugged in. Turn on the Xbox
& wait until you will see the 3RLOD (3 Red Lights Of Death).
Without the fans, it’s just a matter of time until the Xbox overheats.
When this happens, it will change to only 2 lights (both left side
lights), then shut it off. I had to wait about 2 minutes before
shutting it off. Next let it cool dawn without disturbing it.
This allows the solder problems to fix themselves by getting hot enough
to resolder themselves in place. After this is cooled off, take the
board out to where you can tighten the M5 screws down snug. Don’t
over-tighten them, or you may crack something.
6) After everything is
cool, put everything back together. Any cooling modifications that you
can do can only help the situation. There are several out there: 12V
modification to the existing fans,
better fans,etc.
All will help keep the temperature cooler.
That's it! Now you can
start it up and unleash your Xbox 360.
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I highly recommend this xbox 360 repair guide.
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Make Xbox 360
games,PC
games and Zune games!
then make them available to the
world through Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
It is easy to do with FREE game making software.
You can get the XNA® Game Studio 3.1 free of cost.
You can also join the XNA Creators Club Online for free.
They have excellent video tutorials to learn all
about creating games with XNA® Game Studio!
The video tutorials come
with full source
code
and detailed tips and tricks to help you every step of the way.
They have premium memberships available for more club benefits.
Article
The
new Xbox 360 Elite Holiday Bundle
Microsoft
announced recently that it has launched a new Xbox 360 Elite Holiday
bundle.Microsoft's
brand new Xbox 360 Elite bundle contains the Xbox 360 console, a wireless black controller,
and copies of Lego Batman: The Videogame Pure. The Price is around $300.
Microsoft
also announced the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Game Pack. This bundle
features a black wireless controller and four Xbox Live Arcade
games.The bundle also includes a free 48-hour Xbox Live Gold
trial. The Wireless Controller Game Pack will be available in
November for about $60.
I have
seen the Xbox 360 on Ebay from $165 for the Xbox 360 PRO edition, up to
$240 for the Xbox 360 Elite Video Game Console.
Some of my favorite links:
Wikipedia - Has
general information on just about anything. click here.
WebMD - For information on health issues or symptoms click here.
Ebay - buy & sell at online auctions click here.
Rom-World - For ROMs & Old School favorite games, etc. cklick here.
XBOX 360®, and XNA® are
trademarks of thr Microsoft. This
website is not affiliated with the Microsoft Corporation
