XBOX 360 3 red lights of death! IM PROUD! I fixed it!!
 

Just a pat on the back for myself... craked that puppy open, pulledt he heatsinks off of the video and processor - cleaned em up, put some heatskink compound on them from Radio Shack, put it back together and working like a charm! Total investment? $3.17 with tax.

Apparently MS used cheap goop for the chips because it was all dried up and hard as a rock. :disgust

From what I read online I guess the 3 lights are a safety guard as to not burn out the chips hence the reason it doesn't boot.

Sorry, I'm still amazed I fixed it myself. I was ready to toss it and trade in the $600 or so games I had to Gamestop. Carry on lol.:thumbsup

i fixed mine for a while too...give it a few weeks or months and it will die out again ... if it doesn't congrats, but don't get too excited just yet

Ugh I was waiting for a response like this :(

then fix it again, its not some magical pony. it has a reason as to why its dieing

Yeah, I heard it comes back.

Only thing is I hope you didn't void the warranty. If it was out of warranty, it doesn't matter.

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

It was by like 3 1/2 months :(

That sucks. I guess just try to keep it as cool as possible. I heard if you install games to the HDD using the new dashboard the system runs cooler since the DVD drive isn't running all the time.

Do you have any information on this dashboard you speak of? Sorry to ask for your time as Im sure you are a busy man, but have a link offhand I could read up on? TIA!

lol... that sucks!

I sent mine in for the second time. I am glad i bought the black one as a back up. I was so pissed that i had to send it in for a second time!! They are going to give me a new one, so they say.


The black one works great!!

just beat gta IV no lights of death for me but i got the newer version

Anyone know what it usually costs to fix one out of warranty? One of mine seems to have trouble reading discs after you've been playing it for a while, no red lights though.

If it's going to cost $100 to fix that I might as well just buy an Arcade version for $199.

Ughh that's why I hate my XBOX 360. I've gone through a handful, this is definitely my last one. Some dude I know fixes 360's the proper way so you don't get any over heat issues, it's been 6 months and a-okay. My PS3 is my main love, though.

I've fixed a bunch of them. It's not too difficult once you have the tools.

Toss an ad on Craigslist and offer the service for $50-100. You'd be surprised at the response. I know I was. :winkwink:

There are two new models out.

The newest one has the new heatsink and new chip architecture for a cooler running system. Virtually no failures. These are code named "jasper" by MS and use the 65 nm chip structure. Date of manufacture is usually fall '08 or later. If you are buying new, don't buy one made before this date.

The other one just has the newer heatsink which reduces the red rings quite a bit. As long as you keep this unit out in the open and not tucked in with the rest of your AV stuff, it should last. These are pretty much in all the stores.

Hope that helps if you are buying a new one.

i fixed my ipod once and i was happy :)

...if
 

If it does go south on you again, make sure you get 'artic silver' thermal compound, it is some good stuff and will stand up to higher temps. And any time you open up components, it's a good idea to take some compressed air and blow out all the dust bunnies. Dust is a nightmare down here.

Second, make sure the xbox itself is getting plenty of ventilation. Wal-Mart usually has some little 5" inch fans (the metal ones, with the good motors) that are great for cooling down stubborn components. They are small enough that you can usually hide them out of sight. It ain't elegant, but it works.

Never had the ring of death and Ive been playing xbox360 since it came out.

my xbox 360 only red ringed once. Sent it in and got a new one back a week later. Still using the one they sent me and it's been over a year. So far so good.

i fixed one once, about 10 months ago. replaced the x clamps on the gpu and cpu with some nuts and bolts. been goin strong ever since.

Put the xBOX in your freezer and punch a whole for the cords in the corner... problem solved! :1orglaugh

I've heard that it's best to leave the Xbox laying on it's side so that air can get through better than if it's standing on it's end ...

You can also fix the red ring by wrapping the Xbox in a towel and running it for like 5 minutes .. oddly enough

What a great way to damage the cpu/gpu/chipset/ram/hdd. Also it's a great idea to move it around like that while the hdd is on, best idea ever. Keep the thing slanted at an odd angle, hdd run better that way!

Just sent mine in last week, been playing it hardcore for 2.5 years and it finally died

When mine dies next time I am getting a PS3.

My XBOX 360 is still working fine by now.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh ...

The towel trick is just a temp fix.

Good to hear that!