PS3 Overheating

[leewoo]

Does anyone have any tips on bringing a PS3 FAT (CECHK01) back to life?  I bought it in pretty rough condition physically, but it ran.  The vents and everything were covered in cigarette dust.  I took it completely apart and cleaned everything thoroughly and put it back together using new thermal paste.  Now it'll run for a little bit but then turns off with 3 quick beeps.  I assumed it is an overheat issue and took it back apart and used a better thermal paste on the CPU and GPU as well as replaced the thermal pads on the two smaller side chips, but it didn't solve my issue.

Any tips or troubleshooting steps to narrow down my search would be greatly appreciated.

[k7]

i fixed these back in the day. what do the lights on the front do when it fails?

is yours the backwords compatible original release ps3 fatty? i still have mine hooked up and
all the box/paperwork. this was rare a decade ago.

artic silver 5, and a clean 100% fan are needed. as i recall, you also can add pressure to a
component with washers, i know i did that on one i repaired.

what those lights display will tell you what is going on with it.

[leewoo]

I'll have to check again at home, but I believe it beeps 3 times and the red light(s) flash a few times.  I get the exact sequence tonight.

It is not the backwards compatible version but it is a Fat (CECH-H01). 

The thermal paste I used was good, but I ordered Arctic Silver 5 specifically just to try it again.  Fan and CPU cooling fins were cleaned thoroughly...although it ran just fine before when it was all covered in cigarette smoke dust lol.  I could try the washer trick to see if it's a plate contact issue with the CPU/GPU and the fins. 

Thanks for the help

[Evil Genius]

I used these guys to fix my backwards compatible Fatty

https://ps3specialist.com/playstation-3-reballing-repair-service-up-to-two-years-warranty-you-choose-your-warranty-term/

[leewoo]

So it definitely is 3 beeps and shuts off.  But when it does that the right LED flashes red repeatedly.  It looks like this is an overheat issue

[FUNWIZ]

You could always video record the lights and beeps as it goes off and send it to k7 and maybe it signaled  the code flash before it shut down.

[HammysHangout ( Hammy )]

The CECHK01 is not backwards compatible, i would just pitch it and find another ps3.

60GB models that begin with CECHAxx ( Hardware Compatible )
20GB models that begin with CECHBxx ( Software EMU )
60GB models that begin with CECHCxx ( Software EMU )
80GB models that begin with CECHExx ( Software EMU )

After CECHFxx they were not compatible...

I have a CECHAxx, but oddly, it plays games great, but the dash is scrambled ( Stretched diagonally ) ...  which nobody has ever heard of ...

[leewoo]

Yeah.  After trying the Arctic Silver 5 and it still shutting down, this is basically my thoughts here.  I've put good effort into trying to revive it, but they're just not that rare or expensive to put any more effort into it.  I'll just find another one.  Thanks for the input everyone.

[k7]

i had a fatty that i spent about 8 hours on. i could never get that one past the overheat code.

even cooked it . literally...there was a guide, break it down and put it in the oven for 30 minutes.

once they've been fixed, if it happens again, it's very hard to save it a 2nd time. at least, that's what i've noticed.

my 60gb launch system has never been opened up. so i will get one shot...lol.

[leewoo]

Yeah, I've seen some pretty crazy guides for fixing things.  But hey, if it's stupid and it works, it's not stupid.

I would love to have a backwards compatible model, but I have a PS2 as well so it's not as enticing to spend the money for the better model PS3.  I should probably buy one now though as I don't see prices on those getting any better than they are.