PS3 Fault finding YLOD with the SYSCON - First steps and Error reporting

[Bazylski]

It's great you want to learn to reball. It's a rewarding experiance when it works and truely crushing when it fails. Just be sure to do your research first. It's not a light undertaking.

But we'll help you along if you are all in on doing it. Just be shure you know what you're in for. It's a wild ride full of dissapointment and burnout. Will take perseverance, patience, and week long breaks to get your mind right after the dissapointments. It's one of the hardest levels of rework to master.

And I do not claim to be a master yet by any means. I have had some sucess lately and feel more confident. But it took a while to get this far and I have aways to go before it feels routine, predictable.

I've been there with delidding. For the Cell lid of my first CECH-2004 I've tried plastic cards, nylon fishing lines, carbon fiber fishing lines (that filed down the green solder mask), until I gave up and tried a razor&LCD separator wire (that finished the job by giving the PCB a thousand tiny cuts). Then I started doing painters knives, successfully delidded 4 consoles (CECHL, CECHG, CECHC, the CECH-2503 in question) but I take my time to pray and calm my breathing for a minute or two.

I have two practice boards, the CECHL and the failed CECH-2004 - I'll try the L first and the 2004 second. I've successfully reballed smaller chips before, but nothing as bulky as the RSX. It'll be fun and I'll be sure to keep you up to date on my attempts.

I am quite new to forums as a whole (Gen Z and it shows), but I'll do my best to make my posts as useful for the community as possible with console logs and photos.

 

[RIP-Felix]

I have two practice boards, the CECHL and the failed CECH-2004 - I'll try the L first and the 2004 second. I've successfully reballed smaller chips before, but nothing as bulky as the RSX. It'll be fun and I'll be sure to keep you up to date on my attempts.

What equipment were you using?

I ask because smaller chips can usually be removed and replace with hot air alone and the RSX and/or CELL most definately cannot. They require a preheater from below and a fairly complicated reflow process to approximate a profile.

I use a ghetto reballing setup that is barely capable, with experiance. Others here have dedicated reballing stations, which take experiance to use as well. There are many intricacies involved.

No offense, but it doesn't sound like you are prepared for what awaits you. This isn't a "I'll try it and report back how it goes" kind of thing. That approach is doomed to certain failure. Certain!

EDIT:
The correct response should be.

1. I am an experianced rework technition with access to $50,000 BGA rework stations and an employer that doesn't mind personal projects. Or...
2. Where should I begin? I am prepared to spend the next few weeks reading and deciding what to buy.

 

[Bazylski]

What equipment were you using?

I ask because smaller chips can usually be removed and replace with hot air alone and the RSX and/or CELL most definately cannot. They require a preheater from below and a fairly complicated reflow process to approximate a profile.

I use a ghetto reballing setup that is barely capable, with experiance. Others here have dedicated reballing stations, which take experiance to use as well. There are many intricacies involved.

No offense, but it doesn't sound like you are prepared for what awaits you. This isn't a "I'll try it and report back how it goes" kind of thing. That approach is doomed to certain failure. Certain!

I've actually looked at the links in your signature and I'm 60% sure I have the tools needed.

My hot-air station is Zhaoxin 850D (I have the 45x45 nozzle), and my IR preheater is a W.E.P. 853A. While the preheater's heating element isn't as big as the board, do you think I could possibly circumvent this by wrapping the board in aluminum foil, having only the rectangle that contains the RSX and Cell uncovered, getting hit by the IR light? I've done all my previous SMD jobs (practice reballs on various minor BGA chips, mostly controllers of all sorts, a few flash chips) using this setup and I think it should be enough. I'm really curious about what you'll have to say about it, though!

Absolutely no offense taken, I am an amateur to all of this. I've broken many boards before and my skills are based on what I definitely shouldn't do, if I want to see that piece of electronics working ever again. I'm not afraid to fail as I've already broken the 2004 earlier, the L was dead on arrival - seriously mishandled by the local delivery company. I assume both Cell and RSX have a similar thermal "behavior", so that's four attempts before I get to the real deal - reballing the 2500.

 

[RIP-Felix]

My hot-air station is Zhaoxin 850D (I have the 45x45 nozzle), and my IR preheater is a W.E.P. 853A. While the preheater's heating element isn't as big as the board, do you think I could possibly circumvent this by wrapping the board in aluminum foil, having only the rectangle that contains the RSX and Cell uncovered, getting hit by the IR light?

I looked that preheater up and it's only 600W. You need at least 1500W (covered with aluminum). Otherwise you need at least 2000W. If you're interested in the cheap ghetto method, I reccomend the Puuhi T-8280 I have. It's just large and powerful enought (barely). It was just over $100 when I got it. Not too expensive, espeically since you have most of the other bits needed. But if you do get it be aware that mine came with a 10A rated cord and it needs a 15A cord. It got hot to the touch before I replaced that. Works fine now.

 

[RIP-Felix]

I assume both Cell and RSX have a similar thermal "behavior", so that's four attempts before I get to the real deal - reballing the 2500.

Technically you can practice on the same sacrificial board as many times as you like before you feel like you're ready for the real thing. Just be aware that the COK boards are thicker and harder to work with than slims.

 

[Bazylski]

I looked that preheater up and it's only 600W. You need at least 1500W (covered with aluminum). Otherwise you need at least 2000W. If you're interested in the cheap ghetto method, I reccomend the Puuhi T-8280 I have. It's just large and powerful enought (barely). It was just over $100 when I got it. Not too expensive, espeically since you have most of the other bits needed. But if you do get it be aware that mine came with a 10A rated cord and it needs a 15A cord. It got hot to the touch before I replaced that. Works fine now.

Wasn't expecting an issue this big... In this case I'll look for a better preheater and only then try to perform the reball on a training board. I am unbelievably grateful for all the help and feedback!

 

[Fedex]

Hi, im having a problem with a DYN-001 ps3 board, it has an instant YLOD, i used the syscon reader tool and it gave me this error:
==================================
ERR 00: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 01: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 02: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 03: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 04: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 05: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 06: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 07: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 08: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 09: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 10: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 11: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 12: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 13: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 14: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 15: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 16: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 17: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 18: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
ERR 19: 00000000 A0022110 FFFFFFFF
===================================

i know it means (Clock Generator Error (IC5001)). But i cant find anywhere to locate that IC on my board. i checked ohm resistance on RSX and cell and they´re: 3.3 OHM RSX and 3.3 OHM CELL. Thanks in advance.

 

[Alonso240]

Hello all, I am working on a DYN-001 board from a CECH-2001A that is suffering from a YLOD.
This is what I'm seeing from syscon

> ERRLOG GET 00
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 01
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 02
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 03
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 04
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 05
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 06
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 07
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 08
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 09
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 0A
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 0B
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 0C
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 0D
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 0E
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 0F
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 10
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 11
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 12
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 13
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 14
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 15
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 16
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 17
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 18
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 19
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 1A
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 1B
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 1C
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 1D
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 1E
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
> ERRLOG GET 1F
00000000 FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF

Am I doing something wrong? Or are there really no codes stored?

Currently the system does not boot up. I can't get it to go into safe mode either. After the second beep it beeps 3 times quickly followed by a blinking red light. Any help is appreciated!

 

[Test_Guy2010]

I've got one of my own CECHC02 (COK-002) Playstations which originally had 22110 errors, was a bad capacitor and blown fuse. After they were replaced the system was working and then put away for some time.

Come to today, I pull it out, and yellow light, it looks to have thrown one A0011004 then A0603040.
I am unsure on what the A0011004 error is, and what I could find about 3040 is a possible flash issue? Has the flash just died from not being used in so long?

Any suggestions?

 

[Pacorretaco]

I've got one of my own CECHC02 (COK-002) Playstations which originally had 22110 errors, was a bad capacitor and blown fuse. After they were replaced the system was working and then put away for some time.

Come to today, I pull it out, and yellow light, it looks to have thrown one A0011004 then A0603040.
I am unsure on what the A0011004 error is, and what I could find about 3040 is a possible flash issue? Has the flash just died from not being used in so long?

Any suggestions?

Ive never seen those error combinations but first of all I would try a known good PSU.
1004 is a power related error (AC power in theory) and if you are lucky, the 3040 data error might be a secondary manifestation of the same problem

And yeah some problems can still develop even when the machine is sitting unused inside the box or a closet

 

[Alonso240]

Tried again this morning. This is what ERRLOG showed this time after attempting to boot the system. DYN-001 board

Spoiler: ERRLOG

>$ ERRLOG
00000000
# [SSM] Bringup Start.
# [SSM] PS0 ok.
# [SSM] PS1 ok.
# [SSM] PS2 ok.
# [SSM] PS3 ok.
# [SSM] PS4 ok.
# (PowerOn State)
#!
#!Boot Loader SE Version 2.7.0
#!(Build ID: 3517,38879,
#!Build Date: 2009-03-24_23:51:55)
#!
#!Copyright(C) 2009 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.All Rights Reserved.
#!
#![INFO]: Connecting to Debug Device (SB UART)
# [SSM] Cond/Fatal received, msg=2649.
# [SSM] Fataldown Start.
# [SSM] Fataldown ok.
# (PowerOff State) (Fatal)
# [SSM] Clearfatal Start.
# [SSM] Clearfatal ok.
# (PowerOff State)
# CODE  CLOCK
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF
# FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFF

 

[WOWRenegade]

Hello everyone!

I'm going to share my problem in case anyone can help me to track down where the problem with my board is. I'm currently working on a PS3 Slim (CECH-3004B) with a KTE-001 board. Yesterday I managed to communicate with SYSCON through UART and got the following error codes:

A0203010
A0233010
A0233020

After reading lots of posts in this forum, I narrowed the problem to the following candidates for the problem (this may be completely wrong):
-Something called "CPU Buck Controller", although I have little idea of what that means.
-Some clock related issues. When I opened the console the first time, I found the following.

If I'm not mistaken, that dirty looking area must be something related to a clock of some kind (one of the components resembles a lot to what I remember being a clock crystal)

To tell the truth, there is a lot of information in this post that I have the feeling that could guide me towards to the solution, but I don't feel like I have the expertise to understand it. If someone could help me, I would appreciate it a lot.

Thanks in advance!

 

[St3v3b82]

that dirty looking area must be something related to a clock of some kind (one of the components resembles a lot to what I remember being a clock crystal)

Seems someone did some soldering at the dirty area... doesn't look well.

 

[sandungas]

If I'm not mistaken, that dirty looking area must be something related to a clock of some kind (one of the components resembles a lot to what I remember being a clock crystal)

To tell the truth, there is a lot of information in this post that I have the feeling that could guide me towards to the solution, but I don't feel like I have the expertise to understand it. If someone could help me, I would appreciate it a lot.

Thanks in advance!

That cummulation of garbage is the kind of thing that looks weird visually but could not be related with your problem at all
Is flux or varnish that becomes liquid when the board overheats, the console was placed horizontally and the board was a bit wrapped... so the liquid flows to the most lowest point of the board, and then "drops" like an stalactite
But it seems all that liquid comes from the border of the board

So... the location is completly random, it doesnt means the components in that area are overheating either
Actually, in your photo it can be seen the liquid comes from the border at top (where the HDMI, AV, LAN, and all the other back conectors)
Btw, at the botom-right of your photo is the RSX, and the 2 big data buses connected to it that goes up are for the HDMI and AV controller chips (this chips doesnt overheats as far i now)

Clean it with isopropil alchol and a toothbrush anyway, the flux is not electrical conductive but when it was liquid and it was sliding it could cummulate dust particles, crap, and even some shard of metal that could create interferences in the pins of the dirty components

 

[azlox9]

Edited, wrong place, I created my own topic https://www.psx-place.com/threads/ps3-syscon-error-a0801001-a0801004.37094/
Don't knew where to post it.
Anyways, many thanks for this guide and your works.

 

[bguerville]

Edited, wrong place, I created my own topic : https://www.psx-place.com/thre...error-a0801001-a0801004.37094/
Anyways, many thanks for this guide and your works.

Moderation Note:
Sorry but you posted the same thing 3 times in the past 20mn, in this thread and in 2 threads you created, the 2 new threads were deleted as we always do with the duplicates to keep only one post, this one and you edited it in the meantime.
You will have to create a new post again now.

 

[amxcs]

This is why you have the reputation as the guy who's solution the everything is to "reball." I honestly couldn't tell if you were kidding or not.

I don't see this 1214 error as related to anything but the reset circuit. This is a relatively small set of ICs. I would first troubleshoot 5v_EVER line to see if the ICs responsable for converting to 1.8V, 3.3v, thermal are working. These are checked by the syscon in standby and if not present it'll issue YLOD at step# A0 (immediately after syscon reset, which is usually HW related) or 00 (sometime during syscon standby checks, which determin if it's safe to allow pwr on. Can be HW problem, or FW. Like a mistake in the eeprom).

The A0 and 00 step#s and fact this error is occuring in standby suggest, shocker, the issue is in the standby circuit or SYSCON eeprom. So start there.

It turned out that I have the same working board in my collection. I randomly compared the voltages of the two boards in standby, but found no difference. 5v_EVER, 1.8V, 3.3v, thermal are working, as well as all fuses.
I will be grateful if you can help me what else I can check.

 

[Midnight Sun]

I got a yellow light CECHA01 off craigslist and I pulled A0213013 and A0801001. I checked F6302 and it's good, but F6301 is blown. My C4004 also appears to be shorted. Do these have any correlation to either code? What else should I check? Thank you so much in advance!

 

[St3v3b82]

Hi there
I've got another untouched fat (which seems to work fine for now), installed CFW and pulled the syscon error log.
Quite weird errors, all dated Jan.30. 2006 and all are somehow (RSX, CELL and Southbridge) thermal related...

Spoiler: Log

Bringup Count: 1498, Shutdown Count: 1462
Runtime: 130 Days, 1 Hours, 22 Minutes, 11 Seconds

Error Log
01: A0802131 Mon Jan 30 21:44:30 2006
02: A0802031 Mon Jan 30 21:44:17 2006
03: A0802130 Mon Jan 30 21:41:58 2006
04: A0802130 Mon Jan 30 21:41:57 2006
05: A0802030 Mon Jan 30 21:41:52 2006
06: A0802030 Mon Jan 30 21:41:43 2006
07: A0802131 Mon Jan 30 21:41:38 2006
08: A0802031 Mon Jan 30 21:41:27 2006
09: A0802131 Mon Jan 30 21:41:13 2006
10: A0802031 Mon Jan 30 21:41:09 2006
11: A0802030 Mon Jan 30 21:41:07 2006
12: A0802131 Mon Jan 30 21:40:49 2006
13: A0802130 Mon Jan 30 21:40:36 2006
14: A0802131 Mon Jan 30 21:40:30 2006
15: A0802131 Mon Jan 30 21:40:24 2006
16: A0802130 Mon Jan 30 21:40:13 2006
17: A0802030 Mon Jan 30 21:40:09 2006
18: A0802131 Mon Jan 30 21:40:06 2006
19: A0802031 Mon Jan 30 21:40:04 2006
20: A0802030 Mon Jan 30 21:39:59 2006
21: A0802131 Mon Jan 30 21:39:55 2006
22: A0802031 Mon Jan 30 21:39:46 2006
23: A0802031 Mon Jan 30 21:39:37 2006
24: A0802131 Mon Jan 30 21:39:35 2006
25: A0802130 Mon Jan 30 21:39:34 2006
26: A0802030 Mon Jan 30 21:39:29 2006
27: A0802130 Mon Jan 30 21:39:23 2006
28: A0802131 Mon Jan 30 21:39:05 2006
29: A0802130 Mon Jan 30 21:38:40 2006
30: A0802030 Mon Jan 30 21:38:37 2006
31: A0802131 Mon Jan 30 21:38:36 2006
32: FFFFFFFF Fri Dec 31 23:59:59 1999

I wonder if someone else have seen this kind of errors... @Pacorretaco maybe?
Did they run or test the boards without heatsink/fan at the factory?
Or is the date/time stamp maybe CMOS battery related, i.e. does the PS3 reset to January 2006 if the battery is empty?
Best regards

 

[Pacorretaco]

It turned out that I have the same working board in my collection. I randomly compared the voltages of the two boards in standby, but found no difference. 5v_EVER, 1.8V, 3.3v, thermal are working, as well as all fuses.
I will be grateful if you can help me what else I can check.

But did you check the Southbridge area, thermal sensor?

By the way, the other day I found something around Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5aK6FOGTrHo5kEzDDeh7Q
Would be nice to have that guy around here. SYSCON may help a lot, but it still can't beat or replace the general knowledge and experience. Which this man clearly has built over many years.

Here may not be exactly your case, but he talks about similar things.