PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement

Written By: Walter Galan
  • Comments: 36
PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

13

Time Required

30 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the circuit board responsible for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

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    • Use the tip of a spudger to remove the black rubber screw cover from the side of the PS3.

    • The screw cover may be underneath a warranty sticker. This sticker will change appearance, and show "VOID" after it has been removed.

    Fake repair. Real fault: How to Delid and fix the Yellow Light of Death for good (NEC TOKIN Replacement) https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-delid...

    Player -

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    • Remove the single 8.5 mm T10 Security Torx screw from the smart plate.

    How to Delid and fix the Yellow Light of Death for good (NEC TOKIN Replacement) https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-delid...

    Player -

    I need a tork screw bracket / holder A/E/B/E01- MG and security torx screw for a CECH-AO1 do u guys sell these?

    vuhx -

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    • Pull the smart plate toward the hard drive bay, then lift it off the body of the PS3.

    How to Delid and fix the Yellow Light of Death for good (NEC TOKIN Replacement) https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-delid...

    Player -

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    • Be sure to keep track of the small metal bracket loosely held in the top cover, if equipped.

    That small metal bracket/socket set up looks completely different in the ps3 I'm working on. Model: CECHK01.

    Any suggestions?

    Marcus -

    different in mine too, Model: CECHP01

    Link Adrian -

    mine does not have one at all

    ian.downard01 -

    1How to Delid and fix the Yellow Light of Death for good (NEC TOKIN Replacement) https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-delid...

    Player -

    Did not find in my CECHH01

    Philippe Morin -

    I don’t have this bracket, where I can get it ?

    Paul Bidny -

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    • Remove the following seven screws:

    • Six 52 mm Phillips screws

    • One 30 mm Phillips screw

    2 more smaller screws (don't know what size...small) just below the top middle screw and top right screw (in the picture). Look for the arrows...

    E Goo -

    can confirm, might be the backwards compatibles only

    Jordan Giese -

    after you remove the screws, you may have to push a tab to take the cover off if you meet resistance on one side of the cover. Here is a link to a video that explains it, saved me lots of trouble:

    http://youtu.be/jZgekNsRB-A?t=1m54s

    ericksi33 -

    Thanks @ericksi33, this really helped me out.

    hogurt -

    1st attempt, fan loud. Ps3 lasted about 2 wks. 2nd attempt noticed very poor contact between heatsink & cpu,gpu when taking it apart. Research - Found a better way to apply thermal past. I personally disapprove of guide on this. A small bit about the size of a grain of rice in center of cpu is plenty. Clamp the heat sinks back on. Then take it apart & check contact area. Thermal paste should have spread to about the size of a quarter.(more is better. Less then a nickel size is poor contact) possibly weak clamps. Carefully applied pressure onto the cpu & gpu, pressing them into the heatsinks before clamping heatsink clamps on. Achieved greater then quarter sized thermal past spread. Fan silent in comparison & ps3 lasted about a yr. Rarely did I ever hear the fan go to high and get loud after that. About to begin my third fix on this same ps3. One of the first 80g backwards compatible. other then those notes and that this guide was for a different model ps3 (minor differences) I liked this guide. easy to follow.

    brettgomes -

    Although the battery is described as proprietary, it looks like it is the common CR2032 lithium coin battery that is used in calculators and some computers. I haven't had to replace mine but I suspect under the heatshrink cover is a battery holder which will allow the coin battery to be removed and replaced. Then wrap with electrical tape and reinstall.

    RickP -

    I tried this with the heatgun and it ruined my PS3. The CPU and GPU are NOW RUINED!!! It did not work for and made things worst!!! I sent it to a place to get reballed and they said the HEATGUN had overheated my processor and killed them!!! So think twice about doing this. Just because it is already broken, DON'T THINK YOU CAN'T MAKE IT WORST!

    georgehollyoh -

    Why would you try it with a heat gun, no were is it mentioned to do that

    Phillip Pereira -

    There are 2 additional screws to remove , front center and front left , just behind the already marked screws.

    mikentc90 -

    As mentioned and I’ll add so detail too. If you have a model with the card readers there are two more small screws that also need to be removed before moving on to the next step.

    screech -

    2How to Delid and fix the Yellow Light of Death for good (NEC TOKIN Replacement) https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-delid...

    Player -

    I felt more comfortable with #2 screwdrivers.

    Philippe Morin -

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    • Lift the top cover from its rear edge and rotate it toward the front of the PS3.

    • Remove the top cover.

    • There is a plastic hook located in a hole on the top back right hand side corner. Carefully push the plastic hook a bit from the rear of the machine with a spudger to release the rear right of the casing.

    Disconnect the memory card ribbon cable.

    Tobias Stockmann -

    The top would hardly budge on the left back corner and was stuck on the right back corner. There is a plastic hook that needs to be unfastened to lift the top off. It is located in a hole on the top back corner on the right hand side, so the corner straight across the on off button. Just gently push the plastic hook a bit front the rear of the machine with a spudger. It gives easily and the top will be free to lift off after that.

    cornellg -

    I can confirm on CECHH01.

    Philippe Morin -

    Some more details here as well.

    The newer model without SACD support appears to have added that clip to the back right that needs to be pressed to release the top shell.

    If equipped with the card reader you can either have to disconnect the ribbon cable or unclip the reader from the top shell after lifting it up to get finger or tool in there to push clip to side and release reader from top shell. Note: if you failed to remove the card reader screws in the previous step these clips can break.

    screech -

    The original 60GB with the CF card reader on the front has a button protruding out. This will make it difficult to remove the top. You need to unscrew the memory card reader so it can come out easily.

    Brian Caines -

    Wow, this needs more attention. This isn't explained in any disassembly guide I've seen. You also need to be cognizant of the card reader cable when you're lifting off the lid.

    SolidSonicTH -

    I didn't have trouble during disassembly, but reassembly was tough. I loosened the card reader screws by 1 turn and used a small gauge wire to lasso the button and ran it through the CF hole.

    Carl Garner -

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    • Remove the two 9 mm Phillips screws securing the memory card reader to the chassis.

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    • Lift the memory card reader out of the PS3 enough to access its cable.

    • Flip up the retaining flap on the memory card reader ribbon cable socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the ribbon cable out of its socket.

    • Remove the memory card reader from the PS3.

    it isn't necessary to disconnect this.

    burkken -

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    • If necessary, peel the memory card reader ribbon cable off the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth board.

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    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the Wi-Fi antenna connector up from its socket on the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth board.

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    • Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable out of its socket.

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    • Remove the four 9 mm Phillips screws securing the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth board to the chassis.

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    • Remove the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth board from the PS3, minding any cables that may get caught.

    Does the PS3 work without the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth board?

    There are third party controllers wich claim to work over the USB connector for both power and signal.

    I am just playing offline.

    Doc Brown -

    Yes, I have two PS3 units. My original never worked right. Could never connect to the Internet. I bought a second unit and had no issues connecting. I think the first unit was defective but I can still play offline games and watch DVD on it.

    Smokey Delicious -

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Walter Galan

694047 Reputation

4 comments

Note: Only the first 2 generations of PS3 fats have removable Wifi/BT cards. If you have a third generation fat (VER-100 motherboard or later) the Wifi/BT chips are integrated into the board and thereby NOT removable.

Kevin Kwan -

does anybody know how many pins there are on the data ribbon / flex cable of the Wifi / Bluetooth board and Card Reader in the 60gb Model? It would be a great help! Thanx

yasien teladia -

I have a PS3 Slim 2501b can I still use this technique to change my Bluetooth

Kathleen Pereira -

No you can't

J P -