RROD Home Repair

jhunter46

I picked up a free used 360 from a friend who replaced it due to a RROD. It was assembled in 05 so it is outside of warranty and it looks like a 99$ repair.

I've been looking over some guides and the repair doesn't actually seem that difficult. I was thinking about trying it myself and then hopefully giving the repaired console to a friend.

Has anyone ever tried to do the 3 RROD repair on their own or used any of the services people advertise on Craigslist with any success?

Sci-Fi Wasabi

Whatever you end up doing, DON'T do the "towel trick".

BoomShake

OP: which "repair" method are you talking about?

jhunter46

It looks like it involves removing the x brace and replacing it with proper bolts, washers and nuts.

illig

jhunter46 wrote: »

It looks like it involves removing the x brace and replacing it with proper bolts, washers and nuts.

it's fairly easy to do.... you take apart the case, snap off the x-clamps, and re-attach the heatsinks using your own bolts + non-conductive washers....

the hardest part will be taking the case apart, as MS made it a bitch and a half to do w/out the special tool... and you may have to modify the metal inner-case slightly if your bolts/washers are a bit too long

i've done it, and try to convince everyone on these boards to do so... but most are scared to try and end up buying a new arcade unit

Sentry

I did it. It worked for a while, but the RRoD came back.

It was a pain in the ass, but an interesting experience. Getting the case opened is a freaking bitch.

jhunter46

It looks like the people in the area do what is called a reflow. They use a solder paste around the gpu and then heat it at a controlled temperature and allow it to remelt.

I think I'll just pony up the 100 bucks, send the thing out to MS and tell my friend Christmas came early this year :-P

Wezoin

jhunter46 wrote: »

It looks like the people in the area do what is called a reflow. They use a solder paste around the gpu and then heat it at a controlled temperature and allow it to remelt.

I think I'll just pony up the 100 bucks, send the thing out to MS and tell my friend Christmas came early this year :-P

Keep in mind they typically just send you a different repaired unit, and they usually don't last more than 2 - 3 months (my 3rd has lasted for just over a year now, but small things like the disc drive refusing to open occasionally and the screen flicking to black in 1080p mode sometimes is telling me it wont last much longer.)

Bartholamue

Yeah, I just got one back with a 'replaced' console, which isn't a new one, but rather a refurbished one.

Xaev

Wezoin wrote: »

jhunter46 wrote: »

It looks like the people in the area do what is called a reflow. They use a solder paste around the gpu and then heat it at a controlled temperature and allow it to remelt.

I think I'll just pony up the 100 bucks, send the thing out to MS and tell my friend Christmas came early this year :-P

Keep in mind they typically just send you a different repaired unit, and they usually don't last more than 2 - 3 months (my 3rd has lasted for just over a year now, but small things like the disc drive refusing to open occasionally and the screen flicking to black in 1080p mode sometimes is telling me it wont last much longer.)

I had mine fixed/replaced (not actually sure if it's the same unit or not) and haven't had any further problems with it in nearly a year