Is your Playstation 3 acting up? Do you see yellow lights flashing when trying to load your games? The PS3 yellow light error is a quite common problem, sometimes referred to as the "PS3 Yellow Light of Death." If you are experiencing this with your PS3, here are some explanations of why this occurs and how to go about fixing the problem.
What Commonly Causes the PS3 Yellow Flashing Light Issue?
There are many causes of flashing light problems with the PS3, but frequently it is caused by overheating. If you notice the flashing yellow error light on your console, your first troubleshooting step should be to determine whether overheating is the cause. To do this, you can simply touch the console and see if it is unusually hot. You will often notice in the days before having a PS3 flashing light issue that your gaming console seems unusually hot. If you have been playing your gaming console much more than usual, you may find this problem occurring from time to time as well as your unit gets hot.
How to Fix the PS3 Yellow Flashing Light Problem?
If overheating is the problem, the easiest solution is to troubleshoot the cause. Often overheating is caused by blocked fan vents or other problems with ventilation. You may also want to consider cleaning your PS3. A good PS3 repair manual can walk you through the steps of properly cleaning your PS3 inside and out. However, here are some basic tips. First, a can of compressed air can help blow out dust and dirt particles. Just be sure to use it carefully and not damage any of the internal components by spraying too close or too hard. Also, pay particular attention to the vents and make sure they are dust and dirt free.
Other Solutions For Fixing PS3 Yellow Light Errors
If overheating is not the problem, there are some other steps you can take as well. First, you can try resetting the PS3's hard drive by pulling it out and inserting it again. You should also check to see if there are any loose cables to the unit, since these sometimes can cause yellow light flashing.
However, if these simple at home solutions do not work, you can send your PS3 into Sony for repairs (expect it to take several weeks and cost at least $100), or do more advanced PS3 yellow light troubleshooting using an at home PS3 repair manual.
