Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

16

Time Required

                          45 minutes - 1 hour            

Sections

4

  • Smart Plate
  • 4 steps
  • Top Cover
  • 2 steps
  • Blu-ray Disc Drive
  • 3 steps
  • Blu-Ray Drive
  • 7 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Smart Plate               
  • 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.

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.

1024

Step 2

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

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

Step 3

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

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

Step 4

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

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

Step 5

              Top Cover               
  • Remove the following seven screws:
  • Six 52 mm Phillips screws
  • One 30 mm Phillips screw

Remove the following seven screws:

Six 52 mm Phillips screws

One 30 mm Phillips screw

Step 6

  • 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.

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.

Step 7

              Blu-ray Disc Drive               
  • Disconnect the Blu-ray power cable from the motherboard.
  • Pull the connector straight up and out of its socket.

Disconnect the Blu-ray power cable from the motherboard.

Pull the connector straight up and out of its socket.

Step 8

  • Lift the Blu-ray drive from the edge nearest the power supply and rotate it away from the chassis enough to access its ribbon cable.

Lift the Blu-ray drive from the edge nearest the power supply and rotate it away from the chassis enough to access its ribbon cable.

Step 9

  • Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Blu-ray 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 Blu-ray drive from the PS3.
  • If replacing the Blu-ray drive, transfer the power cable to your new drive.

Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Blu-ray 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 Blu-ray drive from the PS3.

If replacing the Blu-ray drive, transfer the power cable to your new drive.

Step 10

              Blu-Ray Drive               
  • Using your fingernail, lift the flap on the ZIF connector holding the Blu-ray lens motor cable to the Blu-ray control daughterboard.
  • Pull the ribbon cable straight away from its socket on the daughterboard.

Using your fingernail, lift the flap on the ZIF connector holding the Blu-ray lens motor cable to the Blu-ray control daughterboard.

Pull the ribbon cable straight away from its socket on the daughterboard.

Step 11

  • Using your fingernail, lift the flap on the ZIF connector holding the Blu-ray lens Data cable to the Blu-ray control daughterboard.
  • Pull the ribbon cable straight away from its socket on the daughterboard.

Using your fingernail, lift the flap on the ZIF connector holding the Blu-ray lens Data cable to the Blu-ray control daughterboard.

Step 12

  • Using your fingernail, lift the flap on the ZIF connector holding the Blu-ray drive motor cable to the Blu-ray control daughterboard.
  • Pull the ribbon cable straight away from its socket on the daughterboard.

Using your fingernail, lift the flap on the ZIF connector holding the Blu-ray drive motor cable to the Blu-ray control daughterboard.

Step 13

  • Using your fingernail, lift the flap on the ZIF connector holding the Blu-ray IR sensor cable to the Blu-ray control daughterboard.
  • Pull the ribbon cable straight away from its socket on the daughterboard.

Using your fingernail, lift the flap on the ZIF connector holding the Blu-ray IR sensor cable to the Blu-ray control daughterboard.

Step 14

  • Remove the five 8.4mm phillips screws securing the Blu-ray control board to the Blu-ray drive.
  • Be sure to also remove the metal ground springs from under the screws in the corners.

Remove the five 8.4mm phillips screws securing the Blu-ray control board to the Blu-ray drive.

Be sure to also remove the metal ground springs from under the screws in the corners.

Step 15

  • Carefully lift the daughterboard from the rear edge.
  • Slide the daughterboard out from under the top case.
  • Do not try to remove the daughterboard yet, as it is still connected by a cable on the underside of the board.

Carefully lift the daughterboard from the rear edge.

Slide the daughterboard out from under the top case.

Do not try to remove the daughterboard yet, as it is still connected by a cable on the underside of the board.

Step 16

  • Carefully turn the daughterboard over, making sure to not tear the attached cable.
  • Pull the IR Sensor cable straight away from its socket on the board.
  • Be sure that you are not pulling on the cables as you remove the plug from its socket.
  • Blu-Ray drive remains.
  • If you are replacing the Blu-ray drive, you must use the same daughterboard that came with your PlayStation 3. The daughterboard is paired to the motherboard, and the Blu-ray drive will not work with a different board.

Carefully turn the daughterboard over, making sure to not tear the attached cable.

Pull the IR Sensor cable straight away from its socket on the board.

Be sure that you are not pulling on the cables as you remove the plug from its socket.

Blu-Ray drive remains.

If you are replacing the Blu-ray drive, you must use the same daughterboard that came with your PlayStation 3. The daughterboard is paired to the motherboard, and the Blu-ray drive will not work with a different board.

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

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                    Brett Hartt                     

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Canis Lupis - May 2, 2019

Reply

Is there a thermal pad replacement for the bond between the Optical Drive and the metal housing of around the motherboard? I can play Borderlands for hours, but if I use a disc based game or one with more intensive graphics the overheat light comes on. I’m thinking of reapplying the thermal paste with the squish method as well. Already by replacing the thermal pads (some were missing or just like clay) has reduced the fan noise. Any suggestions? The thermal pad currently is also claylike.

Ginny - Sep 28, 2019

Reply

The IR sensor cable broke ; how to fix it?

John Doe - Aug 3, 2022

Id probably just buy a new disc drive for the ps3 fat, you can find them on sites like amazon and eBay for reasonable prices

Charalambos Hanni - Oct 30, 2022

Reply

I have a CECHC04 that does not accept discs. If i replace the BD drive with another one from a CECHC03 will it work, or do i have to keep my original daughterboard as well? What if my problem is the daughterboard?

Kelly Anaya - Dec 6, 2022

Reply

I got everything re hooked up but when I insert my disc , it won’t suck it in. is that normal or do I have my wires crossed?