360 - 3 red lights :'(
360 - 3 red lights :'(
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Discussion

petrolhead76

Original Poster:

1,597 posts

244 months

Thursday 17th January 2008
quotequote all
My 360 died today - anyone got a link of where I need to send it to get it fixed ? Guessing the microsoft 3 year warranty will cover it as it has 3 red lights when i try and start it.

Also does anyone know how long it will take to get my machine back ?

Gutted.

vodkakid

1,076 posts

300 months

Thursday 17th January 2008
quotequote all
go to xbox.com and go to contact us for a phone number.

Stig

11,823 posts

312 months

Thursday 17th January 2008
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Oddly enough - mine went tonight too.

That's the 2nd time it's happened.

Just got to Xbox live, follow the support / returns link, fill in details and wait for box to turn up.

They've extended the warranty to 3 years, so should cost you nothing smile

toothlessjim

329 posts

227 months

Thursday 17th January 2008
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The ring of death strikes again, i just keep the receipt and take it back to where it came from...instant swap

tybo

2,284 posts

245 months

Thursday 17th January 2008
quotequote all
toothlessjim said:
The ring of death strikes again, i just keep the receipt and take it back to where it came from...instant swap
Thats the one wink

I've done it twice now.

petrolhead76

Original Poster:

1,597 posts

244 months

Thursday 17th January 2008
quotequote all
Thanks guys - 2nd time its broke - will phone the number tomorrow (try to do it via the website but came up with an error).

The first time the DVD drive went dead and now this - I've never had a console die on me before and I've owned them all (my nes is still working!!!).

I'm hoping they give me a HDMI one - but I doubt it !

Anyone know how long it will take to get it back?

mikey-r

408 posts

225 months

Friday 18th January 2008
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Not sure if this will help as it might even be an urban myth but I read on another forum that the failures are due to cheap/dodgy welding. A few of the guys there had managed to get their Xbox's working again by wrapping them up in a couple of thick towels, putting it on it's side then leaving it on for an hour.

Apparently, this will case the unit to get very hot and the welds correct themselves?

Maybe worth a try and at least you haven't opened up the unit and invalidated the warranty?

Mike

NickFRP

5,156 posts

263 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
mikey-r said:
Not sure if this will help as it might even be an urban myth but I read on another forum that the failures are due to cheap/dodgy welding. A few of the guys there had managed to get their Xbox's working again by wrapping them up in a couple of thick towels, putting it on it's side then leaving it on for an hour.

Apparently, this will case the unit to get very hot and the welds correct themselves?

Maybe worth a try and at least you haven't opened up the unit and invalidated the warranty?

Mike
lol

Stig

11,823 posts

312 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
Errr... I'll stick with a warrantied replacement thanks wink

Note that whilst Microsoft extended the warranty period to 3 years, once you're out of it - you're out. If you get a replacement, it is warrantied for a year regardless. Mine was made in 2005, so has just turned 3. This way, I'll effectively extend the warranty free for a year (despite the inconvenience).

Somewhat more predictable than towels etc. hehe

baz7175

3,551 posts

239 months

Friday 18th January 2008
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It's also an urban myth that blue towels work best laugh

scorp

8,783 posts

257 months

Friday 18th January 2008
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Don't forget to register your disgust at the situation having been a "loyal xbox fan" for some time to the rep on the phone. you might get some free stuff (e.g. gold subscription).

Stig

11,823 posts

312 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
scorp said:
Don't forget to register your disgust at the situation having been a "loyal xbox fan" for some time to the rep on the phone. you might get some free stuff (e.g. gold subscription).
I couldn't be ar$ed to speak to anyone - did it all online in about 5 mins. Just waiting for the box to turn up smile

mikey-r

408 posts

225 months

Friday 18th January 2008
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I know, I know... sounded far fetched when I read it! Just passing on a bit of info though.

Blue towels?????Surely it has to be white so they match the box!

M.


baz7175

3,551 posts

239 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
mikey-r said:
I know, I know... sounded far fetched when I read it! Just passing on a bit of info though.

Blue towels?????Surely it has to be white so they match the box!

M.
The thing is that the overheat option does in many cases get the solder warm enough to remake the now broken connection - but the thing I would be worried about is every other bloody soldered connection in the box that is also going to be getting very very warm wink

molineux1980

1,272 posts

247 months

Friday 18th January 2008
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These failures - Are they on the older 360's only, or are the 175 'Falcon' 360's also prone to it?

scorp

8,783 posts

257 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
baz7175 said:
The thing is that the overheat option does in many cases get the solder warm enough to remake the now broken connection - but the thing I would be worried about is every other bloody soldered connection in the box that is also going to be getting very very warm wink
The culprit is normally the graphics chip, and these are huge 400+ pin BGA (ball grid array) type chips that use a kind of glue rather than solder - if that melts and the chips slips even a fraction of a mm then i imagine its goodbye xbox. These chips can only be installed by machines afaik.

baz7175

3,551 posts

239 months

Friday 18th January 2008
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Ah, so it's a type of epoxy resin then that they use for hoping it will stay put...the things I learn in here biggrin

scorp

8,783 posts

257 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
baz7175 said:
Ah, so it's a type of epoxy resin then that they use for hoping it will stay put...the things I learn in here biggrin
Yeah a machine uses high frequency vibration to heat up the glue/solder/whatever compound it is.

toothlessjim

329 posts

227 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
DO NOT WRAP YOUR XBOX IN TOWELS!!! lol 360's are prone to over heating problems, my first one died due to over heating....it was lay down under the monitor shelf on my desk, a good 3-4 inches of space above it and nothing covering the vents, theres also a drafty window behind my desk that keeps the whole room cold yet it still died.

baz7175

3,551 posts

239 months

Friday 18th January 2008
quotequote all
I've actually been working in the semiconductor manufacturing industry since I was 17, the first 9 and a bit years of which were in final stage microprocessor and memory assembly from die to chip (ceramic and plastic) and then the last 7 have been in the "build up" of the die itself via the companies I've worked for's equipment (Sputtering/Etching/CVD/PVD/MoCVD/AVD/ALD). Boring stuff to most, but it pays for my fast cars, slappers and coke habit laugh