Vince's Repair Thread - (Console Repairs & Mods)

Vince, do you have an experience of repairing/replacing the WiFi/Bluetooth module on the PS3 Slim, specifically the CECH-2503B? I turned mine on the other night and the controller will no longer connect (only works when connected via cable), the console won't find nor connect to any other Bluetooth devices and it can't find any WiFi networks either. A brief bit of research online on the issue and searching for the error codes suggests the wireless modules in these can fail and can be a faff to repair or replace depending on model.

It's still usable with the controller attached via the cable (I've got an extra long one arriving today to tide me over!) but I'd like to get it working properly again.
 
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TheVoice said:
Vince, do you have an experience of repairing/replacing the WiFi/Bluetooth module on the PS3 Slim, specifically the CECH-2503B? I turned mine on the other night and the controller will no longer connect (only works when connected via cable), the console won't find nor connect to any other Bluetooth devices and it can't find any WiFi networks either. A brief bit of research online on the issue and searching for the error codes suggests the wireless modules in these can fail and can be a faff to repair or replace depending on model.

It's still usable with the controller attached via the cable (I've got an extra long one arriving today to tide me over!) but I'd like to get it working properly again.
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Well now you mention it... Way too much stuff I dont share on here!! Super common that the buck also fails along with the wifi on these so you can bodge it like so... This is a special edition that came in a few weeks back.. no wifi, no bluetooth.... Now has both wifi and BT :D All the buck does is take a 5v input and spit out 1.8v so you can bodge it fairly easily.






Replacement chip was about £10 from China... replacement transistor to replace the blown buck was like £0.50p. Oh and I did clean up the messy soldering job and stuck some new wires on it once it was done... :D

One of two things has happened... 1) the buck has failed, sent 5v to wifi and destroyed it... 2) the buck has failed no voltage to wifi and that's why its not working... wifi failure alone without that buck having failed is pretty rare.

FWIW the slim / super slim suffer from the same thing.... reliable otherwise but suffer wifi/bluetooth issues whereas the phat is just plain unreliable. Shame as ps3 onwards they have all been fairly unreliable while the ps1 / ps2 are basically bullet proof.
 
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Great info, thanks! That looks a fair bit beyond my level of skill to repair though, I don't suppose you offer out your services for repairs?

And yeah, my old fat PS3 died of YLOD many years ago! I was able to revive it using a heatgun on the CPU/GPU for just long enough to get most of my save files off it though. Still got it in the box somewhere, one day I'll look at getting it properly repaired as I do kind of miss it. My PS2 is still going strong though!

JoeBoi said:
Whats the white docky looking thing?
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PSVR2 Sense controller dock, upside-down. Took me a moment to recognise it!
 
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TheVoice said:
Great info, thanks! That looks a fair bit beyond my level of skill to repair though, I don't suppose you offer out your services for repairs?

And yeah, my old fat PS3 died of YLOD many years ago! I was able to revive it using a heatgun on the CPU/GPU for just long enough to get most of my save files off it though. Still got it in the box somewhere, one day I'll look at getting it properly repaired as I do kind of miss it. My PS2 is still going strong though!


PSVR2 Sense controller dock, upside-down. Took me a moment to recognise it!
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I could fix your wifi :) - Beats trying and failing to fix GPU's :D - Least I know here my chance of success are high!
 
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mikeggratton said:
Vince, do you have any experience fixing stick drift on an Xbox controller? Is it simple enough to replace the analogue stick?
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So depends on what xbox but generally the pots on most modern pads look like this:



They have about 10 or so pins that are soldered into the board on the controller. It's a case of removing the old pot and soldering a new one in.
 
mikeggratton said:
Vince, do you have any experience fixing stick drift on an Xbox controller? Is it simple enough to replace the analogue stick?
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You can try cleaning the wipers on the pot (a case of bending the amber coloured covers back in vinces picture), and it *may* help for a little while, but the proper fix is a replacement.

There are videos on YouTube if you want to try (worst case you snap the legs on the pot and need to replace it anyway)
 
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Musty Pie said:
Been on here for years, and somehow have missed this thread.

Great work you do man keep it up!

I have tons of retro bits, and if any ever break or need some TLC I know where to come!
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We had a mini vote a while back if we should move the thread into gd but I think it's best in here where its kinda less busy... less is in fact more.
 
Armageus said:
You can try cleaning the wipers on the pot (a case of bending the amber coloured covers back in vinces picture), and it *may* help for a little while, but the proper fix is a replacement.

There are videos on YouTube if you want to try (worst case you snap the legs on the pot and need to replace it anyway)
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I've never actually had any success cleaning out the pots.. I must be doing something wrong as every time I've tried they end up worse
 
Armageus said:
I've not personally tried but saw the videos when I needed to replace the thumbsticks on my PS5 controller recently
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I'm probably doing it wrong tbh that genuinely wouldn't surprise me... nowadays I just keep a few different types of pots around and swap em out. I've got some green alps pots here and some other common ones.
 
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Diggsy said:
Looks great. Was that some Plasticote type paint or similar?
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I filled it with plasto sanded it a bit and layed down a filler primer on that section and some plasticoat. Seems really decent and should hold up.. I took to it with my nails and a set of keys.. it's on there good... I did debate trying to match the grey but given it would look just bad if I got it wrong I thought black looked the obvious choice.

I actually own it now as i traded it for a fully working not damaged machine so and am only into it a relatively small amount it owes me about 60 quid.

Tbh it's a shame you can't buy lynx shells but I guess they are a bit niche
 
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Vince said:
I filled it with plasto sanded it a bit and layed down a filler primer on that section and some plasticoat. Seems really decent and should hold up.. I took to it with my nails and a set of keys.. it's on there good... I did debate trying to match the grey but given it would look just bad if I got it wrong I thought black looked the obvious choice.

I actually own it now as i traded it for a fully working not damaged machine so and am only into it a relatively small amount it owes me about 60 quid.

Tbh it's a shame you can't buy lynx shells but I guess they are a bit niche
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Makes you think if there is a small market for 3D printing some of that kind of stuff.
 
Musty Pie said:
Makes you think if there is a small market for 3D printing some of that kind of stuff.
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The problem in my eyes is quality... I 3d print some smaller stuff like battery covers and whatnot but full on cases and housings are a bit beyond what my printers can do at the quality I would like...
 
Vince said:
The problem in my eyes is quality... I 3d print some smaller stuff like battery covers and whatnot but full on cases and housings are a bit beyond what my printers can do at the quality I would like...
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Oh yeah I didnt mean on a small scale or you personally, but I'm sure there are some setups in the UK with decent level printing machinery that could do similar.

Guessing it boils down to liability and copyrights etc. etc.
 
Musty Pie said:
Oh yeah I didnt mean on a small scale or you personally, but I'm sure there are some setups in the UK with decent level printing machinery that could do similar.

Guessing it boils down to liability and copyrights etc. etc.
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I would love to be able to do it! I guess its the age old issue of what its worth vs what I can sell it for and how much time I put in...This lynx I have about an hour into the sanding, spraying and making it look respectable...
 
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