How do I Troubleshoot a PS3 60GB PlayStation Fan?

Identify the Cause

• 1

  Turn your PS3 console on. The fan should run quietly while the console is simply idling and not running any games, videos or music. If the fan becomes noisy instantly, proceed to Section 2.

• 2

  Try several different features on the system and see if any of them cause the fan to operate differently. Play a game for a while by inserting a disc, navigating to the "Game" section and pressing "X" on the game you want to play. Try watching a movie by inserting a disc, navigating to the "Video" category and selecting the video you want to watch. Also try to listen to music by inserting a CD, navigating to the "Music" section and selecting the music you want to listen to.

• 3

  Listen for an abnormalities in fan noise. Once you start doing something with the system, the fan will become a bit noisier. That just means the system is working and creating heat. That heat needs to be dissipated from the system and the fan will kick in to do its job. The fan noise, however, should not be incredibly loud or sound like it is working extremely hard. A defective or dying fan is very easy to spot. It will sound like it is revving up to incredible speeds and sound almost like a jet engine. Another thing to look for is an entirely dead fan.

Adjusting the System

• 4

  Move the system to a different location. Never under any circumstances place the system on carpet. Carpet does not dissipate heat very well, and all of the major components of the PS3 reside in the underside of the system. The fan is on the bottom of the system and will only blow the heat into the carpet, which will heat up and cause the fan to work harder. This cycle will continue until either the fan or the system dies or both.

• 5

  Move the system to a more spacious area. These systems run hot and kick off a lot of ambient heat; therefore, they need to be well-ventilated. Suitable surfaces are glass or wood. These two surface types do a great job of dissipating the heat and allowing the fan to move the heat away from the system. Keep the system out in the open. Never cram it into a small space, as this will just lead to fan issues in the future.

• 6

  Stand the system up vertically. The PS3 60gb system is capable of standing vertically without a stand. This will allow the fan to breath a bit more freely and allow the heat to spread outward into the surround air rather than into the surface it is sitting on.

• 7

  Get a small plug-in fan and point it at the fan vents on the system. The system has fan vents on three sides, but the main fan vents are located on the right side of the system if you are looking at it from the front while it is laying flat. A small fan will help to push the heat away from the system faster and prevent the system fan from having to work so hard.

• 8

  Listen for any improvements in fan sound and performance. If the noise or issue has stopped due to one of the previous steps, keep the system set up that way. More than likely the fan just was getting enough ventilation and needed to be moved to a more open space. If the problem persists or your fan is not operating at all do not attempt to open the system and repair it yourself. Rather, turn the system off and call the Sony Customer Support Center at 1-800-345-SONY to receive service.