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How to Repair a ROD on XBox

An Xbox 360 has a built-in safeguard against overheating that shuts the game console down while displaying a LED light called the ROD ("ring of death"). You can repair the Xbox 360 so that it will again function by improving the console's heat dissipation. You will need to open the Xbox 360, voiding the warranty but saving you the expense and loss of time in going to a service center. The repair requires some experience in working with electronic components.

Things You'll Need

Flat-edged screwdriver
Torx screwdriver
Compressed air
Scraper
Steel wool
Thermal paste

Instructions

- 1
  Remove all cables from the Xbox 360. Place the Xbox 360 horizontally on a table. Squeeze the top left side of the faceplate while pulling up on the right bottom side. Pull the faceplate off the Xbox 360.
- 2
  Insert the tip of a flat-edged screwdriver into the upper leftmost hole in the right ventilation grill. Push up on the tip of the flat edged screwdriver to release the inner plastic latch. Repeat this procedure to release the three other inner plastic latches inside of the holes in the ventilation grill. Repeat this procedure to release the inner plastic latches inside of the holes in the ventilation grill on the left side.
- 3
  Turn over the Xbox 360. Pull up the bottom shelf. Use the Torx screwdriver to remove the 14 screws now revealed. Turn over the Xbox 360.
- 4
  Pull off the outer case with both hands. Remove the screws from the back panel with the Torx screwdriver. Pull off the back plate. Pull off the two plastic inserts from the Xbox 360.
- 5
  Remove the screws from around the metal shield with the Torx screwdriver. Pull off the metal shield from the Xbox 360.
- 6
  Locate the grooved metal box near the upper right of the Xbox 360. Insert the tip of the flat-edged screwdriver into the latch on the left side of the grooved metal box.
- 7
  Lift up on the tip of the flat-edged screwdriver to release the latch. Repeat this procedure on the right side of the grooved metal box. Lift the grooved metal box off the Xbox 360.
- 8
  Blow off the two computer chips with compressed air. Scrape around the two computer chips with the scraping tool. Blow off the computer chips with compressed air.
- 9
  Scrape the top of the two computer chips with the steel wool. Blow off the computer chips with compressed air.
- 10
  Apply thermal paste liberally around the sides and on top of the two computer chips. Let the thermal paste set for 10 minutes.
- 11
  Place the grooved metal box back onto the two computer chips. Push down the latches to re-engage the grooved metal box to the Xbox 360.
- 12
  Reattach the metal shield. Put the two plastic inserts back onto the Xbox 360. Put the back plate back onto the Xbox 360. Reattach the screws.
- 13
  Reverse the disassembly process to reassemble the Xbox 360. Reattach all of the cables to the Xbox 360.

Xbox 360