DIY: Xbox 360 Repair

A common problem many Xbox 360 players encounter is the infamous Red Ring of Death. Numerous parts and problems inside the Xbox 360 console can cause the ring. If your Xbox 360 is still under warranty, then you can have your console fixed at no cost. Unfortunately, if you are no longer under warranty, then Xbox expects you to front $100 for repairs in addition to the shipping fees. While Xbox doesn't offer a "how to" on fixing your Xbox 360, since it would be a monetary loss for the company, many users have submitted ways in which to repair the Xbox 360.

Things You'll Need

• T9 handheld screwdriver
• Large table
• Post-it notes
• Several washers

Instructions

1. Determine that the red ring you are seeing is truly the Red Ring of Death. The Red Ring of Death will be three-fourths of the way around the power button. A red ring that circles completely around the power button simply means that your cords are not correctly plugged in.

2. Unplug your Xbox 360 console completely. No cords should be hooked in at all. Also remove the hard drive from its slot.

3. Use the T9 handheld screwdriver to take all plastic casing off the console. Keep separate piles of the different types and sizes of screws and note where they belong; this is where the large table and Post-it notes come in handy.

4. Remove the metal bracketing from the console, so that you can get inside to the motherboard of the console. Pull the motherboard out and sit all other parts of the console aside for now. Keep track of the order in which everything goes so that you can put the console back together properly. You may have to remove all the individual parts to remove the motherboard, so keep a list of the order in which they came out, or keep a diagram of how they should go back into place.

5. Unscrew the two X-shaped metal brackets from the motherboard. This requires the use of the tiny T9 screwdriver. Work with caution; if the screwdriver slips out of place, you could injure an important part of the motherboard. Once the screws are removed, pry the X-shaped metal brackets up; this may take a little bit of tugging since the brackets are held in place by a sticky paste.

6. Find washers with holes that match the width of the screws that were holding the X-shaped brackets into place. Because the main cause for the Red Ring of Death is overheating, adding space between the X-shaped brackets and the motherboard keeps the motherboard from getting as hot.

7. Place two or three washers on top of each other and replace the X-shaped metal brackets, and then replace the other parts of the console until everything is back into place. Plug the console in and turn it on; the red rings should disappear.

Tips & Warnings

• At-home remedies for repairing your Xbox 360 are not guaranteed. Spending $100 plus shipping may be a safer decision than potentially tearing up your Xbox 360. Newer models of the Xbox 360 have been constructed to prevent such problems from occurring often.

References

• Gamer's World: Temporary repair method involving bath towels