How to Repair the Ribbon Cable in the PS2

The PlayStation 2 (PS2) has a modular construction, allowing it to be quickly opened to add or remove components. This can cause the power/eject ribbon cable to unseat itself from the motherboard and disable the PS2. You can repair the ribbon cable by reseating it into position, although you will have to open the PS2’s case, which voids the Sony warranty. You will need a few tools but no electrical skills.

Things You'll Need

• Bath towel
• Utility knife
• Phillips screwdriver
• Phillips jeweler’s screwdriver

Instructions

1. Remove the power cord from the PS2. Remove the audio and video cables from the PS2. Remove the controller from the PS2.

2. Put the bath towel on a table. Put the PS2 face down on the bath towel with the controller ports facing you.

3. Put the tip of the utility knife beneath one of the four rubber feet on the bottom of the PS2. Wiggle the tip of the utility knife to loosen the rubber foot. Pull the rubber foot off with your fingers.

4. Repeat this procedure with the other three rubber feet on the bottom of the PS2.

5. Repeat this procedure with the two plastic nubs on the bottom of the PS2 that are in the middle.

6. Remove the screws from beneath the rubber feet with the Phillips screwdriver. Remove the screws from beneath the plastic nubs with the Phillips screwdriver.

7. Remove the screws from around the controller ports with the Phillips screwdriver.

8. Rotate the PS2 so that the power cord port is facing you. Cut through the black tape on the right-bottom edge of the PS2 with the utility knife if it has not already been cut.

9. Turn the PS2 over on the bath towel so that the “PS2” logo is facing you. Rotate the PS2 clockwise so the long end is now facing you.

10. Grab hold of the left and right sides of the PS2 with your hands. Pull the PS2 outer case off the PS2 with your hands.

11. Rotate the PS2 so the controller ports are facing you.

12. Remove the screw from the PS2’s controller port circuit board on the lower left edge using the Phillips jeweler’s screwdriver.

13. Remove the screw from the controller port circuit board on the lower right edge in a similar manner.

14. Lift the left side of the controller port circuit board off the PS2 with the fingers of your left hand.

15. Grab the power/eject ribbon cable that is now revealed attached to the bottom of the gamepad controller port circuit board using the fingers of your right hand.

16. Insert the ribbon cable connector at the end of the power/eject ribbon cable into the ribbon cable slot on the PS2’s motherboard that is now revealed by having lifted the controller port circuit board up.

17. Push down on the ribbon cable connector so that it is firmly seated in the ribbon cable slot.

18. Place the controller port circuit board back onto the PS2. Reattach the two screws.

19. Put the PS2’s outer case back onto the PS2. Turn the PS2 over. Reattach the screws. Reattach the power cord, the audio and video cables and the gamepad controller.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear an anti-static strap when handling the internal components of the PS2, becasue otherwise static electricity can cause damage.

• Improperly seating the power/eject ribbon cable into its connection on the motherboard can short out the entire motherboard.

References

• Powerful Guides: PS2 Repair Guide Trial Version 2

Resources

• PlayStation: PlayStation 2 System