PS2 Repair issues

[geno]

A little background: my PS2 started getting DREs, and, without knowing all of the lens adjustments that can be done, I assumed the lens was dying, so I bought a new one, same model (400B) as the one inside my PS2. I install it, adjust it, and all that happens when I boot up is the lens "clicks" up and down, like it's trying to focus. It does this again and again, and never seems to initialize correctly. I was informed that some solder needs to be removed from a brand new lens to get it to work in a PS2 link (PDF), but there was BARELY any solder to speak of, but I tried removing some anyways. And still I get the clicking... and it'll only play CDs, no DVDs


So for the hell of it, I put in the old lens and tried adjusting it (adjusted the white knob to tilt the assembly), and it works fine except there's always a pause in the beginning where it goes to the browser menu, waits a few seconds, and then loads the game. Now, I'm either faced with playing my PS2 like this, or installing the new lens (correctly) and hoping that gets rid of the pause. If I can find a way to adjust the lens that works (the old one) so that it boots up like it should, I'll just sell off the new one. But until then, I'm trying to find a way to get it load right.


phew, with that out of the way, does anyone have experience with any of this?

 

[Sentinel]

well not installing my own... i called sony and they told me to ship it back to them they fixed it yay, another year later broke again called again they fixed it again yay.

 

[TStep]

IIRC when I was playing around with the PS1, there were two adjustments that could be made. Pretty easy work. Never did it w/ PS2, but here is a link.

Edit: also you mentioned 400b. Maybe you need to do this also.

 

[geno]

Wow TStep, awesome info, I haven't found anything so detailed yet

 

[Tostada]

It's probably not the lens per se. It's usually the laser diode which is dying. Getting in there and cranking up the power with that littly tiny adjustment pot switch will make it last a little longer, but it will stop working altogether soon.

There are two separate pots, one for DVD and one for CD. You just want to turn them up until it works. If you turn them up all the way, it probably fry it immediately.

To quote myself on another forum:

Originally posted by: BadBatsuMaru
Well, tons of people get Disc Read Errors from PS2's, especially the SCPH-30001's. There are forums full of people b*tching about it. I found an online petition with 3000 signatures asking Sony to admit it and fix their PS2's. I found another site belonging to a law firm filing a class-action lawsuit against Sony, specifically citing Disc Read Errors.

Sony used to charge about $100 to fix/replace your PS2, but now they waive the fee if you tell them you're getting a Disc Read Error. You just have to pay to ship it to them.

I don't know what they'd do if you said you just had problems with some discs. They would probably ask you if those discs worked on other systems. My PS2 started giving a lot of DRE's on DVD's, then eventually wouldn't play DVD's or games at all (except regular CD's and PS1 games).

The number is 1-800-345-SONY. They will ask you what the problem is, and when you say you're getting a DRE, they make it a point to say, "This isn't a common problem," which is a bit odd, but then they turn right around and say they'll replace it free without giving you any hassle at all. They do ask if you've modded your PS2 or used a GameShark, though (you should probably answer NO).

I doubt they'll give me a brand new PS2, but they said the turnaround was 15 days, so I don't know how likely it is that I'll get mine shipped back to me. I would assume they've got a stock of refurbished ones that they trade you.

That was over a year ago, so I don't know if they're still fixing them free when you say you get DRE's. They shipped it back to me VERY quickly, though. I got my PS2 back in a week. They actually shipped it FedEx with Saturday delivery (isn't that really expensive?) and surprisingly enough, the PS2 has the same serial number as the one I sent in (I thought maybe they would just have a stockpile of refurbished ones and send me back a random PS2).

 

[Sentinel]

oh they are i just got mine shipped back to me fixed and everything about 3 weeks ago

 

[geno]

Shipping mine to Sony isn't an option unfortunately, it's been opened already