Think my PS3 BR drive is crapping out...

[jhh979s]

So recently my PS3 started to stop playing bluray movies at random. Sometimes it will make it an hour through one and sometimes only 15 minutes. Very rarely will it play through an entire bluray without stopping. And PS3 games take forever and a day to load but still play. But DVDs, PS2, PS1, and CDs work just fine. Tried every fix I could find on the web but they only alleviated the problem for a short time.

Here's is the real problem though. I have an original 60GB version with all the bells and whistles. Its about 4 months out of warranty. I would send it to Sony but I hear very rarely will you get the same system returned to you. If I sent it to them what are my chances of getting a 60GB version back. Is it legal for them to send me a system with fewer features than the one I sent in for repairs?
How easy is it to replace the drive myself if I bought one off ebay or something?
Anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks for any input.

 

[Blayze]

My friend just had this happen with his out of warranty 60GB. He was playing Resistance 2 and then the screen went black. After a reboot the PS3 wouldn't read any discs. He did get his PS3 back (according to him they replaced the drive), and all his saves and download content were still on his PS3 when he got it back. Even if they completely replace your PS3 with a refurb you will get a 60GB system back. They shipped him a box, he packed it up, and got it back about 2 weeks later.

The cost for Sony to repair out of warranty is $150, not sure how much a drive would be or how easy it would be to install.

 

[jhh979s]

Thanks for the reply. Its good to know I still get a 60GB back. Guess I'll pony up the $150 since thats about how much a drive costs anyway.

 

[biggestmuff]

Nice to know. That'd really be disappointing to lose out on a 60GB model at this time.

 

[jhh979s]

Was playing around with my PS3 a little and now it wont even read CDs, that was fast. Sony is sending me a box this week.