How does Microsoft fix an XBOX 360 displaying 3 red flashing lights?

Question

I bought mine refurbished on ebay and after playing it about for 4 days it kept freezing on call of duty 2, and after I turned off the console and then on, it displayed 3 red flashing lights.
They are sending me a shipping label.

Does any1 know how they fix the 3 red flashing lights?

Answer 1

The open it up, confirm that there is a problem, any problem, and put COMPLETELY new guts in it. It saves them tiime in diagnosing a specific problem and repairing it which can take hours. Swapping out the guts completely can be done in 20 minutes.

Answer 2

If three red lights are flashing at the same time, a general hardware failure has occurred and the unit needs to be sent to the repair center.[17] The most common cause of this error is the seperation of the GPU from the mainboard caused by the uneven heating and expansion of mainboard as the GPU temperature increases. The GPU is attatched using the BGA or Ball Grid Array method which does not allow for expansion of components. When expansion occurs, the connections between the GPU and mainboard are broken and the general hardware failure signal occurs. A technically savvy owner may be able to fix the issue without sending the unit in for repairs. This is done by replacing the X clamps which hold the GPU heatsink in place with heavier clamps designed for use on Socket 775 CPU heatsinks, but this will void the warranty on the system. Further, many users, particularly modders who have already voided their warranty, choose to replace the X clamps as a preventative measure.

Answer 3

My fella had an error on his 360. The lights around the on/off button were all red when he switched it on & that's as far as it went. He rang Game about it, cos that's where I bought it from, and they swapped it, no problem. Maybe try the shop first, then if no joy, send a letter to Microsoft including a copy of their words in black & white and ask why they are not honoring their warranty.

Answer 4

microsoft just recently increased their warranty to 3 years due to problems with the 360. 3 red lights doesnt signify specific problems. it just says that there is a problem. microsoft is claiming that there are a number of things that can go wrong with the 360 as it is a "complex piece of hardware." Two of my friends' 360's had to be sent in due to over heating...that seems to be the main issue so they probably are replacing the circuit board. But hey, they're fixing it so what do you need to worry about?

Answer 5

that's a terminal hardware meltdown. the xbox 360 thankfully has extended its warranty i believe to 3 years. the problem is not the lights, but some piece of hardware that has melted in your 360. i think you can get it repaired and send them the bill.

Answer 6

Call Microsoft - they are offering a free repair or replacement for a lot of X boxes for a specific fault - if your X box fits in this category they will repair it for free as well as extend the warranty on the item in question

Answer 7

I believe they install a new harddrive as well as new software. I believe the 3 red flashing lights is a software corruption: also known as the downfall and "No!!!!!!!!!!" reaction of the 360.

Answer 8

they don't they send u a new one and work one the old one later to try to improve the problem for all 360s