Got YLOD!!!
A couple of months ago my 20 month old PS3 40 GB died on me with a YLOD (Yellow Light of Death). and I didn’t have an extended warranty either! For those unfamiliar with the YLOD issue, it mostly occurs when the Motherboard/CPU/GPU warps (possibly due to excessive heating) leaving CPU/GPU with insufficient contact with the motherboard also possibly due to a simple thermal paste issue, this can be temporarily fixed with a “Reflow” a process where heat is forced on the CPU/GPU with a Heat Gun to make it get back into full contact with the Motherboard after using a thermal compound on the chip. This mostly seems to occur on the older ps3’s after about 1-1.5 years, and apparently cant be permanently fixed, I think it has something to do with manufactures unable to use lead solder irons. So a reflow can only be a temporary fix if at all, and that should last for about 3-6 months depending on how much it is used. You’ll know when you’ve been YLOD’d when you try...