A common complaint that many users of the Sony PlayStation 3 make is the blinking red light. This article talks about the clear causes and solutions of the blinking red light problem.
The Sony PlayStation 3 is a very reliable and sturdy gaming console, but it is not completely free of glitches and errors. A red light signifies that something is wrong with the system, and you will need to take immediate action in order to fix the problem. The blinking red light may reveal itself in the middle of a game, and you need to do something about this as soon as possible.
Earlier models had a lot of glitches and this would end up annoying the users. Sony has remodeled them completely, in order to avoid similar problems from cropping up. However, a blinking red light is still a problem that many people face.
The first piece of advice for you is to contact the Sony service center and let them know what the issue is. If you try and tamper with your console yourself, the warranty will be deemed void, and this can be a problem in the future. The service center may ask you to leave the console with them for a few days in order to get to the bottom of the problem. There are a few reasons that could be causing the red light to blink, and you should be aware of these issues before you tamper with the console yourself though.
Overheating
If you have been using the console for many hours at a stretch, it may be time to give it a rest now. If the system starts overheating, the flashing red light on PS3 may appear, and this is something you should not ignore under any circumstances. If you continue to use the console despite this warning, you may end up causing some irreversible damage. So if you see the red light, you should just switch it off for some time.
Misplaced Connection
In some cases, the blinking light implies that there is a loose connection inside the system, and the hard drive may have got displaced. This causes the console to give out a warning. If your warranty is already void, you can open up the console and adjust the hard drive yourself, or you can visit a Sony service center and have them do it for you. Be warned though, that they will obviously ask for a service charge for doing this.
Dead Hard Drive
This is the worst case scenario, and it happens very rarely. If your hard drive is dead, it will simply need replacement. If re-seating your hard drive still does not stop it, then you can be assured that the reason for this light is a dead hard drive. In this case you have no option other than replacing the hard drive. The service center will be the best place for you to carry out this replacement. There are cheaper alternatives available in the market, but it is advisable to get a replacement directly from Sony.
If you wish to be a little adventurous with your console, you can acquire a Sony red blinking light repair guide off the Internet and repair the problem yourself. These guides are easily available, but they are highly technical in nature, so use them only if you know enough about the workings of the PS3. If you are unsure, then it is wiser to just visit a service center instead.
Troubleshooting this problem is not an easy task, but there are only so many reasons behind it. If you know your gaming console inside out, you are more than capable of solving this problem yourself.