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PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement

What you need

  1. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement, Smart Plate: step 1, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement, Smart Plate: step 1, image 2 of 2
    • Use the tip of a spudger to remove the black rubber screw cover from the side of the PS3.

    • The screw cover may be underneath a warranty sticker. This sticker will change appearance, and show "VOID" after it has been removed.

  2. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the single 8.5 mm T10 Security Torx screw from the smart plate.

  3. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 3 PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 3 PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3
    • Pull the smart plate toward the hard drive bay, then lift it off the body of the PS3.

  4. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Be sure to keep track of the small metal bracket loosely held in the top cover, if equipped.

  5. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement, Top Cover: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following seven screws:

    • Six 52 mm Phillips screws

    • One 30 mm Phillips screw

  6. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the top cover from its rear edge and rotate it toward the front of the PS3.

    • Remove the top cover.

    • There is a plastic hook located in a hole on the top back right hand side corner. Carefully push the plastic hook a bit from the rear of the machine with a spudger to release the rear right of the casing.

  7. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement, Memory Card Reader: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two 9 mm Phillips screws securing the memory card reader to the chassis.

  8. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2
    • Lift the memory card reader out of the PS3 enough to access its cable.

    • Flip up the retaining flap on the memory card reader ribbon cable socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the ribbon cable out of its socket.

    • Remove the memory card reader from the PS3.

  9. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • If necessary, peel the memory card reader ribbon cable off the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth board.

  10. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the Wi-Fi antenna connector up from its socket on the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth board.

  11. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 2
    • Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth ribbon cable out of its socket.

  12. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the four 9 mm Phillips screws securing the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth board to the chassis.

  13. PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Board Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth board from the PS3, minding any cables that may get caught.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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4 Comments

Note: Only the first 2 generations of PS3 fats have removable Wifi/BT cards. If you have a third generation fat (VER-100 motherboard or later) the Wifi/BT chips are integrated into the board and thereby NOT removable.

Kevin Kwan - Reply

does anybody know how many pins there are on the data ribbon / flex cable of the Wifi / Bluetooth board and Card Reader in the 60gb Model? It would be a great help! Thanx

yasien teladia - Reply

I have a PS3 Slim 2501b can I still use this technique to change my Bluetooth

Kathleen Pereira - Reply

No you can't

J P -

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