My Ps3 will only function with the Blu Ray drive disconnected.

First off- I have read and read and read, believe me. I haev not seen any post with this particual problem yet.

So...YLOD, fixed it. This time, unlike all the other Ps3s I have fixed, It immediately went YLOD again. I thought WOW! I have not seen this problem! So, I remembered there was a disc inside. I pushed eject, and nothing happened, sot even the beep sound it typically makes. I disconnected the Blu Ray drive, and poof! No YLOD, system powers on fine, everything works EXCEPT the blu ray drive. Before I order anything, I am trying to find out is it the worm-gear motor that's bad? Is it the laser? When I have the drive apart and plug it in, I can see the laser starts to move, just barely, then bam- YLOD. I am wondering if that worm-gear motor on the right side is bad? How can I check?

Thanks a bunch!