PS3 Thermal Sensor

[Cloud121]

My 20GB PS3's fan has been really acting odd the last year or so. It YLODed in late 2010, and I sent it out to get fixed, then sometime in Spring of last year it started over heating. Or so I thought. I sent it out to get fixed with a new 19-blade fan, new thermal paste, and new thermal pads. I just got it back yesterday, and within half an hour the fans were on full blast again. I shut the console off, gave it another halfhour or so, and then turned it on again. This time within five minutes, the fans were going crazy again.

I decided to do a bit more research into the issue, and I want to say the PS3's internal thermostat is messed up? Meaning I wasted my money, when my console wasn't even overheating in the first place. Would a reball fix it? Should I wait for the thermal paste to cure? Please don't tell me my 20GB may be screwed. I have a warranty on the repair, and I'm willing to give it another shot, though I'm nervous I'd just be wasting my money, and I can barely afford to pay for that in the first place, let alone tracking down another 20, 60, or 80GB.

Am I completely screwed?

Edit: Silly me, posted this in the Modern Gaming forum. Please move to tech forum.

Edit 2: I just contacted Endless Electronics, and they said that a reball would not fix the problem. FUCK! Now what do I do?

[Jaruff]

Let me give you the cheap, Jerry-rigged solution to this. It may not work for you but it's worked for me in the past.

Go buy this: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049774
Take apart the system and remove the motherboard.
Place the motherboard on a flat surface, chips facing up.
Apply the flux to the corners of the two "big" chips (RSX and C.E.L.L)
Use a heat gun to melt the flux (an industrial grade one is best but you may not have access to one like I have)
Let it set for 30 minutes or so; enough time to cool the flux.
Apply thermal paste, reassemble, and try out.
Problem should be solved.

There is a heat dissipation problem causing the fan to kick in. You could also try removing the chip heat sink cover and applying thermal that way but I don't recommend it unless you're confident in what you're doing. That would also be a last resort repair.