PS2 Repair? Inserting ribon/flex cable...

[Snoopy_]

Hi,
I am attemtping a repair to a PS2. I dropped it from my son's
dresser and the cdrom tray became misstracked ( wouldn't close all the
way). I was able to get the thing apart, and fix the tracking issue,
but I am having a hello of a time inserting the ribbon cable that
connects to the laser portion of the cdrom. I thought I had it in
good enough, but when I plugged in in I received data errors. There
is only a two inch clearance between the cdrom, and the motherboard
that the flex/ribon cable connects to, is there a better method in how
to insert it into the connector? Thanks for any help.

Snoopy_

 

[Impmon]

\> Hi,

I am attemtping a repair to a PS2. I dropped it from my son's
dresser and the cdrom tray became misstracked ( wouldn't close all the
way). I was able to get the thing apart, and fix the tracking issue,
but I am having a hello of a time inserting the ribbon cable that
connects to the laser portion of the cdrom. I thought I had it in
good enough, but when I plugged in in I received data errors. There
is only a two inch clearance between the cdrom, and the motherboard
that the flex/ribon cable connects to, is there a better method in how
to insert it into the connector? Thanks for any help.

Many ribbon cable are held in place by retaining clip. I haven't had my PS2
apart in a while so I can't remember if that one used the clip or not. What
you need to do is to find and unlatch the clip (usually the clip are of
different color, just pull it up or outward), slide in the ribbon cable as
far into the connector as possible, and then push the clip back down.

For an example, see here:
http://personalpages.tds.net/~wilykat/GBASP/pages/DSC02543.jpg (it's for GBA
SP but the design is the same) From that picture, the brown tab are supposed
to slide forward (away from the connector) to unlock.

If the PS2 still doesn't work, the cable may have been damaged either from
the drop or from being taken apart. Ribbon cables are quite fragile.

 

[red]

Not positive if this is the same ribbon cable, but if it is the one im
thinking then try installing it backwards. Motherboard firts then drive
assembly second.

 

[BFriedl]

clips hinge outwards. pull up gently and it shoudl swivel open..on my
version, is easier to install on board first, than drive

Hi,
I am attemtping a repair to a PS2. I dropped it from my son's
dresser and the cdrom tray became misstracked ( wouldn't close all the
way). I was able to get the thing apart, and fix the tracking issue,
but I am having a hello of a time inserting the ribbon cable that
connects to the laser portion of the cdrom. I thought I had it in
good enough, but when I plugged in in I received data errors. There
is only a two inch clearance between the cdrom, and the motherboard
that the flex/ribon cable connects to, is there a better method in how
to insert it into the connector? Thanks for any help.

Snoopy_

--
BFriedl
A+ Certified Technician
AIM: UACybercat
** Bear Down Arizona! **
******* Go Cats! *******

 

[Snoopy_]

Impmon,
Thanks, you were right on the money. I was working on the PS2
while in my bed, not a good idea, and when I put it back together my
kid complained that it received a data error. The only thing I could
think of was the ribbon cable that fell off when I took it apart. The
next morning I opened it up again, and from my vantage point I didn't
realize that the little brown ramp I was stairing at was not a ramp to
help guide the cable into the connection, but a door that when closed
secured the ribbon cable to its connection. This was really
confusing because all the ribbon cables did not connect the same way;
some are just inserted, however all are designed to fall out when
exposed to daylight. Working on these PS2s are almost as bad as
working on a laptop. I'm sure if I had a repair guide, there would
be some tips-and-tricks that make life much easier.
On another note, while surfing for a repair guide, I came accross
many sites that sold a PSX chip that allows you to play games from
CD-Rs, any experience with these? I am not so much interested in
pirating these games, but we have two players, and to solve arguing
over whichj children have which games, and to also guard against
scratches or damage, it would be nice to be able to copy them.