Trying to Fix BROKEN Items Purchased from eBay! S1:E70
TLDRIn this episode of 'Profit or Loss,' the host attempts to repair two faulty PlayStation 5 consoles purchased from eBay. The first console suffers from a 'Blue Light of Death' issue, and despite a thorough diagnosis, the repair is unsuccessful due to an unexpected crack on the APU. The second console has a claimed HDMI fault, and after a meticulous check of the HDMI port and circuit, the host decides to replace the HDMI port and the retim chip. Surprisingly, this last-ditch effort resolves the issue, and the console functions correctly. The episode concludes with a discussion on the financial outcome of the repairs, revealing a profit of £3,260, and a reminder for viewers to take advantage of a discount offer from iFixit.
Takeaways
- 🛒 The video is part of a series where the host buys faulty electronics from eBay, attempts to fix them, and then sells them for a profit.
- 🎮 The host purchased a PlayStation 5 console for £170 with the intention to repair and resell it.
- 🔍 The console showed signs of being in good condition apart from a few scuff marks, but had a known issue where it powered on briefly before shutting down.
- 🧐 The host suspected that the problem might not be with the APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) based on the symptoms and the warranty sticker's condition.
- 💡 Upon testing, the console showed a 'Blue Light of Death' which is a common issue indicating a hardware problem.
- 🛠️ The host disassembled the console to diagnose and fix the issue, suspecting it might be a short circuit on the motherboard.
- 🔋 The investigation led to the discovery of a corrupted area on the PCB and a crack on the APU, which was a significant setback.
- 💰 The host provided a discount code for iFixit toolkits, which were sponsored in the episode, offering 20% off select toolkits and 10% off other items with a personal code.
- 🔬 The host used a multimeter to diagnose the console, checking for shorts and voltage levels on various components.
- 🔄 Despite replacing the South Bridge IC and conducting thorough diagnostics, the issue persisted, leading to the decision to replace the HDMI port as a last resort.
- 📈 The final takeaway is that the host managed to fix the console after replacing the HDMI retimer IC, resulting in a gross profit of £3,260 for the episode.
Q & A
What is the title of the episode described in the transcript?
-The title of the episode is 'Trying to Fix BROKEN Items Purchased from eBay! S1:E70'.
What was the total profit mentioned at the beginning of the episode?
-The total profit mentioned at the beginning of the episode was £55,310.
What was the issue with the PlayStation 5 console that the presenter bought?
-The PlayStation 5 console had an issue where it powered on for a second to a blue light and then powered back off. The warranty sticker was also wonky, suggesting it might have been opened before.
What was the final diagnosis of the problem with the first PlayStation 5 console?
-The final diagnosis was that there was a crack on the APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) of the PlayStation 5 console, which was not initially identified as the problem.
What discount was offered by iFixit during the promotional period mentioned in the episode?
-iFixit offered a 20% discount on select toolkits during the promotional period from the 10th to the 31st of May.
What was the issue with the second PlayStation 5 console that the presenter bought?
-The second PlayStation 5 console was said to have an HDMI fault, with no further details provided in the eBay listing about the nature of the fault.
What was the final solution to the HDMI issue on the second PlayStation 5 console?
-The final solution was to replace the HDMI retimer chip, which resolved the issue and allowed the console to display a signal on the second attempt.
What was the total cost of parts used in the repair of the second PlayStation 5 console?
-The total cost of parts used in the repair was 50p for the port.
What was the estimated sale price for the working PlayStation 5 console?
-The estimated sale price for the working PlayStation 5 console was £410.
What was the gross profit made from the repair and sale of the second PlayStation 5 console?
-The gross profit made from the repair and sale of the second PlayStation 5 console was £3,260.
What was the total profit after the repair and sale of the second PlayStation 5 console?
-The total profit after the repair and sale of the second PlayStation 5 console was £85,770.
Outlines
🛒 Introduction to the Repair Episode and Console Inspection
The video begins with the host's introduction to the 70th episode of the 'Profit or Loss' series, where he purchases faulty electronic items, fixes them, and resells them for profit. The host discusses his previous unsuccessful repair that resulted in a low profit. He then presents a PlayStation 5 console he bought for £170, which shows signs of wear but is in a decent condition. The console has an issue where it powers on briefly before shutting down, and the warranty sticker seems intact. The host powers on the console to demonstrate the 'Blue Light of Death' issue, indicating a potential problem with the APU or another major component.
🔍 Diagnostics and Identification of Potential Issues
The host proceeds to diagnose the PlayStation 5 by checking for power supply voltages and finding no shortages. He then investigates the board for shorts, eventually suspecting the South Bridge IC due to abnormal readings. Despite a thorough inspection, no clear issues are found. The host also discusses a promotional discount offered by iFixit on toolkits and provides a personal code for additional savings.
🔩 Repair Process and Replacing the South Bridge
The host decides to replace the South Bridge IC, describing his process of reballing the IC and preparing the console's motherboard for the replacement. He meticulously cleans and reflows the solder, ensuring a proper connection. After the replacement, he cleans the board thoroughly to remove flux residues that could cause issues during booting.
💻 Testing and Discovery of an APU Crack
Upon testing the console after the South Bridge replacement, it still exhibits the same issue. The host considers the possibility of a faulty power supply but rules it out. He then explores other potential issues, such as the SSD controller IC or the Wi-Fi IC. Using a thermal camera, he identifies a hot spot on the board. To his dismay, he discovers a crack on the APU, which he admits should have been checked first. This crack likely invalidates the console for repair, and the host decides to resell it on eBay.
🔌 Troubleshooting a Second PS5 with a Different HDMI Issue
The host moves on to a second PS5 with a reported HDMI fault. Despite the warranty sticker being compromised, the console appears untouched. The host tests the HDMI port, which seems fine, and the console powers on, reaching a white light, indicating it's not a straightforward issue. He further investigates the HDMI circuitry and components, finding no apparent faults.
🛠️ Repair Attempts and Testing the HDMI Circuit
Frustrated by the lack of visible issues, the host cleans the APU area and checks the HDMI-related components, finding no abnormalities. He tests the HDMI port with a USB-C to HDMI tester, comparing it with a working board, and finds them to be identical. Despite this, he decides to replace the HDMI port as a last resort, hoping it might resolve the issue.
🎉 Successful Repair and Profit Calculation
After replacing the HDMI port, the host successfully gets the console to display an image, which was not expected due to the previous findings. He tests the HDMI functionality further, confirming it works correctly, including 4K output. The host expresses his happiness at solving the problem, which was a 'shot in the dark'. He then calculates the profit for the repair, resulting in a £3,260 gross profit for the day, after deducting the cost of parts. The host also mentions a giveaway on the Discord channel sponsored by the video's sponsor.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡eBay
💡Profit or Loss
💡PlayStation 5
💡Disc Edition
💡Blue Light of Death
💡iFixit
💡Warranty Sticker
💡SSD (Solid State Drive)
💡South Bridge IC
💡Aluminimum Nitrate
💡HDMI Port
Highlights
The host buys a faulty PlayStation 5 from eBay for £170 and attempts to fix it for profit.
The PlayStation 5 is a disc edition console with some scuff marks but is in overall good condition.
The eBay listing mentions a 'blue light of death' issue, where the console powers on briefly then shuts off.
The warranty sticker appears intact, suggesting the console may not have been previously opened.
After testing, the console exhibits a long pulsing blue light before shutting off, indicating a potential APU issue.
The host disassembles the console and discovers a dusty fan, which may not be related to overheating.
A sponsor, iFixit, is mentioned, offering 20% off select toolkits and 10% off other items with a provided code.
The host finds a crack on the APU, which was initially overlooked, leading to a failed repair attempt.
The second console, also bought for £170, is suspected to have an HDMI fault but the HDMI port appears fine.
The host successfully fixes the second console by replacing the HDMI retimer chip, which was a shot in the dark.
The repaired console powers on, goes to a white light, and produces a display when connected to HDMI, indicating a successful repair.
The host confirms 4K functionality and that there is no cutting out when the HDMI cable is wiggled.
The SSD drive is tested and found to be working, adding to the successful repair outcome.
The host calculates a gross profit of £3260 for the episode after selling the fixed console.
A giveaway is announced for up to £50 worth of a starter kit, sponsored by iFixit, available through the host's Discord channel.
The host emphasizes the importance of checking the APU first in future repairs to avoid wasted time and effort.