3 red flashing lights on my 360

This is called the 3 rings of death and is well known amongst xbox users. including me... Ive had 1 xbox replaced because of it. Try the following to diagnose the issue. All four lights illuminate = 0
One Light = 1
Two Lights = 2
Three Lights = 3

Example:

Turn on your "dead" xbox. Wait for the 3 red lights. Once you get them hold the "Synch" (for the wireless remote) button and the eject button down simultaniously. All four lights flash. (0) Press the eject button again and only one light (1) press again and all four light up (0) press again and two lights (2). Error code is 0102. compare this code to the table below to find out what is wrong with your X360. Is it overheating? Power Cord? Hardware? what ever the code is refer to this list for the reason it is flashing...

The Code he got was 0102 which means the computer does not know the problem as it is not hardware or heating or anything like that. Could be dust, loose solder or static! He used a can of compressed air and his X360 IS BACK!!!!!! He did not know for how long but he played several hours after and had not one Hiccup. This after a whole week of the dreaded RINGS OF DEATH!!

Here is the list

0001 power supply problem
0002 power supply problem
0003 (not yet known)
...
0010 over heating
0011 over heating
0012 over heating
0013 over heating
...
0020 (Not yet known, possibly overheating)
0021 (not yet known)
0022 GPU Error / GPU Overheating
...
0101 (not yet known)
0102 unknown error - literally means the console does not know what is wrong. Possibly a short or cold solder joint somewhere (2 reports of people repairing this, one was removing moisture build up inside the console, the other used a hot-air rework to reflow the BGA Ram chips)
...
0110 Memory Error / Memory Overheating
...
1003 Hard Drive Error... It could be a problem with the Hard Drive itself or a problem with the internal connection to the hard drive, Try removing the hard drive and playing without it
...
1010 Hard Drive Error, Can be caused buy a currupt or missing Eprom.
...
1013 (not yet known)
...
1020 (not yet known)
...
1022 AV cable error... There is a problem with the AV cable, try using a different AV cable. (could also be a problem with the encoder chip)
...
1030 (not yet known)


Here are some other codes they posted!!


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Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 are flashing red
- The AV cable cannot be detected



THINGS TO TRY

Make sure that the AV cable is correctly connected to the Xbox 360 console.
Disconnect the AV cable from the Xbox 360 console, and then reconnect the AV cable to the Xbox 360 console.
If the four flashing red lights continue to flash, try wiping the metal area of the AV pack with a dry cloth. The metal area is the end that plugs into the console. Wipe the metal area thoroughly, and then try the AV Pack again.
If the AV cable is correctly connected but the four red lights are still flashing, substitute a different AV cable if you have one available.
=============================

Sections 1, 3, and 4 are flashing red
- General Hardware Failure



Check the secondary Error Code per the instructions in the section below

THINGS TO TRY

Try restarting the console.
If restarting the console does not resolve the behavior, follow these steps:
Turn the console off.
Unplug all the power and AV cables from the console.
Unplug the power cord from the wall socket.
Firmly reconnect all the cables.
Turn on the console.
If these steps do not resolve the behavior, turn the console off, remove the hard drive, and then turn on the console. If the 3x Red LED error light is no longer displayed, turn the console off, re-attach the hard drive, and then turn on the console.
Also examine the lights on the power supply. When you turn on the console, the power supply light should illuminate green even if the three lights on the RoL flash red.


=============================

Sections 1, and 3 are flashing red
- Overheating



THINGS TO TRY
Let the Xbox 360 console cool.
Note You may have to wait several hours for the console to cool enough. Do not turn on the console when the console is hot.
Verify that the console has sufficient ventilation and that the fan is operating. For more information about ventilation, see the "More Information" section.

PREVENTION SUGGESTIONS
To try to prevent this problem, use the following precautions:

Do not block any ventilation openings on the Xbox 360 console.
Do not put the Xbox 360 console on a bed, on a sofa, or on any other soft surface that may block ventilation openings.
Do not put the Xbox 360 console in a confined space, such as a bookcase, a rack, or a stereo cabinet, unless the space is well-ventilated.
Do not put the Xbox 360 console near any heat source, such as a radiator, a heat register, a stove, or an amplifier.

DO NOT EVER PUT YOUR CONSOLE IN THE FREEZER OR OUT IN COLD WEATHER
Some people think that doing this might help "fix" an overheating console, in fact doing so could cause even bigger problems. Electronic devices like your console are made to function at and around room temperature, extreme cold temperatures can often cause just as many problems as extreme warm temperatures (such as overheating). Also if the console is located in a dramatically cold area while running, the difference in temperature between the hot console and cold air can create condensation which in turn will short out your console making the situation far worse. Condensation will happen more quickly if your console is overheating due to the greater difference in temperature. In short... DON'T DO IT.


=============================

Section 4 is flashing red
- Hardware Failure



The Specific Type of hardware failure can be determined by the error code displayed on the screen.
If the screen is blank or you would like additional information follow the instructions for determining the secondary error code in the section below

E64: (not yet known)

E65: DVD Drive Error.... DVD Timeout, Wrong firmware, dvd is without f/w chip, etc.

E67: Hard Drive Error... It could be a problem with the Hard Drive itself or a problem with the internal connection to the hard drive, Try removing the hard drive and playing without it

E68: Hard Drive Error... It could be a problem with the Hard Drive itself or a problem with the internal connection to the hard drive, Try removing the hard drive and playing without it, This can also be caused by a Hard Drive Eprom Error.

E69: Hard Drive Error... It could be a problem with the Hard Drive itself or a problem with the internal connection to the hard drive, Try removing the hard drive and playing without it

E71: (not yet known)

E73: (not yet known)

E74: AV cable error... There is a problem with the AV cable, try using a different AV cable. (could also be a problem with the encoder chip)

E76: (not yet known)

E79: Hard Drive Error... It could be a problem with the Hard Drive itself or a problem with the internal connection to the hard drive, Try removing the hard drive and playing without it

Also known as 3RLOD...this is directly related to the heat sink clamping method that M$ stupidly designed into the system.
If you can do without your Xbox for 6 weeks AND you still have it under the extended 3 year warranty, then send it to Microsoft.
If it's not under warranty , find someone who fixes electronics and have them go to www.llama.com
He has a very detailed step-by-step way of opening the 360 and what you need to do to fix the 3RLOD
I've taken care of 2 for 2 like this already.
I get $100 per unit.

my x box360 has 3 red light on plus i have no screen display

need help on my x- box 360 3 red ring

I Have come to the conclusion that continuous heat will
eventually warp the board , and short of installing a pelter cooler
device T.E.C. in the unit to remove the excess heat the only
other solution is a thermoplastic clamp that has lots of
little fingers to compress the G.P.U evenly from booth sides
at the right pinch points has yield the most durable repair,
after re-flowing the chip . I just had the tooling made for
the 3 molds needed for the three different G.P.U.s they should
be ready in two weeks

Rob

ive been told to hold the "synch" and eject button down together which button is the synch on the wireless remote.thanks

Basically what you want 2 do is wrap your xbox in some covers and overheat it. do this for about 30 minutes. turn it off. turn it back on. and there you go. if this doesnt work txt me or call me 678-748-0250.

my xbox wont start it flashes a red light after the green light doesnt rotate

i need help! my x-box 360 as a 3 red flashing...anybody with any idea? Please advice on what to do to solve this problem

you have whats called the red ring of death if it has warenty still return it and if not ...good luck xboxes arnt my area so... o and markfishwick if you have the same problem post it as that your answer was not a solution

please help i have 3 red flashing lights

just send it in to microsoft, it happens to almost everyones

The best thing to do is to go to the Microsoft web(xbox360) get the toll free# let them know what is going on. They will repair it free of charge and the shipping is free. I had the same issue with my 360.