3 flashing red lights (by 737 users)

Microsoft is INCLINED to replace the RROD (red ring of death)

Its a fatal error with 360s, and theres not a thing you can do about it.

It takes days to months once sent in to replace, but its 100% free.

The best thing you can do is follow the xbox 360 repair guide at isitascam.com

just send it back and fixed for free

The problem is GPU Memory related. To solve it, first open your Xbox. There is a soft, "rubbery" material on the memory chips.
Image1:

--==SECONDARY ERROR CODES==-
The specific type of hardware failure can be determined by a "hidden" error code

* Turn the xbox 360 on, and wait till the 3 red lights are flashing.
* Press and hold the sync up button (the small white one), while holding that button press the eject button.
* The LEDs will now blink the first number in the code (as described below).
* Release the eject button and press it again.
* The LEDs will now blink the second number of the code.
* Release the eject button and press it again.
* The LEDs will now blink the third number of the code.
* Release the eject button and press it again.
* The LEDs will now blink the forth number of the code.
* Release the eject button and press it again.
* The LEDs will go back to the 3 red flashing lights.

You should be able to determine the difference between the 3 flashing lights and the error code lights by the rate in which they flash.

Here is how you interpret the LEDs to get the code number:

* All four lights flashing - 0
* One light flashing - 1
* Two Lights flashing - 2
* Three lights flashing - 3


0001 power supply problem
0002 Network Interface problem
0003 Power problem could be the PSU could be the GPU/CPU, somehow the console isn't getting clean power from the power supply.
0010 over heating
0011 over heating - If you are receiving this error after disassembling your console make sure to all 8 of the heatsync screws are tightened securely to the board/heatsink holes.
0012 over heating
0013 over heating
0020 (Not yet known, possibly overheating)
0021 DVD Drive Time out - Can be caused by problems with a firmware flash. This is also speculated to sometime be caused by a problem with the southbridge chipset on the motherboard.
0022 GPU Error / GPU Overheating
0023 (not yet known)
...
0101 (not yet known)
0102 unknown error

* though it's most likely GPU related literally means the console does not know what is wrong. possibly a short or cold solder joint somewhere. So far there is 1 major theory for what causes most of these errors is that the Ram, CPU, or GPU are not soldered properly to the mother board due either to poor manufacturing or excessive heat up and cool down cycles that stress, weaken and eventually break the soldered connection.
There are two theories to fixing this one deals with the "X" clamps that hold down the chips. The other involves re-Heating the chips. DO NOT attempt either of these if your console is still under warranty. If your console is still under warranty return it to the store where it was purchased or call MS to have it replaced. I have also heard of limited success by simply switching the AV cable from "HDTV" mode to "TV" mode.

0103 CPU Error/ CPU Overheating - see solution for error 0102
0110 Memory Error / Memory Overheating - see solution for error 0102
...
0200 (not yet known)
...
1000 (not yet known)
1001 (not yet known)
1002 (not yet known)
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 corrupt or missing eProm.
1011 (not yet known)
1012 (not yet known)
1013 (not yet known) possibly a dashboard update error
1020 (not yet known)
1021 (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)
1023 DVD drive not connected, connect DVD drive to boot
1030 (not yet known)
1031 (not yet known)
1032 (not yet known)
1033 (not yet known)
...
1444 and up There is no "4" in the error codes four lights is a "0" go back and check your code again.

=============================
--==Console Reset Codes==--
Clear All Installed Game Updates and Console Cache

1. Go to the "system" blade
2. Select "memory"
3. Press Y on the HD symbol
4. Press X,X, Left Bumper, Right Bumper, X,X
5. A message will appear saying: "Do you want to perform maintenance on your Xbox 360 storage devices?"
6. Select Yes

Clear Any Failed system updates that cause the console to error.

1. With the console off, press and hold the sync up button (the small white one)
2. While holding the sync button press the power button to turn on the console
3. Continue to hold the sync button until the Console has booted up completely.
4. During the boot process the console should clear any failed updates, allowing you to use it normally.

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

im sure that works but if your warranty is still valid you should use it they will replace your console but if you open your console i.e. this trick about the eraser it voids your warranty so be careful about what you choose

Solution is.. get a PS3..

Call microsoft on 1800-4-MY-XBOX and get them to fix it if it's still under warranty. Or if it's not, follow the instructions in the xbox 360 repair guide. I used it, it worked for me, and I uploaded one of the tutorial videos so you can see what they look like before you buy.

Just tried it and Boooooooom! We have ignition.Thanx for the great info.If any one is wondering it is regular double sided tape,The kind you can get at Target or Walmart or Wherever.Again Thank You,My Kids are happy as hell.

STOP!STOP!STOP!
Microsoft are now accepting liability for the 3 red lights issue.
My childrens XBox warranty had just expired (2 weeks prior). I was about to commence on the rubber thing, but thought i would phone customer services anyway to complain about the problem and the sheer number of people that this has happened to. They are now giving a full 3 year warranty for this problem and have collected the XBox this afternoon.
Hopefully they will fix this with a new design that prevents this from reoccuring. Anyone who has had this fixed can also claim the repair bill back if within 3 years.
contact customer services on 0800-587-1102! uk.

I'm living outside the U.S. bought xbox 360 from U.S. so customer service is not an option for me. After my first red lights, I desperately tried the quickest method, the towel, it worked for a few months first, lights appeared again, towel again, this time it worked for a few weeks, and the last time towel didn't help.I found the rubber method here. I had a weird rubber eraser, cut it in to a weird shape (not perfect box shape and not with a perfect surface) but replaced them anyway. It didn't work so I waited the xbox turned on for 20 mins,turned it off and on after 2 mins and than it worked !!!
Playing Naruto for about 3 hrs now, looks promising. I'll check for better ram cooling stuff for any further red lights to come. Thanks for the information. Made me happy today.

A Solution...........................This is for everyone and anyone who waited countless hours for a system that would later or working on them. The Solution that i am about to tell you is totally illegal, but it works... Trust Me..... Me along with many other of my friends with faulty XBox360s have done this.... Well first this, solution requires several steps... 1. you need money for a xbox 360 arcade console (Obviously because its the cheapest one)... and dont worry....you'll get every nickel back :)...... 2. (Tools) you'll need a minature flat head screw driver along with a Torx Head scew driver...(its the one with a 6 point star shaped head) 3.(Instruction) this is perhaps the most important step of all... because it requires the dissembly of your system and for those who dont know how to... here is a web site that gives you detailed instructions on how to take your 360 apart (http://www.xbox-accessories.com/instructions/disassemble360.html) trust me, its not that hard 4. (Prey) I would suggest picking the least tech savy store such as wall mart or target were i would get the system.... 5. (The good ol switcher rue) Once have both systems in front of you, there are several things that you need to be aware of... there are four stickers and three of witch contain bar cods which identifies each xbox; one is in the front by the usb ports. the other one is in the back (DO NOT PEEL THIS ONE) the whole plastic panel is going to be sent back the retailer... The third sticker is inside.... you'll see it on the aluminum panel as you open it.... the last one is located in the front after removing the face plate (this is a tamper prof sticker and i suggest letting it slide of when you separate the two main white pieces) all three stickers with the bar codes need to be with the one console that is going to be returned...... all you need to is switch the your console with the brand new one (if the new one has HDMI ports and yours doesnt, dont worry... they wont even notice the difference between the old version and the new version.....
6. Return it...... the only thing that they will mostly look at is the bar code in the back and the rest of the merchandice in the box

I know this seems like alot of work but it isnt and it saves you money in the end with a brand new updated 360 Enjoy :)

I dont know how it works but it does, nice one!!

I have had this on a few of my Xbox 360's and am currently on my 5th one!

Just keep sending it back! lol

Make them fix it!

If you have tampered with the 360's case in any way that the repair center can notice (tamper sticker, scratches that indicate an attempt to open the case) then the repair center will just send ur $300 brick back to you. If you havent already messed up the case, I highly recommend that you send it back. If you have already messed up the case, well, I'm gonna try some of these fixes. I don't think the towel fix or heat gun fix sound like very good ideas though.

send it in otherwise you can't get it fixed for free

WHOA! I fixed it without taking it apart or anything..... I put a bunch of weight on the top of it, started it, it worked great even when I took the weight off. I LOVE MYSELF:)

The towel trick is very very very bad idea.
What it is basically trying to do is overheat the console to the point where the poorly soldered connection ( that has come apart and is causing the lights'o'death ) melt again and hopefully re-establish contact, forming a proper connection again.

Apart from the fact that it is retarded you are also going to be overheating all the other components in the 360 that are otherwise working i.e GPU.

Please do not use this trick. Call MS and have them replace the console.

I have an Idea....How about we all get together and start a class-action lawsuit against Microsoft for selling us CRAP! I am on my 3rd xbox! I will NEVER send an xbox in for them to repair as they probably planned this to sell more units and make a killing, charging us to fix THEIR cheap-ass system! Maybe we will all get lucky and Apple will introduce the IBOX Soon! Anyway...Here is how you fix the problem....1. Go to xxx-mart and buy a new xbox2. Open box and remove new console3. Place old console in box4. Return it and tell them it does not work!

Great idea the eraser fix worked great. One other thing that i did was reverse the fan rather then blowing the hot air in this sucks the hot air out. Which in turn does not circulate hot air inside the unit.

first sorry for my languge am not good in english : ok i fixed my xbox 360 with ereser its working from last monday that good for me ok :
1- i but a rubber ereser in the bottom ram
2- i but a cooper heatsink over the GPU ram
3- i leave the top case open.
4- i add one fan over the cpu heatsink.

that it now the xbox 360 are not hot at all. thanks

I had the tree red lights, error code 0102. After some reading online I figured it had to be a cold solder problem on the CPU and GPU, (never considered the RAM, although the fix I used would cover that too).
Basicly, as the Xbox heats and cools from use, the solder holding CPU and GPU onto the motherboard cracks, and the chips no longer make a connection. This is why the how towel method seems to work - by overheating the xbox the solder expands to remake the contact. As soon as it cools again, the solder shrinks back and the connection breaks again.

The hot towel method however severely stresses componants and should never be used.

My fix went like this - strip the xbox, and remove the heatsinks.
Toss away the x-shaped springs that held the heatsinks on.
Remove the bolts from the heatsinks. Drill out the fins that cover the bolt holes on the GPU heatsink.
I then used PC motherboard risers and screws to bolt the heatsinks directly to the Xbox mobo, much MUCH tighter than originally designed. This forces the broken solder contacts back together, even when the xbox is cold.
Since doing this my Xbox had started up no problems every time, however, it is a hack job, if you want to use this method be very carefull, tighten the screws to much can split your xbox motherboard and destroy it!

Good Luck!

Perfect solution; Bill gates gets off of some of his billions and recalls all the defective units. He could afford to replace them with Wiis.

I just wanna say thank you guys for being stubborn, i had no where to turn and thought i would have to by another one or pay almost a arm liver and kidney for a ps3. I wasnt ready to make that leap, u guys are gods and if anyone thinks its a hoax, im your living proof, although wierd this solution works!!!

Now im gaming better than before!!!!!
Thanks fellas it was easy!!!

this worked great, i didn't have any double-sided tape that would stick to the erasers, so i used a thin layer of the pre-existing pads on the chips before.

I don't know quite what it means but many websites say ERROR 0020 may be overheating but found that it is not true because I had the same error message so me and my dad both agreed that it must be an overheating problem so we went and bought several things and all of these didn't work for ERROR 0020:
1. 6 rubbers ( rubber method didnt work )
2. Alaska thermal compound( coolant gel applied to micro chips and did nothing )
Other methods we tried ( and didn't work )
1. Loosen the X clamp screws
2. Cut out bigger holes for the fans ( maybe worked it made it cooler? )
3. Alloy heatsink ( again not sure might just make it cooler)
In the end we used the towel method were you leave your xbox on while it is wrapped it towels allowing it to overheat and re-attach the soldering ( which by the way was a major fault for microsoft manufacturing ) It has been working for about 2 hours now PERFECTLY but I must warn you please try the above things before you attempt the towel method because it is VERY RISKY as it can melt precious components and then you've not only killed the xbox but you've given it a cremation so like I said USE THIS AS A LAST RESORT AND WHEN YOUR FEELING BRAVE!!!!

Good stuff!

Well, I know that Microsoft increased its three red light warrentee to three years so everyone should be covered. Just in case you aren't too sure of the above suggested methods, I'd suggest a genuine repair first.

worked for me for about a week, but now i have the 3 red rings of death again.

before i had error code 0102, but now it is 0020 which is apparently overheating issue?

gonna try puting a massive fan on it, even though id already upgraded the itnernal fan to a better cooler.

also trying the leaving it on for 20 mins then trying again method.......maybe it will work....hope so.

anyways, thanks for giving me a week of xbox at least :)


-x-x-x-

The original rubber that you are removing is thermal tape. You can find the same tape under the voltage regulator on high end motherboards, and it is also used under the heatsink of an 8800 video card for computers. It would work much better with a copper heat sink rather than erasers. For the GPU and CPU heat problems, it's kind of expensive but, koolance sells a water cooling kit for the 360. It will solve your problems.