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[xboxgamer733]

Soon after the discovery of replacing the X-clamps on the motherboard being a good fix for 3RLOD, RBJtech suggested that we keep track of results for the benefit of Xbox-Scene. However, the overwhelming numbers of successful X-clamp replacements speak for themselves, and individual results no longer need to be recorded. Since the date of this post, more than 85 percent of X-clamp replacements have been claimed as successful, with the remaining percentage containing partially-working or non-working repairs.

The links below contain different X-clamp replacement methods, with the most-updated being placed at the top of the list.

• Team Hybrid's Ultimate X-clamp Fix (developed by Humboldt, M2X and Wilhelm_I)
• Improved X-clamp Replacement (developed by Wilhelm_I)
• RBJtech's Tutorial and Discussion Thread
• Lawdawg0931's Tutorial and Discussion Thread

A video illustrating the general procedure of a successful X-clamp replacement process can also be found here (created by HackAbuse).

If you live near a Home Depot, Iriez has posted the UPCs of the materials you'll need, which some of you may find helpful:

QUOTE(Iriez @ Aug 29 2007, 06:02 PM)

Here are the offical home depot part numbers:
Qty - 8 Machine Screw Pan - Phillips 5 x 10mm (DR# - 313) UPC - 030699 801282
Qty - 16 Flat Washer Nylon #10 (DR# - 610) UPC - 030699 869381
Qty - 16 Flat Washer Steel / ZINC Plated 5mm (DR# - 606) UPC - 030699 363087

I have successfully repaired 4 3RLOD's with these parts. Do NOT use the 'hex' head screws as a alternative, they are too large and cause your motherboard to bend when you screw it all back together.

Note: The 'DR#' is the 'drawer number' and may not be the same at every home depot. I've visited 3 now with the same drawer numbers, but the UPC and description is the best way to find it.

Feel free to use this topic as an area for general X-clamp replacement questions and comments. However, if you'd like to discuss a specific form of repair, it is preferred for you to post in its respective thread, which are seen in the list earlier in this topic.

This post has been edited by xboxgamer733: Jan 21 2009, 11:34 AM

[diedraneous]

Please, Please, Please when you do the x-clamp repair only use a dot of thermal compound!!! I cannot tell you how many "fixed" boxes I have seen where there was wayy too much thermal compound...no wonder it red ringed!!!  

[BigBadOsker]

Hey fellas I am pretty new to the 360 scene and I have a question. A buddy of mine gave me an original Xenon console that he grapped outside of his apartment after he saw a little kid kicking the damn thing around. Well its just the console but he said he used a friends power supply to make sure it powered on. It did but he couldnt recall what error it was giving. Well today I just went ahead and did the x clamp replacement fix. I have built a few computers and with all the tutorials I am pretty sure I did a good job. Well here is my problem. I do not have a power supply to finish the fix. I cannot over heat it and finish the tutorial. I have not tightened the screws down all the way yet, just enough to sit well on the board. I went ahead and bought a power supply from ebay but I will not have that for at least a week. Am i going to have to re apply the thermal compound now after all this time? Its no big deal if I have to I just should have read all the way ahead before I tried the fix. Any suggestions would help. Thanks a bunch.

[HatoriHanzoSama]

i did the xclamps fix on my xbox.. followed instructions to the letter.. and not a day later.. its beginning to freeze again.. sometime it makes it to game play.. but it just about three to four minutes... then it freezes.. any suggestions.. fyi.. i'm new to xbox in general.. and modding also...

This post has been edited by HatoriHanzoSama: Oct 9 2009, 01:54 AM

[John182]

Hallo, im new here

@ HatoriHanzoSama: Thats exactly the same prob that i have! I did the xclamp fix after RROD code 0102 - everything fine - RROD was gone, BUT! After 3-4 mins of playing fifa 10 i got a frozen screen

I tried a couple of things...first i have loosen the screws a bit so that presure on the chips isnt that hard - didnt fix my prob of freezing...next i put a fan i front of my open box - and voilá! i was able to play fifa 10 for a longer time

So i thinks its still a overheating problem, but i dont know how to fix that the opened xbox and the huge fan in front of it is just a temporary solution for me...

Is there somebody out there that can help us? please

cheers

[bmo37]

QUOTE(John182 @ Oct 16 2009, 04:36 AM)

Hallo, im new here

@ HatoriHanzoSama: Thats exactly the same prob that i have! I did the xclamp fix after RROD code 0102 - everything fine - RROD was gone, BUT! After 3-4 mins of playing fifa 10 i got a frozen screen

I tried a couple of things...first i have loosen the screws a bit so that presure on the chips isnt that hard - didnt fix my prob of freezing...next i put a fan i front of my open box - and voilá! i was able to play fifa 10 for a longer time

So i thinks its still a overheating problem, but i dont know how to fix that the opened xbox and the huge fan in front of it is just a temporary solution for me...

Is there somebody out there that can help us? please

cheers

My situation is somewhat similar, I haven't played 360 in awhile, went to turn it on the other day and low and behold I have the RROD (last time I played it about 6 months ago it was in working order). I tried the dissassembly/cleaning and reapplying the thermal compound fix. Baked the compound without fans for about 10 mins, let it cool, and the system booted fine to the dash.

5 mins into playing online demos, the screen freezes (grainy vertical lines) and the audio made a loud noise prior to freezing. I did the entire process over again and did an even thinner layer of compound this time that way it would spread over  the chip. Same result happened again.

I figured I would try penny trick for the memory chips on the backside of the board. I used 3 penny stacks in electricial tape and than taped them in place. This didn't really make a difference, the one thing I noticed though this time was I didn't put any of the screws in on the case  to the board just the x-clamps. But this time the case fans were reving really quick, I'm guessing there is a feedback control circuit that the hotter the chips get the quicker the fans rev?

So when I didn't use any screws the fans rev really quick the system stays cool, I played for 3  hours and had no issues, as soon as I started screwing in the small center screws over the x the system froze.

Is it a grounding issue or still heat related since it works untill I put the case on?
It almost seems like the system runs better with the x-clamps loose and not fully tighented down.

[whyexactly]

One thing I am curious about is the purpose of the extra washers on the backside of the mainboard, (or even the washers in general) As the screws don't need to be insulated from the copper pads surrounding the holes. I have had to re-repair three "fixed" consoles now, one had washers that were slightly too thick so the heatsinks didn't touch the chips, and the other two both had the screws done to max tightness, making the board flex again. In my experiences I've found that having the screws extremely tight is only needed for the reflow of the GPU, after that they can be loosened to about finger tight, and then a half turn or so with the screwdriver. If they're done to the correct tightness no washers should be needed anywhere.

I've also found that the X Clamps don't usually need replacing, simply bending them to provide proper pressure can be enough (the first 360 I owned they were so loose, if you held the board vertical the heatsink hung off)

This post has been edited by whyexactly: Nov 16 2009, 08:12 PM

[Skeeterbite]

slightly off subject but

has anyone bought this "How to repair Xbox-$29.00"  guide at the bottom of these forums from

3redlightfix.com?

I did about a month ago,  it says they have tech support via Email,  with a response within 24-48 hours.

I have sent 4 emails and have yet to get a response........  Is it just me.... or has anyone else had this problem.

The fix that they show does work though.  I have fixed several with it.

[sadc]

QUOTE(John182 @ Oct 16 2009, 10:36 AM)

Hallo, im new here

@ HatoriHanzoSama: Thats exactly the same prob that i have! I did the xclamp fix after RROD code 0102 - everything fine - RROD was gone, BUT! After 3-4 mins of playing fifa 10 i got a frozen screen

I tried a couple of things...first i have loosen the screws a bit so that presure on the chips isnt that hard - didnt fix my prob of freezing...next i put a fan i front of my open box - and voilá! i was able to play fifa 10 for a longer time

So i thinks its still a overheating problem, but i dont know how to fix that the opened xbox and the huge fan in front of it is just a temporary solution for me...

Is there somebody out there that can help us? please

cheers

Looks like you need to add some thermal compound. I use artic silver 5 (best one there is)

[mvstopper30]

ok so atm my xbox does not have the 3 red lights like before. after i replaced the paste and clamps it is on the 2 red lights. what should i do??

[bennos]

My Xbox 360 has the 2 red light error. Both on the left side. I still get the problem after I moved it to a Lian Li case.

Does the X-clamp fix apply to the 2 red leght problem?

Any good explainations (links) why changing the x-clamps to screws and washers addresses the overheating problem?

Also, any good links/reads to address the memory chip overheating?

[MRsoap5]

QUOTE(Iriez @ Aug 29 2007, 06:02 PM) *
Here are the offical home depot part numbers:
Qty - 8 Machine Screw Pan - Phillips 5 x 10mm (DR# - 313) UPC - 030699 801282
Qty - 16 Flat Washer Nylon #10 (DR# - 610) UPC - 030699 869381
Qty - 16 Flat Washer Steel / ZINC Plated 5mm (DR# - 606) UPC - 030699 363087

I have successfully repaired 4 3RLOD's with these parts. Do NOT use the 'hex' head screws as a alternative, they are too large and cause your motherboard to bend when you screw it all back together.

Note: The 'DR#' is the 'drawer number' and may not be the same at every home depot. I've visited 3 now with the same drawer numbers, but the UPC and description is the best way to find it.

Hi, I actually bought my first xbox 360 used around 2 years ago and it just went 3 red rings on me. Ive been doing alot of research and ive determined that I want to use these materials. The only question I had was, with the parts listed above, its supposed to be one nylon washer and one steel washer per side of the screw right? I just want to make sure that I get the spacing. thank you very much in advance!

This post has been edited by MRsoap5: Jan 27 2010, 04:30 AM

[truechampion]

I followed the usual instructions for the X-clamp fix to the letter, except for one thing: I used hex-head screws instead of the "cheese-head" ones because that's all I could find. Now, the 3-light error is gone and it shows a two-light error (code 0011). I tightened the screws very tightly and it still shows that error. What's up? Can anyone help?

[fuzzypumpkins]

just got the 3rlod and im gonna try the tutorial on llamma

[priddle]

Does this method work for error code 0110?