Signs your HDMI port is the problem

No picture or a black screen, flickering or cutting out, a cable that feels loose or has to be held at an angle, or a port that looks bent or cracked. Different cable and TV combinations behaving the same way point to the port rather than the cable.

The PS4 HDMI port is soldered to the board and can crack or lift from the pads after too many cable pulls.

How the repair works

1. Check it outI confirm the symptoms, try known-good cables and a second TV, and inspect the port under magnification for bent pins, a cracked shell, or lifted pads.
2. Open the consoleThe shell panels come off, then the screws and shielding over the motherboard, keeping every screw sorted so it goes back in the right place.
3. Remove the old portThe board is preheated and the old HDMI port is heated and lifted off carefully so the pads and traces under it are not torn up.
4. Clean and repair the padsOld solder is cleaned off and the pads are inspected. Any lifted pad or damaged trace is repaired before the new port goes on.
5. Solder in the new portA new HDMI port is aligned to the board and soldered in place, and every joint is checked for solid connections with no bridges between pins.
6. Test and reassembleWith the console back together I test picture and sound with a cable in the port, wiggle-test the connection, and run it for a while before it goes back to you.

About this repair

PS5 HDMI Repair (all models), $100. This is an HDMI port replacement. It fixes no picture, flickering or cut-out video, and cables that fall out or wiggle. If attempted DIY, text me a photo of the port and a short description, and I can usually tell you if this is the fix.

PS4 HDMI Repair (all models), $65.

Cooling uses thermal paste on the PS4 and liquid metal on the PS5.

Over time the thermal compound dries out, and dust packs the fan and heatsink. The console then runs hot, gets loud, and can shut itself off.

How the repair works

1. Open and inspectPanels and the fan assembly come off so I can see how bad the dust and old compound are. On the PS4, the top and bottom shells and the shielding come off.
2. Deep cleanFan, heatsink fins, vents and the board are cleaned out so air can move again.
3. Remove the old compoundThe old compound is removed from the chip and heatsink.
4. Apply fresh thermal paste PS4 onlyFresh paste is applied evenly to the chip.
5. Apply liquid metal PS5 liquid metal onlyLiquid metal is applied with the surrounding parts protected. With Clean Only, the console gets a full clean only.
6. Reassemble and testEverything goes back together, then I check temperatures, fan noise, and stability under load.

About this repair

PS5 Liquid Metal or Clean Only, $75.

PS4 Thermal Paste and Clean, $45.