Xbox overheating - but it isn't?

Greetings, Wrath. Thanks for bringing your question to the forums. It seems like your console will need a repair. In order to get this started, please take a look at this page: Online Service Center. Thanks! Let me know if you have any further questions.

Is your power supply in a well ventilated area? That too must have good air flow to help keep it cool just like the console. If not then issues could arise. It sounds like a bad power supply. When you contact Phone Support in regards to a repair be sure to mention the power supply issue as they may just require you to send that in instead of the console (if the power supply is the cause).

I have the exact same problem with battlefield 3 and I never get the 2 red light  problem with any other game that I have played, including skyrim, many of the CoDs, Halo Reach and some others, however Halo Reach from time to time when I am playing campaign freezes.

The only difference is that nothing is hot, it is barely even warm, its pretty much cool including the power supply and the Xbox. The disk is also not scratched at all. I have however for about 4-5 years had it on the carpet in my room but for the most part that has been fine, and tonight I moved it to a desk away from other heat sources and still it does that two red lights thing. I have had the red ring of death a fare few years ago, I cant quite remember what year but it was in about the same week as fable 2 came out so I think 2008. I sent it off to microsoft and they fixed it ( Just thought it might help if you knew that). Should I call microsoft or is there an easier solution to fixing the two red lights.

Hi DSB Caesar,

While it may seem that its not overheating, it is possible that certain components within the Xbox are experiencing high temperatures above the normal. Commonly the CPU exerts a load of heat when under high usage.

Could you place your hand on the back of the case (The side with the rubber feet) roughly about where the O is in Xbox 360? You may have to move your hand around in any direction by about 1 or 2 cm to find it but If you can feel a noticeable warmth from the CPU then it could be overheating due to a loose or too tight heat sink and causing the Xbox to show the error.

If your Xbox is still under warranty you could get it fixed by Microsoft as this issue is within the Xbox itself and opening/modifying the Xbox in any way voids warranty.

Thanks for your help and I tried feeling around there but it still doesn't feel that hot, like it is a little bit warm but not really anything that noticible. Im just worried coz my hands are quite cold that, that might be why I cant feel the warmth, but it should be the opposite, as I should be able to feel the heat even easier. I would say my xbox is out of warranty unfortuanately.

I would personally send the Xbox to Microsoft for a repair job, yes it will cost you, but I believe that that the cost is pretty cheap so it would be worth it as against buying a new Xbox.

To be completely honest is sounds as if one of the components inside is slightly loose and its causing your Xbox to show up the overheating error because it can't get a clear reading of the temperature.

I'm having the same issue now with Battlefield 3 (two red lights on left half of ring), and no other games or apps. Sorry to revive an old thread, but the answers in this one don't address the fact that it ONLY happens with this one particular game.

I had the problem with BF3  and other titles from EA/origin freezing randomly. But make sure your pwersupply isn't full of dust by using a vacum or air duster in the vents. I would unplug the powersupply and wait for the light on the powersupply to go off before using an air duster.

this is definitely a battlefield three, first gen xbox problem. or maybe even a BF3 premium issue. I never had the issue, but recently purchased premium. And now as soon as the match loads, it gives me 2 red rings

My 360 was purchased last December and the problem just started about two weeks ago, I  started receiving an over heating warning that the system was shutting down and that I could restart after the flashing red light turns off upon checking the unit I found no physical signs of overheating.   I restarted and it was fine until the next day after it was off for approximately eighteen hours when I started it again and after the first five minutes the warning appeared, I disconnected all power and cleaned the both the console and power supply with a can of compressed air used on computers and a vacuum cleaner.  This seemed to work fine for about a week until the warning returned, I again cleaned it as before but issue still remains.  I don't believe it's a game usage issue since I rotate through several different games and the fact that it always occurs around five minutes of being turned on after any extended off time.