Macbook A1181 won't power up

Hello.

I am at my wits end here (which I'll admit sometimes isn't all that far), with how to troubleshoot a power-up failure on my Macbook A1181 (Black).

The problem started about a week ago. I had let the computer go to sleep, and when I returned to it I noticed that the white indicator light was no longer fading in and out. It was just steadily all the way on. I clicked a key on the keyboard and nothing happened. I pressed the power button for 1 second, nothing happened. I pressed the power button for 5 seconds and the screen flashed, then turned black. The white indicator turned off. At this point, the computer is completely unresponsive to the power button, except that the little light next to the camera at the top of the screen, the "flash", which occasionally flickers dimly one time when the power button is held down.

I checked the battery indicator, 5 green dots. When plugged into the power source, the power indicator is amber. Removing the battery, I removed and reinserted RAM. I put the battery back in place, pressed power, still unresponsive.

I removed the battery and power supply, and held down the power button for 10 seconds to reset the SMC and PRAM. Nothing. It is unresponsive to all combinations of battery in/out, power supply attached/detached.

This has happened a couple times in the last week, and letting the computer sit idle over night has helped in the past. This time, however, it seems to be permanently stuck.

I don't have the money to take it to Apple for a diagnosis/repair. Has anyone heard of this problem, or better yet, found any solutions? Replacing the logic board is a last resort option, I guess. But obviously I'd rather exhaust all other options before resorting to that.

Thanks for any tips!!

Miles

Okay, this is ridiculous. All day it hasn't started up, and while waiting for my bus I tried again. Same stupid flicker of light next to the camera, nothing more.

Out of frustration I started repeatedly pressing the power button and got the screen to flicker. Then I started pumping the button like I was giving the thing CPR, and "ding!" It started up! Grey screen at first, like when it runs out of battery life mid use. Weird.

I'm sure this is going to happen again tho. Wonder how many times my resusitation technique is going to work... at least it's backed up, so no info loss. I'll keep you posted!

Miles

Guess who's dead again?? And this time my resuscitation technique isn't bringing it back. I'll let it chill a couple hours and try it again.

Any thoughts at all?

So, today's whack-azz method of turning my computer back on involved shaking it horizontally, with the lid closed about 75%, and repeatedly pressing the on button. This is getting more involved by the day.

I've decided to change my energy settings and disable sleep mode. From now on, I will be booting and shutting down every time I use the computer. This problem has only happened while trying to wake the computer from sleep mode, never from a complete shut down.

We shall see!

Computer's completely dead.