Bought a Dead DP2.7Ghz (Late 2005) G5 - Repair?

[kbfr08]

So, in my late night impulse buying spree I picked up a number of broken laptops and desktops. After giving my dp 1.8 G5 away to a friend, I instantly wanted another so I'm very excited to get this machine. Anyway, it's got a psu problem, no ram and no graphics card. I got an X800 XT locally, and I'm waiting on the mac to flash the BIOS.

So, I guess my question is if anyone has any experience with the PSUs on G5s. This is a liquid cooled model, IIRC, and it very well could have leaked into the psu. The liquidator I bought it from didn't mention any rust, and I'm only in the machine $55 so I'll come out ok. Anyway, I read this is a common issue and I'm wondering what usually goes wrong with the psu and how to fix it (assuming it's not coolant)?

Also, the case is smashed from shipping. Two of the stands are broken, what are the repair options for that? I'm thinking a hammer and maybe some pliers

I'm also wondering how to prevent leaking from the pumps. I know if it hasn't happened, then it probably will happen soon. What are my options for that?

 

[chrismacguy]

So, in my late night impulse buying spree I picked up a number of broken laptops and desktops. After giving my dp 1.8 G5 away to a friend, I instantly wanted another so I'm very excited to get this machine. Anyway, it's got a psu problem, no ram and no graphics card. I got an X800 XT locally, and I'm waiting on the mac to flash the BIOS.

So, I guess my question is if anyone has any experience with the PSUs on G5s. This is a liquid cooled model, IIRC, and it very well could have leaked into the psu. The liquidator I bought it from didn't mention any rust, and I'm only in the machine $55 so I'll come out ok. Anyway, I read this is a common issue and I'm wondering what usually goes wrong with the psu and how to fix it (assuming it's not coolant)?

Also, the case is smashed from shipping. Two of the stands are broken, what are the repair options for that? I'm thinking a hammer and maybe some pliers

I'm also wondering how to prevent leaking from the pumps. I know if it hasn't happened, then it probably will happen soon. What are my options for that?

1) Its incredibly likely to be coolant, the only way to see the rust can be to pull out the PSU, because the coolant misses the absorbent pad over the PSU and goes down the back
2) To prevent leaks, the most common method seems to be to redo all the piping with new and check it weekly for the starting signs of a leak (It seems to be either the resevoir over the PSU or the piping very close to that that leaks, hence it going into the PSU).
3) For the case its either get a new one, or hammer it back to be roughly where it should be (Id hate to think how it got to that state though, my Mac Pros handles seem pretty firmly attached).
Just my 2c.

 

[walterwhite]

That sounds like quite a project... a G5 Power Supply is a big job. Look online for a PDF to guide you... It's a job Mac Genii dont look forward to. also smashed Case

 

[kbfr08]

1) Its incredibly likely to be coolant, the only way to see the rust can be to pull out the PSU, because the coolant misses the absorbent pad over the PSU and goes down the back
2) To prevent leaks, the most common method seems to be to redo all the piping with new and check it weekly for the starting signs of a leak (It seems to be either the resevoir over the PSU or the piping very close to that that leaks, hence it going into the PSU).
3) For the case its either get a new one, or hammer it back to be roughly where it should be (Id hate to think how it got to that state though, my Mac Pros handles seem pretty firmly attached).
Just my 2c.

Exactly how corrosive is the coolant? I repair a lot of water damaged phones, and occasionally I get a few that are so corroded that components fall off the board with a slight tap. Is it anything like that?

 

[MacHamster68]

corrosive is a understatement for coolant liquid in the G5 with LCS
just look this website and it gets clear what a coolant leak can cause
and is what could be descriped as minor damage caused
http://rknochenmuss.ch/G5leak/G5.html(site might take a while to load so be patient )

 

[rickvanr]

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Take it to your closest apple store. You may have just gotten a $55 Mac pro. Because it was a coolant leak, my old g5 was repaired free of charge, the repairs didn't fix it, so I was given a like model from the current models

 

[chrismacguy]

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Take it to your closest apple store. You may have just gotten a $55 Mac pro. Because it was a coolant leak, my old g5 was repaired free of charge, the repairs didn't fix it, so I was given a like model from the current models

When did you take it in, because I was under the impression they stopped this when AppleCare ran out on the latest models (2009 or so) - Now they dont have to so are likely to give him nothing, since the G5 is 5 years old (at least), so its well outside any form of warranty or extended repair offered by Apple.

 

[rickvanr]

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True. This was a year and a half ago, but it too was the dual 2.7 and 3 and a half years out of standard warranty

 

[chrismacguy]

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True. This was a year and a half ago, but it too was the dual 2.7 and 3 and a half years out of standard warranty

Yeah, you wouldve been right at the very end of the repair program (3 years after the last one was sold, which was August 09 or thereabouts), Im pretty sure youd be well out of luck now - with the machines being basically far too old (5 years or so).

 

[MacHamster68]

apple has a tendency with extension repair schemes to make final points after which they just dont care any more if you bought a computer from them with clearly faulty parts , best example had been the iMac g5's from 2004
which had clearly fauty parts fitted (bad capacitors )by apple, but apple never did recall any, just quietly offered a repair extension up to 2008 for people who had been lucky!!! that their iMac broke down within that time and clever enough to search for the extension program and clearly did mention this program on the phone, as some even had to pay for the repair within that repair extension scheme because they did not know about the scheme and did not search google for it when their iMac broke down

 

[chrismacguy]

apple has a tendency with extension repair schemes to make final points after which they just dont care any more if you bought a computer from them with clearly faulty parts , best example had been the iMac g5's from 2004
which had clearly fauty parts fitted (bad capacitors )by apple, but apple never did recall any, just quietly offered a repair extension up to 2008 for people who had been lucky!!! that their iMac broke down within that time and clever enough to search for the extension program and clearly did mention this program on the phone, as some even had to pay for the repair within that repair extension scheme because they did not know about the scheme and did not search google for it when their iMac broke down

The reason for this is it tends to be 3 years after they sold the last one or close to that, so in effect they were planning to have the parts available under AppleCare anyway, then they tend to stop really caring as the machine is old enough to "justify" a new machine in their eyes.

 

[rickvanr]

Yeah, you wouldve been right at the very end of the repair program (3 years after the last one was sold, which was August 09 or thereabouts), Im pretty sure youd be well out of luck now - with the machines being basically far too old (5 years or so).

Yeah, this was the beginning of December, so I guess just a little over a year ago. At least call Apple, see what they say. As soon as I said coolant leak, they transferred me, and starting setting up an on site repair, when they found out I lived outside of the their coverage for on site repair, they set up a genius appointment at the closest Apple Store for me. It was all pretty painless.

 

[MacHamster68]

The reason for this is it tends to be 3 years after they sold the last one or close to that, so in effect they were planning to have the parts available under AppleCare anyway, then they tend to stop really caring as the machine is old enough to "justify" a new machine in their eyes.

yes normally i would say yes after 5 years its time for a new one , but is it not a bit arrogant from apple to decide :
"yes we know its our fault that your Mac broke down now , we did fit the faulty part and Knew it would break sooner or later , unlucky for you the time you could get it repaired under our repair extension scheme has run out ,
yes we know you payed a lot for it , but hey its anyway outdated now and and would be useless for modern computing anyway even if it would still work ,but don"t worry we offer you graciously to buy a new Mac without discount "

 

[chrismacguy]

yes normally i would say yes after 5 years its time for a new one , but is it not a bit arrogant from apple to decide :
"yes we know its our fault that your Mac broke down now , we did fit the faulty part and Knew it would break sooner or later , unlucky for you the time you could get it repaired under our repair extension scheme has run out ,
yes we know you payed a lot for it , but hey its anyway outdated now and and would be useless for modern computing anyway even if it would still work ,but don"t worry we offer you graciously to buy a new Mac without discount "

and this has stopped them before?? *points at white iBook G3 with Graphics issue that they wouldnt fix as the extension for it had run out*

 

[MacHamster68]

yes , i bought a iBook G4 1.42 ghz last year , i was so happy i did find a example that was literally in as new condition with not even a hairline scratch on it anywhere with brandnew battery and charger ,and more important not the usual graphics issue caused by bad solder which most iBooks suffer from , used it 2 month then suddenly one day it made pffffop noise and smoke came out of the vents after opening it to see if i could possibly rescue it ,the Logicboard looked in places like there was a nuclear blast inside and beyond repair , its not quiet as common as the bad solder, but after a couple hours google happens to some and apple does not acknowledge it as a fault if the iBook is exploding inside if you are out of apple care

 

[chrismacguy]

yes , i bought a iBook G4 1.42 ghz last year , i was so happy i did find a example that was literally in as new condition with not even a hairline scratch on it anywhere with brandnew battery and charger ,and more important not the usual graphics issue caused by bad solder which most iBooks suffer from , used it 2 month then suddenly one day it made pffffop noise and smoke came out of the vents after opening it to see if i could possibly rescue it ,the Logicboard looked in places like there was a nuclear blast inside and beyond repair , its not quiet as common as the bad solder, but after a couple hours google happens to some and apple does not acknowledge it as a fault if the iBook is exploding inside if you are out of apple care

Exactly, in a way Im glad I didnt go for a consumer portable then, and instead went with PowerBooks till I got my MacBook (I needed the higher resolution - I cannot work on less than 1280*800 in OS X - in 9 I can, but I just cant do it in X for some reason).

 

[raysfan81]

When did you take it in, because I was under the impression they stopped this when AppleCare ran out on the latest models (2009 or so) - Now they dont have to so are likely to give him nothing, since the G5 is 5 years old (at least), so its well outside any form of warranty or extended repair offered by Apple.

Not exactly. I found this on the xler8yourmac page reguarding leaking G5's.

(From Nov 13th, 2010 mail and Dec. 7th follow-up)
"My Dual 2.7 G5 just went down. I followed the advice on your page and contacted AppleCare. It was escalated to a safety specialist when I mentioned concerns over the electrocution hazard. I was told I'd get a phone call back in a few days regarding Apple's resolution. The next day, I got a call back advising me to bring it to the nearest Apple store or repair facility, and the repairs would be free under an "exception code" noted to my serial number. I dropped the machine off today (at a NYC Apple Store), and the Genius Bar wrote up an estimate for Ê$3,185.76 in estimated repairs, with $0.00 due (free). They advised me that it's standard for Apple to try to fix the machine, but with the cost to repair exceeding the cost to replace, Apple may simply provide me with a new machine free. We'll see what happens, and I'll update you with information as I hear more. I have both a Case ID number and Repair number I can provide, after I get resolution.

(And a later follow-up mail on Dec 7th, 2010)
Just an update... today I got a call from my local Apple Store, and they've opted to REPLACE the machine at their cost, with the base model MacPro ($2,499 one). It took 3 weeks to get to this point, but I'll be walking away with a new machine free. I've opted for the 8-core, so I'll be paying the difference ($1,000).

it's pretty amazing to me that the machine is replaced free, 5.5 years after purchase. Your page was invaluable to me in gathering the information for Apple to have a successful outcome.
Thanks, Mike I."

That was just 2-3 months ago.

 

[chrismacguy]

Not exactly. I found this on the xler8yourmac page reguarding leaking G5's.



That was just 2-3 months ago.

well done Apple - Theyve certainly given up in the past on consumer machines, however Im assuming this is because the PowerMacs cost a fortune, so its only right for them to fix the LCS (New Machines being cheaper now - and a Quad 2.8 MP is probably 5-6x faster at least)

 

[raysfan81]

well done Apple - Theyve certainly given up in the past on consumer machines, however Im assuming this is because the PowerMacs cost a fortune, so its only right for them to fix the LCS (New Machines being cheaper now - and a Quad 2.8 MP is probably 5-6x faster at least)

Yeah it is quite impressive that they still try to fix them. I would love to get a free mac pro from a broken G5 but I'm not dishonest.

 

[rickvanr]

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well done Apple - Theyve certainly given up in the past on consumer machines, however Im assuming this is because the PowerMacs cost a fortune, so its only right for them to fix the LCS (New Machines being cheaper now - and a Quad 2.8 MP is probably 5-6x faster at least)

Yeah it is quite impressive that they still try to fix them. I would love to get a free mac pro from a broken G5 but I'm not dishonest.

What exactly would be dishonest?

 

[chrismacguy]

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What exactly would be dishonest?

Purchasing a dead G5 on purpose wouldnt be "dishonest" just not perfectly morally sound (incredibly tempting however).

 

[calderone]

Yeah it is quite impressive that they still try to fix them. I would love to get a free mac pro from a broken G5 but I'm not dishonest.

Purchasing a dead G5 on purpose wouldnt be "dishonest" just not perfectly morally sound (incredibly tempting however).

Chances are Apple would want proof that you originally bought the machine.

 

[rickvanr]

How does buying it working on not working affect anything? It's still their product either way

Dishonest would be loosening a clamp or poking a small hole in one of the hoses for the liquid cooling.

Just because person A is doesn't care/ too lazy to take the machine in for service doesn't make person B dishonest.

Chances are Apple would want proof that you originally bought the machine.

If you bought a 6 month old MacBook it still has 6 months of AppleCare. Warranty should be transferable

 

[MacHamster68]

hm i guess we will now see a run on dead PowerMacs , all trying to get a new MacPro from apple

sounds tempting buying a totally dead PowerMac G5 2.5 or 2.7 for about £100 and getting it exchanged at the apple store against a brandnew £2041 MacPro.. i guess thats a reason why apple is closing these repair schemes before they get public

 

[chrismacguy]

hm i guess we will now see a run on dead PowerMacs , all trying to get a new MacPro from apple

sounds tempting buying a totally dead PowerMac G5 2.5 or 2.7 for about £100 and getting it exchanged at the apple store against a brandnew £2041 MacPro.. i guess thats a reason why apple is closing these repair schemes before they get public

Well, at least before the machines get too cheap....