iMac G3 Not Powering On.

Discussion in 'PowerPC Macs' started by Goftrey, Jun 3, 2013.

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  1. Goftrey, Jun 3, 2013

    Goftrey macrumors 68000

    Goftrey

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    #1
    I have used my Rev.A Bondi-Blue iMac for a good while now solely as a jukebox. It's been doing the same task flawlessly for months, day in, day out - until today.

    When the power cable is connected to the iMac, the computer (haven't located where abouts the noise is coming from) makes a very high pitched, tinnitus-like noise. Then, when I push the power button in - the noise becomes louder.

    I tried to record both a video & audio sample but the mic. just won't pick up the sound.

    There's no startup chime, fans, display. Nothing.

    Any ideas?
     
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  2. justperry, Jun 3, 2013

    justperry macrumors G3

    justperry

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    #2
    Sounds like a bad capacitor, probably in the power supply.
     
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  3. Lil Chillbil, Jun 3, 2013

    Lil Chillbil macrumors 65816

    Lil Chillbil

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    #3
    backing up justperry it does sound like a capacitor
     
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  4. Goftrey, Jun 27, 2013

    Goftrey thread starter macrumors 68000

    Goftrey

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    #4
    I finally got around to opening the iMac up & diagnosing the issues & it looks like you guys were right. A couple of leaking caps on the PSU board.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  5. Intell, Jun 27, 2013

    Intell macrumors P6

    Intell

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    #5
    Those black things with the yellow tops aren't capacitors, those are transformers. They're supposed to have that gunk on them. They extremely rarely go bad. The only ones that I know of going bad under normal use are the flyback ones.
     
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  6. Goftrey, Jun 27, 2013

    Goftrey thread starter macrumors 68000

    Goftrey

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    #6
    Oh! Well that's good news I guess.

    If it's not caps then what on earth could the issue be?
     
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  7. Intell, Jun 27, 2013

    Intell macrumors P6

    Intell

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    #7
    I would suggest replacing the power supply with a known good one or even all of its capacitors. Just make sure you get the right revision power supply. The tray loaders had two different power supply revisions.
     
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  8. Goftrey, Jun 28, 2013

    Goftrey thread starter macrumors 68000

    Goftrey

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    #8
    Just had a quick look around & it doesn't seem economical to buy the power supply as a part when you go & buy a fully working one for the same price or even cheaper.

    Guess I'll do something funky with it in the future. Thanks for the help :)
     
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  9. MisterKeeks, Jun 28, 2013

    MisterKeeks macrumors 68000

    MisterKeeks

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    #9
    If you have a multimeter handy I would try seeing if you can get any power out of the power supply.

    You might be able to get a very low wattage power supply and use it instead. I believe that the G3s had an 80 watt PSU.
     
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