simichi

Q: searching temperature sensor

Hello,

I cannot use the Mac mini anymore because the fan is on full speed and kernel_task is on >300%.

I already ran a hardware test on my Mac Mini 2012 an it gave me the error 4SNS/1/C0000008: TAOP--124.

I already know that the error is the Ambient Temperature sensor but i haven't got any hint where it is located. Similar threads on forums are always about MacBooks.

Do you know wether this sensor is on the logic board or is it external? What sensors does the Mac mini 2012 has, is there a list?

Many thanks in advance

 

Michael

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Jun 21, 2016 11:53 PM

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Q: searching temperature sensor

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  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Jun 22, 2016 12:41 AM in response to simichi
    Level 10 (189,580 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 22, 2016 12:41 AM in response to simichi

    First try to eliminate the high kernel task usage

    Problem with Kernel Task - El Capitan

    Kernel_task is using over 600% of my CPU and slowing things down to a crawl!!!

     

    The use a app like SMC Fan Control or Macs Fan Control to manually control fan speed.

  • by simichi,

    simichi simichi Jun 22, 2016 1:06 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 22, 2016 1:06 AM in response to lllaass

    I already followed followed the instructions about the kernel_task as the high CPU usage was the first thing I recognized. Unforrtunatly my Model Identifier is not even listed in the kext, so this method had no success at all.

    After that I investigated about SMC and NVRAM/PRAM reset, also without success and discovered the Apple Hardware Test, which shows me the above mentioned error. In a Forum (sad it is about an Imac) I read that the error I have causes the high CPU Usage of the kernel_task and needs to be solved on the hardware side.

     

    About the sensor error i already know:

    -4SNS is sensor fault

    -TAOP:  identies the Temperature Ambient (TA), located in the optical drive (OP).

    -124 is the sensor identnumber.

    Mac Mini 2012 hast no optical drive anymore and in comparison to its predecessor it does also not have the external sensor on HDD anymore. So where could be my faulty sensor? Is there a hidden sensor in the SATA-Cable to the HDD? could it be the hardware itself and should it be changed?
    Also wondering that since my last restore ( the first thing i did in panic after the CPUusage fault came) the HardDisk isn't named MACINTOSH in the finder, it is now "no name". Could this be an indicator for al faulty HDD or HDD connection including its temp. sensor?

     

     

     

    Many Many Thanks in advance

  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass Jun 22, 2016 1:38 AM in response to simichi
    Level 10 (189,580 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 22, 2016 1:38 AM in response to simichi

    I Googled and could not find the location of the ambient temp sensor.

  • by simichi,

    simichi simichi Jun 22, 2016 1:40 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 22, 2016 1:40 AM in response to lllaass

    ..yes it seems to be very difficult to find information on this sensor on newer Mac devices.. Hope I finda solution soon

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jun 22, 2016 2:08 AM in response to simichi
    Level 6 (14,441 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 22, 2016 2:08 AM in response to simichi

    Not sure if a repair guide such as iFixit for the Mini would show the part;

    since sensors for the hard drive are among parts one could replace...

    Replacement parts suppliers should have a reference, if you found the

    correct location for this; a diagram or take-apart may show it.

     

    Good luck!

  • by simichi,

    simichi simichi Jun 22, 2016 2:21 AM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 22, 2016 2:21 AM in response to K Shaffer

    No the IFixit Guide doesn't show this sensor, I already considered contacting the author of the Teardown Guide but didn't find a way to do this.

    Where Can I find replacement-parts drawings for Mac ? Are they accessible  for the "public"?

  • by John Lockwood,

    John Lockwood John Lockwood Jun 22, 2016 5:32 AM in response to simichi
    Level 6 (9,349 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Jun 22, 2016 5:32 AM in response to simichi

    I have seen some slightly older Mac minis with sensors attached to the hard drives but clearly they don't count as the ambient sensor. I also found the following https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini_Late_2012#guideList which lists various step-by-step guides for taking apart and changing various parts in a 2012 model. Without viewing each I don't know if they may list the item you are looking for.

     

    Perhaps you will have to bite the bullet and pay Apple or a reseller to repair it.

     

    As usual in situations like this trying an SMC reset is worthwhile. See Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by den.thed,Helpful

    den.thed den.thed Jun 25, 2016 2:50 AM in response to simichi
    Level 7 (27,646 points)
    Jun 25, 2016 2:50 AM in response to simichi

    I'm seeing 2 Ambient sensors on my Late 2012 Mac Mini 6,1 using > MacsFanControl

     

    Screen Shot 2016-06-22 at 6.11.53 AM.jpg

     

    If you were to compare your list of sensors next to mine, it might tell us which sensor is not reporting and/or not reporting correctly. Unfortunatlly all the sensors are either built onto the logic board or into the different components which makes them non replaceable.


    It might also help us locate the problem, if we knew what type of work and/or upgrades were done...?

  • by simichi,

    simichi simichi Jun 22, 2016 9:29 AM in response to den.thed
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 22, 2016 9:29 AM in response to den.thed

    Thanks a lot for your answer.

    No upgrades were done so far, I am just about stripping the mac down to physically find a sensor by myself, but I can't find any.

    As soon as I reassembled the mac I try the program you showed my and we can compare. I hope the machine will be able to install a new program, at the moment it can hardly load the desktop and dock. Cursor is also very sluggish

  • by simichi,

    simichi simichi Jun 24, 2016 2:07 PM in response to den.thed
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 24, 2016 2:07 PM in response to den.thed

    This is a picture of my  Macs Fancontrol.

    no ambient sensor at all . what does this mean?

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-06-24 um 23.06.21.png

  • by den.thed,

    den.thed den.thed Jun 25, 2016 8:35 AM in response to simichi
    Level 7 (27,646 points)
    Jun 25, 2016 8:35 AM in response to simichi

    To be honest, I'm not exactly sure why the values for those sensors are missing...? I suspect that the problem is with either the SMC chip or the logic board.

     

    I think your best bet, is to find a good AASP and have them run a full diagnostics test.

    https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=aas p%20apple

  • by simichi,

    simichi simichi Sep 19, 2016 8:22 AM in response to simichi
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 19, 2016 8:22 AM in response to simichi

    finally Hard Disk replacement solved the issue