The iMac G5 Repair Extension Program for Video and Power Issues closed

That's a shame! My iMac G5 just started showing signs of the power problem: random shut-downs, won't start-up, turns off when sleeping. AppleCare said it would still be covered, but when I went to the Apple Store they said they couldn't help. Plus they couldn't identify if the problem was the power supple or the logic board. Now repairs cost more than buying the same model used on ebay.

Does anyone know how to make these repairs themselves? My computer is only four years old and shouldn't be ready for the trash yet!

"AppleCare said it would still be covered, but when I went to the Apple Store they said they couldn't help."

"My computer is only *four years old"*

If your AC is still in effect after 4 years then I would have advised AC what the AS told you. You could have taken the computer to your local AASP for repairs that AC authorized.

If in fact you are out of warranty, check out the following:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300205 iMac G5 DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Instructions


iMac G5 Take Apart Instructions



Mac G5 Parts & Repair Services

Hey,

I am wondering if i could get some advice in regards to this program. I knew that there were ongoing problems with this model of imac, but didn't know about the extension of the repair program that unfortunately just closed.

About a month ago one of our office machines had the dreaded logic board failure with crazy video issues. The machine had a logic board failure last year, literally two days before the apple care ran out, and so we got it replaced then. This time, though we figured that it was the logic board again, we took it in to a service center to make sure. As expected, they checked it out and said it was the logic board and it would be $700 + to replace it. we left it as is, and bought a new machine.

Now, I just saw this post about the Repair Extension Program and am honestly a little ticked off. If we went to an apple service center, and the machine we have is within the serial number range of eligible machines for this program, weren't they supposed to fix the machine? Like does the repair program only count if you know that you are eligible?

I'm planning on calling the shop and talking to someone about it, and maybe calling apple directly as well, but wanted to get some advice on this from the boards.

thanks

Actually, the program really ran out officially when the computer was three years old, but Apple extended it on a case by case basis for a while. It now seems that there will be no more extensions at all.

so does that mean calling apple and or the service center i went to is a dead end? or i just have to call and see what they say?

Trying never hurts, call and see what they say.

Lovely. Exactly one day before the third logic board on my iMac completely dies. Of course, the repair extension program wasn't all it was cracked up to be in the first place; replacing one faulty part with a new faulty part just delays the inevitable. I can forgive the first logic board failure, and appreciate that Apple was willing to replace it. However, the second and third logic board failures are inexcusable, and now Apple's official policy is apparently to give up on ever creating reliable, working components for the G5 iMac and hope there aren't enough G5 users left around to make a stink.

How long before I can just run OS-X on third-party hardware & skip paying more money for lower quality on Apple's hardware?

"now Apple's official policy is apparently to give up on ever creating reliable, working components for the G5 iMac"

Apple stopped making G5 iMacs for over 3 years now. Parts included.



"However, the second and third logic board failures are inexcusable,"

Apple agreed also. Which is why they offered to replace the faulty G5 iMacs w/an Intel iMac in quite a few cases.

That is weird. I started having similar problems with my Imac G5 about a week ago. Went through online support regarding a question with my mac going to sleep (pref's set at 3 hours) whenever it wanted. He went thru the disk utility with me (took forever to run) and said see if that helps. It didn't. now my mac is shutting off every 3 minutes. Just downloaded OS 10.5.6

OK, so they gave up on figuring out how to make a reliable G5 iMac three years ago, and now they've just decided they won't even replace broken faulty components with new faulty components.

Further, if Apple agreed that repeated parts failures were inexcusable, they should simply have supplied working, reliable replacement parts for the G5 iMacs; instead, so far as I can tell, they simply never made reliable parts for the G5 iMac. Apple hasn't yet been contacted regarding the third crash of this particular iMac; we'll see what their response is. Maybe you're right & they will agree that terminal hardware failures three times in four years is inexcusable; I'm not holding my breath, but who knows.

I just had an iMac G5 that had it's logic board replaced 5 weeks ago crash on us and ... has bulging capacitors.

This is a 2GHz model, no less. Not the known 1.6GHz series.

Just because the program has been "officially" ended doesn't necessarily mean you're out of luck. Apple can, and may, cover these repairs anyway.

My story: My Rev "A" from 10/04 had 2 power supplies replaced under the program. A few weeks ago it started crashing from sleep again. A week later, it started crashing while awake, then when restarted the screen was usually blank, sometimes normal, sometimes blank with horizontal streaks.

Took it to the Apple Store, they kept it for diagnosis. Called 2 days later, said it needed an inverter and LCD screen. Called 3 days after, said screen was OK, needed logic board. Before I could say it's not worth the $800 or more repair cost, they said they'd cover it!

Got it back today, with new inverter, logic board, and, yes, power supply #3. No charge! Amazing.

I'm guessing it was partly because of the misdiagnosis, but who knows?

As always, your mileage may vary!

All repairs performed by authorized Apple dealers and service providers are covered by a 90 part and labor warranty. It's difficult to believe you received a unit with defective capacitors, but it can be replaced at no charge under the terms of that warranty.

Interesting: I have a Refurbished Rev A 1.8 GHz '17 iMac G5 with Super Drive with 2 GBs of RAM that just experienced a logic board failure & Small Dog Electronics wants to charge me $400 to replace it: Again! Personally I don't trust them after they already replaced my first logic board with bad capacitors with yet another logic board with bad capacitors.

Without inspecting the logic board, it's impossible to verify your conclusions. But, Small Dog Electronics is an Apple authorized service provider, and is protected by Apple's service and repair provisions, as are you, by extension. As long as the replacement was within 90 days, they are obligated to replace your logic board under the terms of the 90 day parts and labor warranty, at no charge. Apple reimburses its dealers and service providers for such events, and provides the replacement logic board at no charge to them.

If, for some reason, you do not wish to return to that outlet for service but your machine remains in that 90 day window, you can take it to any authorized Apple dealer or service provider to deal with: it need not be the same company who initially performed the service under the terms of a warranty, AppleCare extension or a repair authorization extension. You may also simply contact AppleCare representatives at (800) APL CARE to arrange for service again.

If you believe that the service module last placed in your machine was then or is now defective, then you should be prepared to demonstrate that as best you can and as reasonably as you understand the matter with defective to capacitors, to an AppleCare supervisor. It's difficult to believe that an obviously defective board could or would have been used if a center received one from Apple, or that such a board developed this issue within 90 days of receipt. But, if it did in fact do so, the visible evidence is usually quite obvious.

If, however, the board was replaced for some reason outside the terms of its original warranty, any AppleCare coverage extension or applicable repair extension authorization, then your options are limited to returning to Small Dog Electronics. I must tell you that they have been in business for two decades, and have a reputation for resolving such matters amicably. Call and ask to speak to their service manager, and be prepared to outline the fact of your case. You don't provide enough information about the events to know if you're covered, but if standard Apple rules apply and you are, there should be no issue with resolving your current dilemma.