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

Mr. Lafferty is quite correct. It is, apparently, impossible to tell by visual inspection or testing of a new board whether the capacitors are bad. That's why, if you review this forum, you'll find a number of people who've had the board replaced twice (and a few, 3 times). That's why Apple provided the extra coverage -- extending the normal one year warranty to two or three years, and in some cases (including mine) even longer. I just had my 3rd power supply and first logic board replaced, at no charge, after 4 years and 3 months.

Certainly, neither Apple in general nor G5s in particular are perfect. But very few companies in my experience stand behind their products this well.

As Mr. Lafferty suggests, contact Small Dog or Apple. Don't be belligerent, just calmly explain your situation and ask what they can do to correct it.

If only it were that simple: according to the iMac G5 Repair Extension Program KB Article my Refurbished '17 iMac G5 1.8 GHz with Super Drive with 2 GBs of RAM doesn't qualify for the free one year warranty extension due to the fact that they failed to update the KB Article to include the Serial Number range of my particular '17 iMac G5 1.8 GHz with Super Drive. That's exactly why I filed the kernel panic bug report: hopefully Apple's Engineering will review it & make sure the KB Article gets updated soon.

Do you mean you've contacted Apple and/or Small Dog and been turned down (your posts don't say)? If not, try it!

Whoa, hold on…

There was never any 'free one year warranty extension' as you describe. If your serial number does not fall within the range of the machines covered by a three year repair extension authorization, then you never were covered. That program covered only select models within defined serial number ranges, and only for the symptoms described in the authorization, which were typically caused by the presence of defective capacitors. It was not a program which covered logic board or power supply failures for which other symptoms were obvious.

There is a second program, not associated with that specific repair authorization or that range of serial numbers, which covered other, later machines with a specific EMC code on the product label. That REA program, which may have covered your machine, ended in December of 2008.

If your machine was repaired in the last 90 days, the standard Apple parts and labor warranty for service applies. It was not covered by the earlier repair extension discussed here, as you've stated that it's our of range. It may, or may not, have once been covered by the second REA program, which has since expired. That program covered only specific 20 inch models with a particular EMC code, and only applied to replacements of the power supply, not the logic board.

So, you've apparently got an 'apples vs oranges' argument here. That leaves you falling back on the 90 day coverage matter, and—if you are outside that window—leaves you with no coverage.

hmm, this discussion here isn't making me feel too good. I just starting having issues with my G5 starting Thursday, January 15th after coming back from being out of town. I shut down the computer completely when I'm gone for a few days. I couldn't power it up, but did for a couple hours. Left it on when I went to sleep and it shut itself off over night. Since then, I got nothing except every so often the power light shows up. I disconnected all external and peripherals and nothing.

My G3 lasted 6 years...

I've got a appointment with the Genius Bar on Tuesday, but I'm guessing I might have to think about replacing it. Hopefully, that won't be the case as I'm not prepared to replace a computer after 3.5 years!

wish I had known about this, but since my Applecare ran out in July 2008...all I can do is hope for the best, eh?

at least I upgraded the G5 to Leopard and have been running Time Machine for about a month or so, and I've got my macbook pro (my work computer) to hold me over.

sigh....

Yeah, it's time to think about it. But don't assume the worst yet. It may not be major. I think the power supply replacement runs about $200, and if that's what it is, that's not too bad for 3.5 years.

Thanks, I'm hoping that's all it is. I realize I need to do better maintenance of it, and it wants to start up. I'm just thankful I got it back up for a few hours the other night and I'm fairly certain another time machine backup ran.

If I didn't have the work macbook...I'd be more unhappy and going through withdrawal.

I can't get an appointment at the genius bar until Tuesday morning, which should be interesting since here in Arlington we've got the influx of the rest of the country for Inauguration day!

Eeek! I don't envy you that. Hope you know the back way!

ha! thankfully, I get to stay on this side of the Potomac and my work is closed for the next couple days. no matter, between home, work and the coveted Apple Store (which is just a block or two from work), I'm within 3 miles of all.

I'm watching the festivities on TV in the warmth of my home. Better site lines that way!! 🙂

I have had similar problems with my iMac....power shutting off, not coming back on. I took it to the local Apple store last year and they mis-diagnosed it as "Sleep settings".

I continued to have problems and have taken it back to the same Apple store, where they now tell me it is a power supply issue and charged me $180 to fix it.

I now read these posts with dismay, especially when I see there were known issues and a repair program that was closed in December!!

Does anyone have any CONTACT INFO for HOW to communicate with Apple management? There are no links anywhere on the apple website for Complaints.

call Apple Tech Support again and ask them for the Customer Service phone number. That's where you can lodge your complaint.

Apple Customer Relations - 800-767-2775

So in other words, those of us who just learned of this problem are S.O.L.

I bought my G-5 on December 13th off Craigs List. Previous owner stated no problems. When it over-heated and kept going to sleep the first week I had it, he told me he had never had this problem. I took it to an autherized apple service place and was told this computer had been serviced for this problem under the recall already.

I'm still using my Imac i purchased in 1999! I was foolishly thinking following apple products would be as good. I am so very deeply disappointed.

I am a small business owner, just trying to keep things afloat. Didn't need this.

LaPotter wrote:
So in other words, those of us who just learned of this problem are S.O.L.

I bought my G-5 on December 13th off Craigs List. Previous owner stated no problems. When it over-heated and kept going to sleep the first week I had it, he told me he had never had this problem. I took it to an autherized apple service place and was told this computer had been serviced for this problem under the recall already.

I'm still using my Imac i purchased in 1999! I was foolishly thinking following apple products would be as good. I am so very deeply disappointed.

I am a small business owner, just trying to keep things afloat. Didn't need this.

I sympathize, but suspect your real problem is with the previous owner's claim. Had you bought it from an actual dealer, it likely would have cost more, but perhaps there would have been at least a 90-day warranty, no?

Still, these machines are now at least 4 years old. Apple has repaired many of them well beyond their published 1-year warranty. You don't say what your small business is, but let me ask you ... How long do you guarantee your products or services, especially to someone who then bought it second-hand?

You need to be deeply disappointed in the conduct of the party who sold you this machine, and not in the Apple brand or its conduct as a company. Seriously: craigslist?

And, the evident misrepresentations of a 'private seller' are somehow the responsibility of Apple to deal with?