Failure Code 4MOT/1/40000003: HDD?

I would not leave a machine running any longer than a second once the error code registers. It says something is wrong with the hardware that needs immediate supervision by an authorized service center.

I hope you have AppleCare as you need a new drive.

My personal experience is that the drive starts to go bad WITHOUT any error messages. When you start getting error messages it is quite close to death.

I've been getting an errorcode like that since I bought my 20" iMac last year. Mine is 4MOT/1/40000003: HDD -1346. (the number increases if I leave the machine running longer) In my case it just means AHT thinks the HDD fan is spinning too fast, if I check the RPM of my HDD fan it's also around 1346. If I run AHT when the machine has been turned off for a while it always passes.

I would too if it was something serious. But this error code only appears after the machine has been on for a while, and the numbers at the end are almost exactly the same as the RPM istat pro reports. So my guess is that the standard AHT value is around 1300 RPM and reports an error if it goes beyond that. AHT isn't always the most reliable tool around, it's been having issues of it's own like with the Mac Pro quad-core:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2081?viewlocale=en_US

My Mac Classic II didn't come with an AHT, but it still works.

That 1 through 4 value is at the end of the error on the knowledgebase article.
You only have a number code at the beginning of your error code. I suspect the error code in your error is for something different. Note it says that the 3.222 is the value that varies. Since you don't have any value, either it is zero, which would definitely be below 1, as suggested, or a totally different error numbering system for that component.

My Mac Classic II didn't come with an AHT, but it still works.

Your Mac Classic II was a much less complicated machine, only able to take less than 1/10th the RAM, and less than 1/1000th the hard drive space, and requiring less than 1/200th the clock speed on at most 2 cores (the FPU being its own processor, and the GPU being run through a simple videoRAM chip).

Machines have gotten a lot more complicated, so a lot more can go wrong. It is remarkable that they work at all given how more complicated they are.

I do have a number at the end, it's always something like 4MOT/1/40000003: HDD -1346, the -1346 varies. Like I said before, my guess is that this value represents the RPM of the HDD fan. My HDD fan is now running at 1317 RPM, if I'd run AHT right now it would probably report an error code also around -1317. I don't think that's a coincidence. I've never had any issues with my iMac, AHT always passes after a cold boot so I don't think this is a big deal, or maybe even an AHT flaw. If ithe value was -5000 I would worry. But maybe I'm wrong, time will tell.

I just went through this whole ordeal with my iMac. SMART status on my drive was showing good. I had the AHT failure code
4MOT/1/40000002:HDD.

I replaced my HD first because I thought that was the most likely the problem -I also needed more HD space anyways so I used this as an excuse for a new purchase. After new HD install, I still got the same error. Later, I put the old HD back in just to test it again, and this time the SMART status was failing. So it was good I got a new drive anyways.

Next, I bought a HD blower fan and replaced it. I ran AHT and everything passed with flying colors. iStat pro shows the HDD fan speed is around 1200 rpm.

So I'd make sure to keep recent backups of your HD or replace it as well as your HD fan.

I'm not gonna replace my HD because of some cryptic AHT error code. A HD is a device that spins at 7200 rpm, it could fail with or without warning, after a five days or five years. That's just the way it is. Most drives die because of excessive cooling, the lubricants inside work better at at higher temperatures. If AHT could detect if there is someting wrong with a HD, why does Apple install it on a hidden HD partition? That doesn't make any sense.

Hi. Did you ever find out what this code really means? Did you take your mac in for service? I just started having the same symptoms you described. I ran AHT and got the same failure code. Just wondering if you could shed a little light. Hopefully you solved your problem and can help me.
Thanks.

Interested to know how to find the KB you mentioned. I'm Having this problem also.

At first I suspected the HDD, but I have ruled it out. The behavior of my machine had become sluggish and sporadic over the last month. This week it became nearly useless. It would "pinwheel" for no reason. A right-click would result in a five-minute "pinwheel." It would be completely unresponsive. It would freeze during burning or just copying files.

I've run a handful of Utilities like on the HD like OnyX. All things say "OK."
I ran AHT and get the following errors at different times:
4MOT/1/40000003: HDD-1333
4MOT/2/40000004: HDD-1350
4HDD/11/40000002: SATA (0,0)

Most of what I have read in various forums suggested the fans and temperatures. So, I ran "temp monitor" and noticed some alarming temperatures. The HDD in particular was reading 176F^. So I conclude that I lost a fan. Thus I ran smcFanControl and ramp the fans up one at a time. They all sound good and I can detect wind around the machine.

Now it was "crunchy" and very frustrating to get the apps to start even after shutting the machine down to let it cool. However, once the fans started to run, temp monitor reported significant cooling and the machines behavior straightened up IMMEDIATELY.

Something has been degrading over a longer period of time because, actions by the machine were more crisp and more responsive than they had been in a much longer period. I ran photoshop and tried to force a crash. Nope. Like new.

OK, so what is the issue? If I drop out fan control, the machine gets sick and dies?

I Just Bought A iMac With No Warranty online . And Im Getting And Error Message.

Apple Hardware Test:

Last Run: 1/20/10 3:57 PM
Version: 3A111
Test Suite: Extended Test
Loop Count: 2
Result: Failed
Failure Code: 4MOT/1/40000002: CPU

Could it Be The Hard Drive ?

The iMac Is 3Years Old.

Message was edited by: elboricua787

not sure if you have resolved issue but it is most likely the CPU fan that is failing

Message was edited by: Richdave

I started getting the following error last week. My iMac has froze on me 2-3 times so far

4MOT/1/40000003:HDD-1400

No clue what it means but system still works.

If it starts with 4MOT it's a motor (fan) error

If it ends in HDD it relates to the HDD fan, if it ends with CPU it relates to the CPU fan, If it ends with ODD it relates to the ODD (DVD) fan

The number at the end is the actual rpm for the fan.

This error is generated if the actual fan speed is outside the +/- 10% allowance for the target speed.

HIH

Edited by: Richdave