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elroySF Author

Level 1

6 points

Time Capsule Powered Off, Won't Power Back On

My Time Capsule was running just fine, then spontaneously just powered off by itself. All the other devices in the power strip were fine and I tried switching outlets, plugging it directly into the wall, and unplugging the TC and plugging the power cord back in. The network port lights in the back are out and the light on the front is dark. However, when I first plugged the cable back into the TC, the network lights came on for a split second. I'm guessing that there's a power connection fried (because if it were a power supply failure the lights would not have blinked on at all).

Any suggestions? Thanks!

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Aug 27, 2009 8:58 AM

1,343 replies

Global77

Level 1

0 points

Sep 16, 2009 9:16 AM in response to elroySF

Add me to the list. 1T TC purchased on 3.30.08. I was told by the genius that I was out of luck since it's out of warranty and I don't have applecare.

What about the people who use PC's. Does Apple only stand behind their products if you are an Mac owner. What a disgrace Apple...

Sep 16, 2009 3:20 PM in response to LaPastenague

Died again - couldn't recover anything - tried taking it to a Apple Authorized repair place and even they said it would void warranty if THEY opened it. According to them, there are no parts available for the time capsule, just a the entire device as a "part", which means you cannot order a replacement power supply if you want to DIY or get your repair guy to fix it so you can save your data.

Sep 16, 2009 3:23 PM in response to elroySF

Received my Applecare replacement Time Capsule today from Apple via FedEx. Shipping was fast - called them yesterday at noon, received it today just before noon. New unit working fine - not going to store anything on it except my Time Machine Backup.

Sep 16, 2009 4:16 PM in response to migs mclee

migs mclee wrote:
Died again - couldn't recover anything - which means you cannot order a replacement power supply if you want to DIY or get your repair guy to fix it so you can save your data.

If what you have on the TC is important, take it to an old fashioned TV/Electronics repairer.
You can print out or give them URL to repair instructions. Replacement of 3 caps is no biggie, if you have important data.
http://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/a-deconstruction-of-routers-and-modems /apple-time-capsule-repair/apple-time-capsule-repair-type2

Also the HDD can be removed and simply connected to a computer.

IMHO it should be called Time Bubble... and the non-removable hdd makes it a dead duck.

Sep 16, 2009 6:25 PM in response to elroySF

Got my device replaced with a new 1TB TC. No questions asked, but hey - I'm in the EU and we got laws for that kinda stuff. (Just like we do with healthcare, but I guess people like other rules in the more western parts of the world, haha.)

Sep 16, 2009 7:35 PM in response to elroySF

Please add me to the list. Had my 1TB TC for 16 month; came home tonight and it is dead. The power light will not come on. *** Apple? I spent $500 buck on this thing 16 months ago and now it dies? I bought a Time Capsule not an XBox! That's $31.25 a month; I'm better off paying for off site backup.

miehler

Level 1

0 points

Sep 16, 2009 10:51 PM in response to elroySF

Same thing here. My 1TB Time Capsule just died. It's almost 18 months old...

Sep 17, 2009 6:19 AM in response to elroySF

My 500GB Time Capsule of about the same age is powering off randomly and appears that it may give up the ghost soon. All the same symptoms of those mentioned below. *Apple, when are you going to acknowledge that there is a production flaw here, and recall these products?*

elroySF Author

Level 1

6 points

Sep 17, 2009 1:10 PM in response to bla, bla, bla

Apple ignores these boards. I encourage everyone to contact Apple directly to talk to them about this.

eflyer

Level 1

23 points

Sep 17, 2009 4:06 PM in response to LaPastenague

I tried the Type 2 repair and it appears to be successful. Thanks LaPastenague. I salvaged the caps from an old motherboard. Radio Shack didn't carry anything that will fit there and I didn't want to to wait another 10 days for Digikey parts.

Sep 17, 2009 5:17 PM in response to eflyer

Great stuff, glad you got it going again...

Without the fan mod it will happen again... and possibly more dire results, in that the hard disk will have been heat stressed as well as a lot of other less fragile components. As i tried to point out... you need to increase airflow and the fan mod is the only way I can see to do that... although even leaving off the rubber mat on the bottom and putting a large slow fan underneath could help.

blovatt

Level 1

4 points

Sep 19, 2009 6:02 PM in response to elroySF

I thought I'd add another dead time capsule to this long-*** list!

Mine is pretty new though -- ordered it from the apple store (us) on May 28, 2009 -- it died today - Sept 19, 2009... I'm still under warranty, so I guess I'll get a new one but I'm ****** at what a POS this $300 piece of equipment is!

I'm not sure this has anything to do with it, but I've seen it mentioned on some posts for this topic -- i upgraded to snow leopard about 4 days ago, but only one out of the 3 macs that regularly use this router (and only two of them use it for time machine).

I hope I don't get thrown out of the apple store tomorrow when I start yelling at the guy behind the counter 😉

Sep 20, 2009 2:55 AM in response to blovatt

My warranty for the time capsule expired on 16th Sept 2009 and the TC just goes Kaput. The green light is on but the Airport utility is not able to recognise the TC. My bad luck I guess. This is the first time I am have a problem with a Apple hardware.

ldzpmh

Level 1

0 points

Sep 20, 2009 8:14 AM in response to elroySF

Another one gone here. Usual pattern: 1TB model bought in March 2008, worked fine (24/7) until last week, when it just gave up the ghost.

Apple have surely got to do something about this - any replacement is just going to fail in another eighteen months or so.

Sep 20, 2009 8:48 PM in response to elroySF

Well, add me too. Today, my ~March 2008 500g TC died. The unit no longer powers up, and I do not see my wireless network. After the unit has been unplugged for a while and I plug it in, I see the green led flash for about 1/2 second. I think this means I have the bad caps and will attempt the repair type 2 detailed here

http://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/a-deconstruction-of-routers-and-modems /apple-time-capsule-repair/apple-time-capsule-repair-type2

Apple, Apple, Apple, you are testing my patience between this and the Google Voice iPhone App.

Time Capsule Powered Off, Won't Power Back On