eMac freezes randomly, open window turns into broken up jibber

I was very impressed by the service provided by Apple even though a large number of users have complained about Apple's response to this problem. I contacted Apple via their contact us details provided at the bottom of their homepage and they have offered to replace my logic board free of charge. I can only thank Apple for their excellent service and their commitment to their customers. I am more convinced than ever that I made the right choice by buying an Apple.

Thank you Apple.

I'm sitting at the Genius Bar where they just told me the price to fix my eMac with the burst caps is $670.07, but refused to replace the logic board for me.
Oh well.
Maybe you guys would have better luck.
This is a problem that Apple really needs to fix.

Hi grim fellow victims!

An issue VERY important to me is how long can eMacs with this disease last? Are there any reports of further/gradual performance degradations past the damage to the video chip cause by the bad capacitors? Can anyone guess a life span after dumping the Radeon extensions? Will my combo CD stop playing DVDs (think it has already)? What bad signs should I be on the lookout for? Any hints will balm my nerves. This eMac's the only WP I have right now, and I can't afford the insane repair rates.

Tru


iMac 700 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Hi Trudi,

With the ATI's disabled, you can't watch DVDs, so that probably explains the drive issue.
Best as I could guess, people have been running in SafeMode/without ATI extensions since Jan/Feb when the problem was first starting to show, and are presumably still operating in that diminished mode. If you only need WP'ing, then you'll probably get by for a while.

As per my new post on the main board - EVERYONE call Apple.
Maybe we should arrange for everyone with badcaps to call Apple on the 1 day (some Powerbook users were going to do the same for a problem/s they're having).

im all for that callin on a set day!...maybe this is a long shot, what about contacting some sort of news source?...and maybe we should creat a new another forum specifically for our serial numbers (which i have yet to post) that way no one can touch it...or make it disappear...also i can't seem to get my eMac into to safemode...what gives?...

i hope all this gets around fast!

M.

Klocket, turn your eMac off, then turn it on and hold down the SHIFT key until it says "SAFE MODE" on the screen. That will disable the ATI extensions, also disables sound, but as a trade-off should hopefully help with the freezes.

I tried to set up a forum for serial numbers over at MacFixIt, but it's kind of been side-tracked a bit. Now the problem is that the more forums you start, you are fragmenting the "audience" so to speak - namely those with the badcap eMacs.

As for the media... I don't think they'd be interested unless someone from a school with hundreds of failing eMacs were to speak out. I know for a fact that there is at least 1 such person over at the Macfixit forum.

Add my name and computer to the list

Corey Fuller
Serial Number: G8435AB9QQJ

Well, I finally got around to opening up my eMac at work (Computer Services). One capacitor is definitely bulging at the top - it's visible, but you can also feel it - and the other looks like it's bulging but it's not as visible. There are a couple brown specks, but I don't think there's any leakage yet.

I'll try emailing Steve and see if that gets a positive response.

My eMac, serial # YM4449U4QJ8 purchased in Jan 2005 at Apple Store Millenia Orlando FL is just starting the freeze symptoms in the DVD player.Ran hardware test then erased and reinstalled OSX 10.3.9 from installation disc. This didn't help,so is not a software problem. Plus the symptoms started at 1 year 4 months. Not under warranty. So It'll cost me $50-$100 just to find out if I need a motherboard ! Best advice if you own an eMac and are still under warranty buy the extended coverage now if you can. I'll make use of the short term fixes posted here, and contact Apple to add my voice to the cause.

emac 1.25Ghz G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Another 1.2 year old eMac to add to the list. Hard to believe after investing $1k USD on a fully loaded eMac a little over a year ago its not repairable (Apple Store estimates $650 for a repair).

Took the cover off the ram slot and sure enough, goo is on the outside of the capacitor... very frustrated.

Will be adding my serial number to the list at the MacFixit forums.

POW - Open up your RAM hatch and confirm that one or both of the capacitors there are bulging and/or leaking. Your purchase date seems to be past everyone else's, unless you got it used or refurbished or something.

The link with the list of serial numbers is here: http://www.macfixitforums.com/php/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=Forum11&Number=754025& page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&fpart=1&vc=1
Please, if you haven't already done so, go and post your S/N and add your support.

eMac 1.25GHZ (USB 2.0)
SN G84301UZQJ8

Capacitors leaking by RAM slot
fortunately, machine has Applecare

POW - although you purchased your eMac in 2005, the serial number says it was produced in 44th week of 2004, so around Nov/Dec, which puts it in the period that has so far been identified as potentially having badcaps.

As Jessica suggests, please open the inspection hatch on the belly of the computer and look at the 2 capacitors for signs of leaking (brown substance) and/or bulging.

As the period of affected eMacs ends around Dec04, if people didn't get the extended AppleCare, there's nothing they can do now as the initial 12months has expired.

Okay, I already posted my s/n in the other forum, but just wanted to say here as well that in Holland too I witness the same problem (eMac bought in January 2005, 1,25Ghz, 10.3.9). Have been posting quite a time on a dutch forum where no-one knew what the ** I was talking about. Now I finally have a clue due to this thread. Thanks and succes with the procedure...

My computer freezes to the point of having to turn off the comp by holding the power button like most of these others. However, my comp does not break into the jibber that many have stated. Does this mean that it is my logic board/bulging caps?
Most of the crashes have occured during high graphic programs ie. gaming dvds etc. however, it has crashed on a few web browsers. the crashing has not become consistent except when running the previous said high intensive graphic programs. Is there another explanation to tis problem? Im afraid of talking to support at apple after reading for several hours this thread. Like others my computer is only about 1.5 years old and a 1.25 GHz machine.
my serial # G84301GNQQJ