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iMac doesn't start

I know that there are probably a million posts about this, however, mine didn't relate to any of them except for in the fact that the computer doesn't turn on.


I have recently acquired a Slot-loading bondi-blue 350 MHz iMac. This beautiful machine had a little problem when I got it, the power button was pressed in. I have no idea how long it had been stuck like that.

I disassembled the bottom and fixed the power button. When I went back to turn the machine on, nothing. The light doesn't come on, the screen doesn't flicker, speakers don't crackle, the only sound of life, is the sound that older CRT TVs make when you turn them on, but it's a bit quieter. I guess some people call that sound "electronics expanding."


To avoid the obvious, I have dont the PMU reset, I have removed and replaced all the RAM, I have removed and replaced the AirPort Card. It isn't the hard drive because I hooked that up to my MacBook Pro via an external case and it worked fine. I haven't tried the battery change because I have only had it a day and I do not know where to get those batteries (and if that will fix my problem).


Do any of you have any ideas as to how to fix this issue?

iMac, Mac OS 9.2.x, G3 350Mhz 192MB Ram CD Slot-loading

Posted on Jun 3, 2011 6:22 AM

Reply
22 replies

Jun 3, 2011 7:05 AM in response to babilinski

It may be a PAV board issue. the pav board is what runs the monitor it is more then likely the flyback transformer on the pav board. the flyback gives the hi power to run the crt monitor in your imac. when you turn on your imac it does a POST test (Power On Self Test) and if it is a PAV board issue the computer will not come on. when it trys to turn on the crt it did not pass the POST and the computer turns off😟 This is not a easy or inexpensive fix.

and this is a common problem for These imac g3's😟

Jun 3, 2011 7:18 AM in response to Mac Man JW

I'm going to buy a new battery just to make sure. It's just that with the PAV most of the symptoms from anybody are at least some sign of life. Where as this machine shows no signs. Do you know what I mean? Any articles that I have read usually have the iMac spontaneuosly come to life when the power button is pressed randomly. What could be the signs of a dead battery? What would be the signs of the PAV board?

Jun 3, 2011 7:28 AM in response to babilinski

Battery,could be a lot of stuff. not coming on may be one of them. i have a iMac g3 Indio 500mhz with a dead pram batt. and it works fine just not the time. now the PAV the computer comes on you may here a crt sound and then the computer gos off right after crt sound. the 1 time the computer is pluged in the monitor comes on before anything else and if the crt does not pass the POST the computer will turn off😟

babilinski wrote:


I'm going to buy a new battery just to make sure. It's just that with the PAV most of the symptoms from anybody are at least some sign of life. Where as this machine shows no signs. Do you know what I mean? Any articles that I have read usually have the iMac spontaneuosly come to life when the power button is pressed randomly. What could be the signs of a dead battery? What would be the signs of the PAV board?

Jun 3, 2011 8:00 AM in response to babilinski

hope that works for you😉 $30 is a good price for a g3 imac just to let you know🙂 try to go for a 450MHZ+ imac if you get another imac so you can do more stuff on it. but 350mhz is a very good deal for free😉 if you do get another imac g3 you can use the battery for that one🙂 because most imac g3's batterys only last 3 years and far less if not plugged in.

Jun 3, 2011 11:13 AM in response to Mac Man JW

Well, I got the new battery. You were right, this didn't help. I am guessing that it is the faulty PAV board. This is a total bummer for me. I hope that I can get my hands on a Graphite one or another of the higher end slot-loaders. I still find it weird that it recognizes my iMac keyboard and let's me use the built-in power key to start. It makes the degaussing sound no matter weather it is the keyboard power button or the actual power button.


Is there anything else that this could possibly be? I don't want to lose hope yet.

Jun 3, 2011 11:41 AM in response to babilinski

Try resetting the PMU on your imac. (i seen you did this but did you have your imac pluged in when you reset the PMU?) put your imac face down and you will see a door open the door and look for a little button press it. you will have to have your imac plugged in when you do this. i have a imac g3 first model ever made with a 233mhz g3 it had a bad pav board it did turn on with the key board and power button. but it only went as far as the crt sound😟 i had apple repair shop look at it and it wood have been $239 back in 2005 to fix the pav. i just called a repair shop 2 weeks ago to see if they can fix it and they do not have parts any more for any g3's iMacs😟 the slot loaders do not have fans so they eat ther own pav boards because of the heat😟 if you get a graphite the power button on the keyboard does not work with the faster imacs g3's. but you can turn it on from the power button on the imac🙂 some have a hissing sound when off if it has a bad PAV board. Please keep us posted🙂the graphite and indigo imac g3 work very good i have a 500mhz indigo i got after my 233mhz imac went🙂



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Jun 3, 2011 11:40 AM in response to Mac Man JW

As I said. All it does is make the CRT sound when I press the power button. This couldn't have resulted in overheating because this computer was working up until recently. The reason why these people were getting rid of it was because it was dated and becase the Power Button was pressed in and stuck in the "in" position.


I have tried the PMU with both the power cable in and without the power cable hooked in. As I said. I am not on the look out for a potential G3 model because this one has some awesome parts that could go into the "newer" one. The reason I am so deadset on this type of iMac is because I recently inherited a TON of Mac OS 9 software and all I have are intel Macintosh computers. Sheepshaver is alright but it crashes a lot and cannot update into 9.2 so it is pretty useless.

Jun 3, 2011 12:17 PM in response to babilinski


ok sorry about that! what i met is the heat over the years of use can make the pav fail😟 me my self got one from a flea market that was working at the flea market just fine and when i got it home no power😟i even had it setting on a pillow in the car so it was safe. these imac g3's are just like that😟 one min. they work one min. later they don't. try a new power cord mine is picky with some. look inside and you will see a big black transformer is it bulging or is the small wire off if it?⚠ be VERY careful and do Not bump it it can shock you VERY BADLEY even when unpluged⚠. i will try to help you get your imac working to the best of my knowledge. i love to try to help save a imac g3 g4 g5😉 Please keep us posted🙂

Jun 4, 2011 8:55 AM in response to babilinski

Hope the g4 works out for you🙂 however you may want to look in to it to see if the imac g4 takes the same size hard drive as a imac g3? it may be a laptop size hard drive (2.5in not 3.5in which the imac g3 takes) i do not remeber😟 if it is the same size you will be getting a very good computer😉 Please keep us posted🙂 ( i will look it up later today for you)🙂

iMac doesn't start

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