Strong smell almost like burning rubber or plastic

Christopher:

Unless you're far away from an Apple store or a bona fide repairer, why would you want to do it yourself. My experience at an Apple store has been very good-anywhere from a few hours to the next day only because I didn't want to go back the same day to pick up the computer.
Apple is not keen on do it yourself jobs anymore. I agree with that but I'm close to two Apple stores.

Christopher,


I too am having a similar issue with Apple ...

Not so much with a faulty fan, but with my Ambient Light Sensor 20" iMac G5 power supply issue ....

My machine started randomly switching itself off without warning last week. As it is only 9 months into it's 1 year warranty, I called Apple here in Auckland City, New Zealand and was advised to take it into my closest Apple Service Centre. I was then told it will take up to 2 weeks to have it tested and if needed, replace the PSU. My serial number falls into the range of iMacs with power supply & video issues, which are posted on the Apple website ...

I am disappointed I will be without a machine for so long (I live in the city area close to 5 Apple Resellers & Service Centers) - and as it's my only means of income being a graphic designer, I have had to purchase an external 250GB HDD to back up all my stuff and also hire another machine at my expense to get by in the interim until my machine is returned ... a total of $550 (one 6th of the machines local purchase price) ... none of which is refunded or subsidised by Apple.

Apparently my replacement PSU is not kept on the shelves here in New Zealand, and must be ordered from Australia in accordance with the 'case no' as allocated to my machine's specific serial number - why that takes up to 2 weeks to send across to NZ is beyond me. Sydney to Auckland is only 3 hours by airmail ...

I would expect Apple to calculate how many machines were sold in this country (per the serial no range) and locally store any replacements parts at Apple Head office here in Auckland, to minimise any wait time to it's customers. It seems with this 'Power Supply' issue, that it's not a question of 'if' but 'when' these units are going to fail - and Apple should be bettered prepared for that - Maybe it's better in the State's & Canada but here in New Zealand - the level of service & wait times is appaling - not to mention the 'attitude'.

Christopher, I am sorry you have had 2 serious issues with your machine, I know what it feels like to pay good money for 'Apple Care' & receive 'less than that' at the other end ... .... this is my second gripe with Apple (I went through the iBook logic board extension repair program & lost close to $2,000 before Apple acknowledged the 'fault' on it's websites worldwide, but by then it was already too late and the 'damage' had been done as I was forced to sell my machine for spare parts) ...

... & wherever you are geographically to your nearest Apple Service Centre is irrelevant - they should be offering you true 'Apple Care' because that's what you've paid for !! Keep your cool & stick to your guns - if you are not completely happy with any level of service by Apple & it's subsidiaries, then exercise your rights as a consumer and demand a replacement machine or a refund.

And I urge others who are experiencing unnecessary wait times from Apple regarding the Power Supply debacle to post your comments in reply to Christopher's thread ....

Best of luck to you ....

Macfinger
Auckland City
New Zealand

Christopher...curious as to what indicates the upper fan as the problem >no spin?<

Strong smell..burning rubber..plastic..sounds like the power supply....mine smelled the same...a real stinker..everything funnels out the exhaust port

hope you sort things out

Unless you're far away from an Apple store
or a bona fide repairer, why would you
want to do it yourself

Time out of service variability, security & preservation of the data on the Mac, convenience?

I'm 25 minutes from the nearest Apple Store ... if traffic is optimal, as much an hour & a half at other times. Double that for round trips, double it again for pickup after dropping it off.

For simple repairs, it is hard to beat having the part delivered to my door.

Christopher:

"After installing the new fans". I thought Apple wouldn't send you the fans? Power supply? That is easy to change. Why go to an Apple store? If Apple sent you the fans which it seems from you 3/28/06 post, you should get the power supply and put it in youself. But going to the Apple store is a good idea because your problem may include the midplane. My version A had two repairs: a midplane and a video card and power source the second time. Both were done within one day. Although I thought the video card could not be changed separately from the midplane. Anyway, it has been working with no further problems. The iSight is fine so far.

FWIW, the root of most of the revision A iMac G5 problems is substandard capacitors in the power supply. How they got there is an interesting story, involving industrial espionage in the Far East. You can read about it, & its far ranging effects on many companies at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_Plague

Apple certainly should & probably will 'step up to the plate' but the extent of the problem has caused shortages of parts that may make it a bit more difficult to do so than one might otherwise expect.