iMac randomly shut down and burnt electrical smell

Question

iMac randomly shut down and burnt electrical smell

My iMac G5 (iSight) just shut down, I wasn't using it, it was sitting idle. I pressed the power button, nothing, so I reached back to unplugged it and there was a slight burning electrical smell. It wasn't real obvious just noticable. I plugged the computer back in and it started up fine. I ran the hardware test and everything passed and the smell went away. I'm just wondering if anyone recommends I do anything else. I just got the computer back monday, after the logic board failed and it wouldn't start up.

iMac G5 (iSight), Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Apr 5, 2006 8:07 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 5, 2006 9:12 PM in response to Roadrunner2348

It seems really odd that it would do that being just back from service. I would call Apple and see what they want to do. At least they could make a record of it on your previous case for you.

A lot of times a random shutdown like that is due to a problem with the power supply or on overheating issue.

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Answer 2

Apr 5, 2006 9:40 PM in response to Eric Kracinski

I downloaded iStat Pro and all temps seem normal all below 60 C except 2. The memory controller and the GPU both sitting around 80 C. Can anyone confirm that to be normal (17" iSight model)?

Thanks,
Justin

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Answer 3

Apr 6, 2006 5:57 AM in response to Roadrunner2348

My dad's G5 had the power supply go bad- got it replaced, and 3 wks later the filter capacitors bulged, and created the faint burning smell and random shutdowns. Matter of fact, the cap issue caused the hard drive to get totally messed up- had to do a massive recover op with 3rd party software (not disk warrior) so I could save all his photos and videos that existed nowhere else. (Now he's got a 300GB cloning drive) So... whichever hasn't been replaced- now needs to. Call AppleCare to get the problem noted and then take it in. Since dad had those 2 things replaced- problems have been non-existent.

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Answer 4

MGW

Level 7

27,047 points

Apr 6, 2006 7:42 AM in response to Roadrunner2348

Sounds like a classic case of imminent PSU failure. When you take it in, have them check the new logic board as well, the replacements have been known to fail as well. But first, please back up all your data, then call Apple and schedule the repair.

Let us know how you made out,
Miriam

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Answer 5

Apr 6, 2006 8:52 AM in response to Michael Kulakowski

Michael,

Which iMac does your dad have? Was it the 17" Rev A by chance?

I'm just curious because my wife's 17" (1.6GHz) Rev A just had the capacitors blow (the standard/common issue for those), and right before that (or during) the hard drive became hosed. I'm getting it back today from Apple with a new midplane/logic board.

I haven't heard about the caps blowing on more recent models, and haven't read any posts about hard drive corruption associated with the cap event other than yours (although I haven't extensively searched either) - although that's what I figured happened to this one as well.

Thanks,

-Ned

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Answer 6

Apr 6, 2006 9:50 AM in response to Roadrunner2348

As Eric already suggested call Apple & see what they want to do about it.

"there was a slight burning electrical smell."
"I just got the computer back monday, after the logic board failed and it wouldn't start up."
If it was my computer, I would be right back down at the repair shop along w/my computer & receipt.

I would NOT be taking my computer's tempature. Matter of fact, I wouldn't be using it at all if there was a slight burning electrical smell. You may be causing further damage.

G5 20' iMac w/iSight/Remote, 2.5GB RAM, 250GB HD Mac OS X (10.4.6) Pappi's New Bling Bling Toy!

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Answer 7

Apr 6, 2006 3:31 PM in response to MGW

I have been using the computer as little as possible, but unfortunately I have school work I have to finish and I don't have the option of not using it. The smell is completely gone and the computer has been acting perfectly normal when I have been using it. I made a apple store appointment for tommorow, in my experience the over the phone apple care people have been next to useless. When my computer would not start at all the first thing the guy told me was to install the latest updates on it. Even if you have almost zero knowledge of computers I would think common sense would have kicked in there. Anyway, I wish they had kept the iMac user serviceable, so I could at least visually inspect it for problems but I can't even do that with the iSight model. They have to take it in for repair and it takes a couple days.
Thanks for all the help,
Justin

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