27 iMac (2012) crashes and requires smc reset to turn on

Hi All, I have the exact same issue with my late 2012, 27" i7 iMac with 1Tb Fusion drive. I sent it in for repair beginning of the year, but they could not replicate the issue. Once I got it back, it started shutting down again after some days, so I have now sent it back again as a repeat repair (also since my appleCare expired since then). I am determined to have it fixed, otherwise I will loose my claim on the support.

I wonder how I can make sure the support guys are able to reproduce the issue and if they can, how I can get an extra period of support for this specific issue?

Also, is there any support issue logged at Apple itself, so which I can add my case?

Sorry to hear that, but you seem to be out of luck: Since the problem pretty much goes away when you disconnect the iMac from power for some time (did not experience any problems after just un-plugging the cable everytime the computer is not on) and you have to send it in, you cannot get it into the workshop with the issue "still broken". I've read somewhere, that people are purposefully plugging it in for a week and running it until it pretty much shuts down at startup just before bringing it in to the Apple Store. Then it would shut down after 10-30 minutes there - depending on travel time. Perhaps that is an option...

Somewhere in this thread, someone mentioned that some Apple employee mentioned it is "a known problem now". BUT I highly doubt you can quote that and since Apple decides to ignore this thread in total my hopes of recognition from Apple's side are very low.

No new info here, just adding to the 19 pages of woe.

Machine shuts down randomly under both OS X and Windows ( El Capitan, Windows 7, and Windows 10).

Previous shutdown Cause: 0

(i.e. Power interrupted)

SMC must be reset to restore power to the computer.

As with all other folks in this thread, I've found there's a longer gap between shutdowns if the computer is left disconnected from power for a while.

Have tried:

1. Reinstalling OS

2. Removing and swapping all RAM

3. Disabling bluetooth and changing all peripherals (mouse, keyboard, external drives)

Specs:

Displays:

iMac:

<Personal Information Edited by Host>

Adding to the Saga....

iMac 27", 3.5 quad core, 8 Gb, 3 TB Fusion Drive, GTX 780M, refurbished 2013 model

Same issues with random shutdowns started mid 2015. Took it to Genius Bar who said it just need SMC reset.

That worked and I kept shutting down the computer every night. This worked up until last week while streaming video it shutdown.

Now I can't get it to stay on much more than 10 minutes.

As others have stated the longer I leave it unplugged the longer it will stay on.

I took it to Genius again and fortunately was able to reproduce the event while they were doing a HD test. It passed the first preliminary test.

I mentioned this thread and they suggested replacing the power supply. Unfortunately that did not work and now they are suggesting a replacement of the Logic board. According to this thread that has not helped and I declined the $900 fee to proceed.

Now contemplating just getting a PC again but interested to see if there is a solution.

It does seem to be consistent with a capacitor issue as doing a hard SMC reset and unplugging seems to give the longest reprieve.

Forgot to add to some of my other diagnostics

Console messages indicated shutdown codes of "0" if I unplug the cord.

Console message shutdown code "-128" if I restart without unplugging cord.

does anybody have an email for an apple POC?

I just off the phone with apple. After 90 minutes of discussion there is still no solution. They keep telling me to replace the logic board. I said this is not an option for me. They will only replace the iMac after 3 unsuccessful repairs. So I need to pay for a hard drive, a logic board and a power supply unit. I think that's about 1500€. I said I would rather give them 1500€ and they replace my iMac immediately, than paying 1500€ for useless repairs and after that they replace my iMac. I wanted to safe time and nerves, but apparently this is not possible. So I think I have to stick with my broken Mac. Great job Apple, keep ignoring the problem

An older issue with the Ibook twin usb version was taken to the Danish Consumer Rights authorities who took action against Apple. http://web.archive.org/web/20070604163128/www.forbrug.dk/presse/nyheder/presseki t/ibookg4/statement-of-claim-40317-1637-english/

The random shut down on several 27" Imac models would appear to be as serious a problem.

Haha. Apple is just ridiculous!!!

They keep deleting posts !

I received a mail about user posting here and now I am here and these posts are gone?

I noticed that there are posts missing from "Solidairs" "fatcat585" "SeBigBoss", but I habe them in my mails...

Okay Apple! Check my account! I have spend more than 15000 Euros in Apple products so far.

I am gone!!!

I am just very disappointed that we don't get any official feec-back from Apple on this. Since we all have very similar iMac's (well, the new slim iMac, mostly with fusion drive and always with the Geforce), then it cannot just be a coincidence.

Has anyone made any posts on this issue in any public forums, or has any magazine (i.e. Computerworld, Engadget etc) written about it?

I feel it has to become public known quite soon, Apple can't just ignore this issue.

It's just ridiculous: There is someone from Apple reading this forum because they delete posts, but they absolutely refuse to work on anything about this problem. This is hugely frustrating and if you want to have a good laugh, I quote the reason for the deletion of my post:

> We removed your post Re: 27 iMac (2012) crashes and requires smc reset to turn on because it contained a poll or a petition.

You all have a copy of my post, so you may judge for yourself... I have no trust at all that Apple will not just delete the whole topic in the near future, so I just took a full hardcopy of it - I may or may not give it on to the press in the near future...

This *****. Add my iMac late 2012 3.4 ghz with the 2048 graphics card to the list. I removed some OWC ram to back it down to 16gb the other day and thought I had it all worked out. I experienced no crash for a few days!!! It's back.... What a hunk of Junk.. A heavy and expensive one at that.

I think this may be a capacitor issue although I'm not that knowledgeable about this area. I had kept my iMac unplugged for about 4 weeks and now my computer has been working for about 2 hrs now. Prior to this it would shut off after 3-5 minutes.

Add me to the list. iMac (27-inch, Late 2012) 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX 2048 MB 1 TB Fusion

Problem started happening about a month and a half ago. Intermittent random shutdowns, had to unplug it to boot back on. I finally took it into Apple, they said they recreated the problem. They told me my solid state was failing and charged me $500+ to replace it. I was relieved that they knew how to fix it.

Had it back for a few days and I was hoping I was in the clear but I just had 3 shutdowns today alone. Uuuuugh.

Add another to the list. Same late 2012 27" iMac with 2GB GTX card. I started having issues in 2015 while still under Apple Care. Several phone calls and various trouble shooting efforts. They finally gave me the start up in safe mode advice, which worked for for about a week before I left on an extended business trip. By the time I cot back the temperatures cooled down - I live in Thailand and often work in a non-airconditioned room. The problem went away until recently. It is hot season again so I suspected the high ambient temps affected the power supply or something. I have had multiple sudden turn offs, all needing an unplug from wall socket to make the iMac respond to a power button push. I have and Apple Support call scheduled for Monday and my case number from last year. I will press them to honor my now expired Apple Care as i think this is the same issue. We shall see...