ibook G4 logic board fix

Add me to the list.

Originally started having random display shutdowns followed by machine shutdowns back in mid November. When I tried resetting the PMU per Apple's instructions that's when the fan noise problem began.

This is ridiculous, there shouldn't be so many people with the same problems without Apple accepting responsibility for it.

So very frustrating.

iBook G4 1.0Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Just out of curiosity, has anyone been able to run a Hardware Test on any of their iBooks? If so, what were the results?

It didn't show any problems - and about 30 secs later the screen went black of course

I should also add that despite being out of warrenty, Apple kindly agreed to cover my costs for the repair but only on the strict understanding they do not accept that there are any grounds for a replacement plan for faulty logic boards on the ibookg4. The customer services chap also said that their legal department had looked at it! and decided there was nothing to pursue. I wish I'd asked him what exactly that meant... because actually it felt a bit like a warning shot across my bows whether intentionally or not - and in the light of that I'll add that I suppose the fact this thread has had over 3000 visits, and most others less than 100, proves their point - it must be everyone writing to confirm our Taiwanese logic boards (where the ibookG3s were made also) are all fine and dandy - except for mine of course which is being replaced as I type. Hey ho.

The fix I use for the G3 ibook (and others use for the G4 ibook) basically means you take the motherboard out and send it out for professional rework:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=813184&tstart=0

Mad Dog

I came home from Macworld this week and was installing the new goodies I got so that I could show my wife. Before I could show anything off to her, suddenly the screen went blank and the fan was the only thing that could be heard. It has worked briefly a couple of times since then. Sounds exactly like what others are reporting here. I have a 1.2 GHz 12" iBook. It is only 3 weeks shy of being two years old. I definitely expect an Apple product to last over 2 years! Very sad that Apple is pretending like this is not a major issue with their computers.

Count me in as well, my logic board went nuts in november sometime. It first happened when I was in school and worked, screen just went dead and fan started whirring, since then I've only got it it to boot for a few minutes. I've been reading forums and signed petition and called apple support to try out my luck... but no soup for me. You'd think that they would be feeling at least a little guilty and give me a few $ off of a new macbook, which im almost certain im gonna buy anyway.

Your descriptions seem to describe my iBook G4 problem. I'm using an old clamshell to read this discussion and enter this message. It may be limited for updating but it's sure a trust worthy computer.
The iBook G4 is actually my daughter's and it crashed right at finals time for her. She brought it home and we ordered a new MacBook for her. It turned on when she got it home and has worked fine for me for a month--until this weekend and I can't get it to light up again.
I'm not hardware savvy enough to try to do anything about this myself, and too broke to pay for the repair at the Apple Store. I just want to be counted in the numbers with this problem.


iBook clamshell, iBook G4, iMac indigo Mac OS X (10.2.x) iBook G4 has OS 10.3.7 I think (can't turn it on)

Your descriptions seem to describe my iBook G4 problem. I'm using an old clamshell to read this discussion and enter this message. It may be limited for updating but it's sure a trust worthy computer.
The iBook G4 is actually my daughter's and it crashed right at finals time for her. She brought it home and we ordered a new MacBook for her. It turned on when she got it home and has worked fine for me for a month--until this weekend and I can't get it to light up again.
I'm not hardware savvy enough to try to do anything about this myself, and too broke to pay for the repair at the Apple Store. I just want to be counted in the numbers with this problem.

I have a logic board prblem as well !!!!!!!

Hi. I just wanted to relay my problem and see if any of you thinks it's the logic board. My iBook is just about 3 years old and my wife was using it and it was working just fine. I went to use it and the screen was black. When I turned it off and then back on the screen was black and white and it was moving around. If I moved the screen nothing happened there was no change in color or the way it moved. Today I turned it on just for S&Gs and it worked for 2 minutes. Please let me know what you think.

iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Switched to Mac (ibook G4 12in) about 2yrs and a month ago. A year ago, the battery totally went dead, unfortunately mine wasn't part of the recall,had to fork out USD$180 equivalant for a new one. Until 2-3 weeks ago, that was the only problem i had with it and i thought the ibook was just simply a tough n reliable machine. have been telling everyone i know how great the mac was n that i would never switch back to pc.
Now i can't even switch on my ibook. It begin about 2-3 weeks ago. Initially, it would just turn off out of the blue, but i'd be able to restart.. but now i can't even turn it on,(thankfully i did backup my iphoto n itunes files while i still could!!) only the sound of the fan running is heard when i try to turn it on.
Took it in to the main Apple service center and after just taking a look at it for less than 5 mins, i was told it would be better for me to get a new computer as its gonna cost about $600 equivalant to change the logic board which has broken down, no reasons were given for it.
I decided to get a 2nd opinion from another apple dealer.... and immediately he just told me it was the logic board/motherboard. seem that for a quite few particular batches of the ibook, the graphic card gets overheated, and as a result it fries the motherboard that it is attached to. totally a manufacturing problem! But unfortnately, i don't have the apple extended 3 years warranty, which whould have cost me something like $250, and to rectify a problem that isn't my fault but which is in fact a manufacturer's defect or design flaw!!!
I have many friends still on pc/windows, who have been using their laptops for 3-4 years with minimal problems, and I thought my ibook would be able to at least match their lifespans.
I have always had faith in Apple since the day i got my ibook, i mean i also have an ipod video and a new nano as well, but i think many issues still need to be addressed on the quality of their products, rather than just on the packaging and aesthetics.
The problem i am having with my ibook, according to the technician at the 2nd store that i went to is not uncommon to him. And to actually see so many others posting the same problems here in the forum, i am really really disappointed that no action is taken by Apple to address what we're going through. And i thought that i would be a Mac user for life!!! A very big letdown, shame on Apple!

P/S:- I won't be buying another Mac until Apple resolves this issue. In fact, I have got myself a much more portable and reliable PC laptop 2 days ago which I am using now! What else could I have done? Buy another Mac??? HAHA!!

My G4 suddenly had a dark screen. Thankfully I found this thread and coreys solution. It works beautifully(so far, 1 1/2 days). I dont particularly like having to rely on a piece of wood inside my computer, though, and Apple really should take care of this...

I got the same problem and could fix it myself!
Have a look there:
http://coreyarnold.org/ibook/

My problems started by some strange lines appearing on the screen, then got worse. I had more and more difficulties to start my ibook up. Up to an ending point when I definitively could no more start it up, having always the fan turning loudly, no “bong” and a black screen.
I have opened the case of the computer, and located the failing component on the logic board that is mentionned in the above Web site. By putting pressure on it, I could successfully start again the computer. I tried the mechanical solution that is given there, but it was too unstable in my case.
Since I have some skills in microelectronics (and some good tools), I decided to resolder the failing pin(s). In fact, I found only a single one that was unsoldered : the extreme bottom right one, on the pictures that are shown in the Web site.
Now, it works perfectly, even with mechanical vibrations, since some days.
I think that resoldering is the best solution. Those who cannot do it themselves should find some good electronician in their area. It can be fixed within half an hour (with (dis)mounting included), and should cost much less than the 500 euros for a new logic board…
Many people seem to have had this component unsoldered (not always the same pins).
The fact that this can be fixed by our own does not excuse Apple for the lack of quality of the manufacturing. Such a mistake is at the level of low quality products of South-Eastern Asia… How could Apple fall into such a trap?
What makes people decide to adopt a Macintosh instead of a PC+Windows is elegance, reliability and comfort of use. Unfortunatly, the two latter aspects will decay if Apple goes on with such a "quality control" policy.

Yeah, I absolutely refuse to open up my machine and try to fix a problem myself when Apple should take responsibility for it.