[NPMUG] iMac G5 Capacitor Issue - Apple Repair Extension Program

[Patrick Cranston]

To follow up on Dave's post about the capacitor issue on iMac G5s.

There is a known issue regarding the iMac G5 and bad capacitors.    
Apple at one time did offer a Repair Extension program where they  
would repair any iMac G5 with this issue regardless of whether or not  
you had AppleCare.   The program was valid for three years after the  
manufacture date of the affected iMac.

The last iMac G5s were discontinued in January of 2006 so the Repair  
Extension Program no longer applies to any iMac G5 in the wild.   We  
have dealt with the Apple Store on this issue many times and they are  
no longer repairing computers with the capacitor issue at no charge.   
A logic board of an iMac G5 is very expensive due to the fact that it  
has an integrated video card and processor like a laptop logic board.   
You are essentially replacing everything but the display, hard drive  
and optical drive. Because of this widespread problem it is also  
almost impossible to find a working used logic board from someone  
other than Apple.

The part cost varies with different models but it was running about  
$700 - $900 to repair an iMac G5.    Obviously you would be better off  
just buying a new machine at this point in time.


Patrick Cranston
Cranston Consulting & Media, Inc.
888-813-5558
www.CranstonInc.com
patrick at cranstoninc.com
Skype: phcranston