Narcoleptic iMac

[CorvusCamenarum]

I recently had to take my trusty iMac (G5, rev. A) in for service. Apparently a power outage caused both the power supply and logic board to self-immolate. Fortunately it was all covered under warranty, but ever since I got it back, it has taken to going to sleep at what appears to be random times. I've also noticed the fans have been running a bit louder than usual at times, other times hardly at all. If I let it sleep for a while, then it returns to 'normal', but if i try to wake it up straight away, then it will go back to sleep soon after. I've tried resetting the SMU as per Apple's help pages, but so far it doesn't seem to have had any effect. If anyone might know how to remedy this I'd be most grateful.

 

[superbovine]

have any software in the background that might be keeping it from it's slumber?

 

[Cheese]

Maybe try a clean install? I ain't sure, but there could be a 3rd party conflict, lost font files, or ill-feeling system components such as RAM. What I mean to say is, maybe there is a problem with components other than those that were replaced. Lightning and surges can kill, and inflict all kinds of havoc. Apple computers are as prone to damage by such electric abnormalities as any other device that one might plug into the wall.

 

[DaftUnion]

If you've tried what's on Apple's pages, and have thought of everything you could possibly due to remedy the situation, just take it back to Apple, complain, and have them figure it out.

 

[CorvusCamenarum]

have any software in the background that might be keeping it from it's slumber?

Not that I know of. I haven't put anything new on it since it got back, and up until the incident, it was running just wonderfully.

Maybe try a clean install? I ain't sure, but there could be a 3rd party conflict, lost font files, or ill-feeling system components such as RAM. What I mean to say is, maybe there is a problem with components other than those that were replaced. Lightning and surges can kill, and inflict all kinds of havoc. Apple computers are as prone to damage by such electric abnormalities as any other device that one might plug into the wall.

That would be a last resort. It is plugged into a surge protector, and from what the folks at the Apple place told me (not an Apple store but an authorized outfit) the offending parts were replaced.

If you've tried what's on Apple's pages, and have thought of everything you could possibly due to remedy the situation, just take it back to Apple, complain, and have them figure it out.

I'd really prefer to find the solution and fix it myself. The aforementioned place I took it to is the closest place to where I live that deals with Macs, and it's 150 miles away. The next closest place is Atlanta (3 hours by car) and after that, Nashville (4 1/2 - 5 hours). Regardless of where I take it, it amounts to a full day spent driving and a lot of gas.

 

[CorvusCamenarum]

Update

OK, I think I'm onto something. After perusing the system logs, I found this little tidbit. It shows up every time before the log says the system goes to sleep:

Feb 20 12:46:10 localhost kernel: Thermal Manager: max temperature exceeded for 30 seconds, forcing system sleep

About 10 lines further down, I see this:

Feb 20 12:46:10 localhost kernel: [2] "CPU T-Diode" Type:"temp" Id:0 CUR:87.38086 C

Any help would still be greatly appreciated. I keep the environment roughly the same year round (around 70º), and the computer has been in the same place in the house for months. Could this be a faulty sensor, or just something that wasn't connected when the logic board was replaced? If so, is there a way I can repair it myself?

 

[superbovine]

OK, I think I'm onto something. After perusing the system logs, I found this little tidbit. It shows up every time before the log says the system goes to sleep:

Feb 20 12:46:10 localhost kernel: Thermal Manager: max temperature exceeded for 30 seconds, forcing system sleep

About 10 lines further down, I see this:

Feb 20 12:46:10 localhost kernel: [2] "CPU T-Diode" Type:"temp" Id:0 CUR:87.38086 C

Any help would still be greatly appreciated. I keep the environment roughly the same year round (around 70º), and the computer has been in the same place in the house for months. Could this be a faulty sensor, or just something that wasn't connected when the logic board was replaced? If so, is there a way I can repair it myself?

they didn't put back humpty dumpty back together again. something is wrong, your cpu isn't cooling so you iMac sleep itself to cool it off. my guess is they didn't plug in the cpu fan or the heat sink is out of place. send it back.

 

[CorvusCamenarum]

they didn't put back humpty dumpty back together again. something is wrong, your cpu isn't cooling so you iMac sleep itself to cool it off. my guess is they didn't plug in the cpu fan or the heat sink is out of place. send it back.

According to the hardware test disc, the problem resides with a bad temperature sensing diode. The test took approximately 6 seconds to identify it. I'm making arrangements to take it back to them for repair.

Slightly off topic - All of this is pseudo - covered under warranty. That is to say, the computer was purchased in January 2005, but the repairs are to be covered under the issue-specific warranty offered by Apple. Since I'm not taking this to an Apple store, does Apple pay the reseller for this? I feel a little bad about getting all this free work done. My girlfriend and I already decided that when it's time for us to upgrade (she's a switcher-to-be), we're going to purchase from the reseller who's doing all this work.