Faulty iMac - Only three LEDs appearing in diagnotics?

Question

iMac Intel 24" EMC 2134 and 2211

Model A1225 / Mid 2007 and Early 2008 / 2.4, 2.8, or 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

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Andrew Strugnell @andrewstrugnell

Rep: 13

3

1

Postato: 27 mag 2011

Opzioni

Faulty iMac - Only three LEDs appearing in diagnotics?

Hello iFixit users,

This is an incredible website, and it seems like many users have benefitted from suggestions made by others.

I'm experiencing an issue from an iMac I had willingly bought as a faulty machine. At the time of the machine's sale the seller experienced an intermittent problem with the iMac only sometimes working for days at a time. There would be intervals of time when the iMac would otherwise not boot for a few days.

Removing the iMac's glass screen and front shell, I can see the LED's and cabling clearly.

Only the first three of four LED lights are lit when the machine is powered on. Upon pressing the power button, the hard drive, superdrive and fans will kick into action for 8 seconds, then the machine will turn off and turn on again. This time the machine will simply hang in a constant state leaving the hard drive, superdrive and fans spinning.

I understand that the absence of the fourth LED light leads to indicate that the LCD could be faulty, that the LCD screen cabling may be faulty, or that the logic board itself may be faulty too.

The machine does not chime, neither does the LCD screen come to light or keyboard/mouse seem to be responsive in resetting PRAM or booting with Target Disk Mode or boot-from-CD.

Would anyone suggest I double-check the PSU with a voltimeter, or single out any other components before I resort to the problem being a fault of the logic board?

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+ Well stated question

27 mag 2011 da mayer

Andrew,

I know its been a long time since this post has been written, but I have come across the same findings.

When I removed my video card and installed the logic board back and fired the machine up, 3 LEDS still lit up claiming that it found communication with the video card.

I was wondering whether or not you have found the answer to this problem or not.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW

27 mar 2014 da Akis P

Hey Akis P, thanks for writing!

I didn't find any fixes for this repair unfortunately. I sold the iMac on as I couldn't find a decisive answer.

Good luck!

Andrew.

28 mar 2014 da Andrew Strugnell

Thanks for replying I narrowed it down to either the logic board or graphics card.

I'm 50/50 on which one there is since there is no exclusive test to rule one out. Because from what I'm told apple techs just swap parts to confirm the problematic part. And since I don't have that kind of parts inventory at the tip of my fingers. I will probably purchase a known used graphics card first and hope that fixes it. Since the card is way way WAY cheaper than the board.

28 mar 2014 da Akis P

Your problem sounds the same as mine - posted here: iMac won't start after HDD replacement - no chime, black screen, DVD

It only happened to me after replacing the HDD so I must have broken something while doing it.

I'd be interested to know how you get on- does replacing the Video Card fix it?

Also what is the model number for the video card, where did you buy it?

18 ott 2014 da rhubarb

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Soluzione Prescelta

mayer @mayer

Rep: 685,2k

MacHale Enterprises

3,4k

1,1k

2,6k

Postato: 27 mag 2011

Opzioni

LED #1 + LED #2 + LED #3 + LED #4 = Power available, system is powered on, video card found, and internal LCD found.

If fourth LED is not visible after power on:

• Verify cable connections between LCD panel and logic board

• Inspect LCD display cables for cable damage

• Verify external video functionality, and according to result check the following items:

-If external display works then verify/replace LED backlight board

-If external display works then verify/replace LCD panel

-If external display does not work verify/replace logic board

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10 Commenti:

Is it possible for an iMac to chime and boot, without the fourth LED to appear lit? Let's say the LCD cabling is faulty only - can the iMac still boot with an external display?

27 mag 2011 da Andrew Strugnell

I have machines that are running fine with no boot chime but usually when I do get a chime it has pasted POST (power on self test). I don't think it tells anything about the video. How's your external monitor test?

27 mag 2011 da mayer

I'm sourcing a Mini-DVI to DVI, VGA or HDMI adapter to test that one out. I'll let you know the result - cheers Mayer!

27 mag 2011 da Andrew Strugnell

I've made another finding.

In the meantime while sourcing a Mini-DVI adapter to test whether a secondary monitor would help diagnose the problem, I have dismantled the innards of the computer to remove the video card and inspect it. It doesn't appear to have anything burnt out or suffering damage. I returned the logic board into the machine again to test whether only two LEDs would light when switched on.

Three LEDs were lit when the computer was reassembled and turned on. As I would believe, the third LED should indicate the communication between the logic board and video card.

Would you say this finding should point me in any other direction to scope out?

28 mag 2011 da Andrew Strugnell

Come on. Read the answer you've already been given.

28 mag 2011 da mayer

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Andrew,

I know its been a long time since this post has been written, but I have come across the same findings.

When I removed my video card and installed the logic board back and fired the machine up, 3 LEDS still lit up claiming that it found communication with the video card.

I was wondering whether or not you have found the answer to this problem or not.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW — Akis P
Hey Akis P, thanks for writing!

I didn't find any fixes for this repair unfortunately. I sold the iMac on as I couldn't find a decisive answer.

Good luck!

Andrew. — Andrew Strugnell
Thanks for replying I narrowed it down to either the logic board or graphics card.

I'm 50/50 on which one there is since there is no exclusive test to rule one out. Because from what I'm told apple techs just swap parts to confirm the problematic part. And since I don't have that kind of parts inventory at the tip of my fingers. I will probably purchase a known used graphics card first and hope that fixes it. Since the card is way way WAY cheaper than the board. — Akis P
Your problem sounds the same as mine - posted here: iMac won't start after HDD replacement - no chime, black screen, DVD

It only happened to me after replacing the HDD so I must have broken something while doing it.

I'd be interested to know how you get on- does replacing the Video Card fix it?

Also what is the model number for the video card, where did you buy it? — rhubarb
Is it possible for an iMac to chime and boot, without the fourth LED to appear lit? Let's say the LCD cabling is faulty only - can the iMac still boot with an external display? — Andrew Strugnell
I have machines that are running fine with no boot chime but usually when I do get a chime it has pasted POST (power on self test). I don't think it tells anything about the video. How's your external monitor test? — mayer
I'm sourcing a Mini-DVI to DVI, VGA or HDMI adapter to test that one out. I'll let you know the result - cheers Mayer! — Andrew Strugnell
I've made another finding.

In the meantime while sourcing a Mini-DVI adapter to test whether a secondary monitor would help diagnose the problem, I have dismantled the innards of the computer to remove the video card and inspect it. It doesn't appear to have anything burnt out or suffering damage. I returned the logic board into the machine again to test whether only two LEDs would light when switched on.

Three LEDs were lit when the computer was reassembled and turned on. As I would believe, the third LED should indicate the communication between the logic board and video card.

Would you say this finding should point me in any other direction to scope out? — Andrew Strugnell

iMac Intel 24" EMC 2134 and 2211

Faulty iMac - Only three LEDs appearing in diagnotics?

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