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ebolla · Sep 20, 2006, 10:06 PM

Hey all,

I've been having a problem on my G4 sawtooth Pmac where it will not power on unless it has been plugged into the wall for more than 20-30 minutes. What I mean is that if the machine has been left unplugged and I plug it in and try to power up nothing happens. But if I leave it plugged in for 20-30 minutes than it boots up perfectly.

The easy solution is to just leave it plugged in at all times, I know. Except that I'm trying to sell the machine and I don't want to sell it if there is something seriously wrong. Can anyone tell me what maybe causing this and how to fix?

Thanks

macgurus · Sep 20, 2006, 10:17 PM

dead battery, they sell them at radio shack but for ripoff prices..

get them online cheaper but then shipping wipes out much savings

good luck

ebolla · Sep 20, 2006, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by macgurus

dead battery, they sell them at radio shack but for ripoff prices..

get them online cheaper but then shipping wipes out much savings

good luck

Thanks for the info. I had hoped it was something like that. Is it the battery that is at the bottom of the board (kinda shaped like a small AA)

SirCastor · Sep 20, 2006, 10:42 PM

yup

ebolla · Sep 29, 2006, 11:04 PM

Ok.. I got a new battery from radio shack and installed it into the machine and it turned on and booted up perfectly.

a week goes by..

Now the machine is haveing the same problem again. what could it be now? should I try to replace the battery agian?

Thanks

P · Sep 30, 2006, 05:24 AM

Replacing the battery would help, but it won't fix the problem about why the battery is draining that quickly. It's odd that pulling the plug would drain the battery that quick, but then you're not supposed to pull the plug whenever turning it off.

I had a similar condition on an iMac once, where it turned out that there was a bug in a firmware updater that was draining the battery. You could try reapplying the latest firmware, but I wouldn't bet on it.

reader50 · Sep 30, 2006, 12:37 PM

Did you press the CUDA button after putting the new battery in? Among other things, that reboots the PMU. If the PMU has crashed, Apple estimates the battery will last about two days.

ebolla · Sep 30, 2006, 06:03 PM

Where is the CUDA buttn? Is it the button next to the battery?

Yeah I know there is no problem if the machine is just left plugged in, but like I said I'm planning to sell the machine and I want to make sure it in full working order first.

Okay so off to Radio shack to buy another batery.... I'll let you know if it works this time. THANKS!

ebolla · Dec 16, 2006, 03:22 PM

Well the problem has gotten worse for this Powermac..

I replaced the battery again and reset the button next to the battery. After a week the battery was dead again and required the machine to be plugged in for 20 minutes before it would power on.

Eventually now it wont power on at all. Even when plugged in. Is the problem the battery or do I need to reset something else when I put a new one in? (I really don't want to keep rebuying $16 batteries every couple weeks) Or is the problem something worse like the powersupply?

Any suggestions would be appreciated...

Thanks