Apple iBook Display

CM86_2

I'm having trouble with my late-2004 iBook G4.

When powering up, the display's not coming on at all and no start up chimes. If the display does come on, it goes blank after about 5 minutes, sometimes going to some strange colour bars before it goes completely.

Help!!!

I rang up Apple but they said it's out of warranty, fair enough, so rang the nearest Apple Authorised Service Centre, and they said £120+VAT just to diagnose the problem! :eek:

Thanks in advance.

patflanel

Sounds like the screen cable. Try here
http://www.pbfanatic.co.uk/

newfoundglory

Unlike most manufacturers, Apple documents its parts and has comprehensive service manuals for all its machines.

You will find the latest collection of Apple Service Source manuals on most of the BitTorrent and filesharing networks. These are usually sent to the service centres. The whole collection is very large (many gigs in size), but covers basically every apple machine from PowerPC to Intels. Since the iBook G4 was so popular, you should no trouble getting your hands on a copy of it.

It will have simple, detailed instructions on how to repair or replace most of the parts.

CM86_2

Thanks for the links!

Is it easily repairable or an AASC job?

I read somewhere it could also be the logic board, what are the chances on this, and the price of repair?

TIA

millypede

If it is the display, it is more than likely to be either A) The Screen, B)The Inverter C) Logic Board.

Two things to check to see what it is
You should of had a mini-vga to VGA cable in the box, hook your iBook upto a second screen and see if it works, that will provie if its the logic board or not.
Hold down the power button aftr turning it off until it beeps at you in one long tone and the sleep light flashes at you, this will reset the machine internal firmware, you could also try holding down P+R+apple+alt when you turn the machine on this will reset the PRAM for you too.

If its the parts most of the are AASC jobs im afriad, I hate taking iBooks apart, it the one machine I try not to take apart if I can get away with it, i would be intrested in whos charging you that amount to have a look at it though, as thats seems WAY over the top to what we would charge.

New logic board - about £300
New Screen - about £300
New inverter - about £60

The other thing you could do is get some one to back up your date, via Target disk mode (hold down T when connected to another Mac via 6-6 pin firewire cable) back up your data, drop/smash it on the floor at home and claim on the home insurance.

CM86_2

I used the external display adaptor thing and it worked for a sec before it went again.

Tried holding down the power button but it didn't beep, and Apple Tech Support told me to reset the PRAM but it didn't do anything!

From what i've read elsewhere, it's the logic board, and £300 to replace it seems a bit steep considering I could upgrade and put the money towards that. What's the inverter? Can I still get to Target Disk Mode if it is the logic board?

millypede

Ok sounds like the graphics card/logic board
The invertor board basicly turns the screen on, but if a external monitor is doing the same, it sounds like it is the logic board.
You should be ok with going to Target disk mode, as it will *hopefully* be just the graphics card.
can you PM me your Serial number (under the keyboard) and let me look into something for you?

CM86_2

I figured it's too expensive to repair it, so going to try and sell the parts on eBay!

Only trouble is, I have a CD stuck in the drive that i'd like to remove (holding down the mouse button doesn't work), and I have stuff on the hard drive i'd like to recover.

Please help!