a few moments ago Mustafa, Apple customer care relations called me back and told me that they are agreeing to fix my computer for free! It’s a 2005 model which was out of warranty by about a year!

As mentioned previously, the store quoted me $1,050.00 to replace the processors, $150.00 to replace the power supply and a further $150.00 labor plus tax that’s a $1,500.00 fix! The store will bill Apple instead of me!

Apple is a Standup Company! This is all about customer turnaround! In today’s day and age, service is as important (if not more important) than just product alone!

They were also very easy to get a hold of which is really important! Didn’t take long to get through to customer relations, and they called me back too!

Where do you find service like that in today’s competitive world!?
If anyone is in the market to buy a new computer I would highly recommend Apple!

Due to this generous act, they are going to get all my future business! My kids are at the age where they are asking for computers of their own there are a couple of sales right there!

And instead of scrapping the G5 and ending up in landfill, now I’m planning to add RAM to it! (My version can hold up to eight gigs of RAM)

I must admit having such bad luck with other companies, especially this year, I had nearly lost my confidence in humanity. It is companies like this that will gain consumer trust. Also the help on this forum is unprecedented! I couldn’t be happier!

Yes Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus!

best, Phil

I have a few questions for anyone that is technically minded;

the power supply is located higher than the processors. How can the fluid leak UP?
I didn’t see any evidence of leaking with the side panel off.

With all these problems, some getting brand new ProMac replacements, others not, there should be some sort of blanket policy for everyone. Who is all for launching a general appeal?

Even if we don’t get new machines, there should be a general recall where the machines are all refitted with air cooling systems.

Best Phil

I purchased the G5 direct from Apple new in the box. I have not heard or read anything about 3rd party vendors.

I have begun to look at G5’s on ebay and found a machine that I could pick up for about a grand but wondering if the coolant could be replaced should it leak. I would also be interested in an air cooled model but not sure which machines are of that type. Still looking and using my old G4 to barley get me by as it is so slow doing video production work.

I still believe Apple had a duty to inform costumers that there is a potential problem with leaking heat exchangers and they choose to ignore us and let theses expensive machines melt down. Very sad for a company that I had a lot of respect for.

Did you all buy your G5’s directly from Apple, or a 3rd party retailer? Has anyone who had any success purchased theirs used, or are we strictly talking ‘original owners’?

Thanks!

go for the new machine. I t was my understanding that the machine was not repairable because of the power supply. Since te machine could not be repaired they opted for the “current replacement equivalent” of my old G5.

This has been the greatest customer experience that I ever had!!

I will always buy Apple

Good luck you guys!

Local Apple dealer quotes over $2,000 to fix.

I will be talking to Apple.

We are NOT amused.

In my first call to apple care this morning, I was rebuffed and actually told that there was nothing that he would do and that I would have to pay to talk to him further! I hung up and called back 10 minutes later getting a nice lady that was sympathetic about the first dismissive and rude applecare idiot and my predicament. After taking my story she transfered me to a Product Specialist that basically took more case info and recommended that i take it to the apple store. I asked if there was any kind of “out of warranty exception” available and he said that there was nothing available for this situation. As I pushed harder (but nicely) all I got was that he mumbled that I could contact Customer Relations (though he said that he “couldn’t transfer me in this situation”) and see if there was anything that they would do. I was convinced that I needed to get someone to give me an exception before I took it to the store.

Customer Relations was a different world from the hour and a half worth of phone sparring up to this point. A very understanding and sympathetic woman discussed the situation with me and then told me that they were going to repair my computer and treat it as if it was under warranty. I was elated! She even made the appointment for me at the apple store.

The apple store went really easy. no questions asked about it, in fact, they had started the part replacement before I got there. They couldn’t tell me if the parts were available, but they could say that they were not on backorder… So basically, I have to wait two days to know if the parts are going to come or if I talk to them about a replacement.

I thought about getting a g5 tower, but that cooling system just made me think… “Better stay clear of that model.”

Now Apple’s Intel desktops are just out of my budget. I really don’t want a mini. I don’t want an Imac – too much of a “Throw away computer” I mean… LCD displays seem to last quite well, and to be honest… That’s a bunch of displays that will be thrown away just because of the “Coolness” of the one piece look.

Hell… I guess I am just disillusioned about the whole upgrade game. Really… 10.3 seems to work so well. Why should I have to move up to 10.4 just to support my iphone and mobile me? What is so cool about safari 3 that it couldn’t be written to run under 10.3? Surely, just a bit more updating on 10.3 would allow for it to run.

dunno… I guess I’m just bitching.

Bill

APPLE PowerMac G5 Coolant Leaks World database report
http://www.fusina.net/G5_coolant_leaks/index-stats.php

Only 3 models were made with liquid coolant?

was quoted $625 for processor replacement $85 for hardware repair level-1 $710 total?
seems I made a mistake in purchasing liquid cooled mac. . .
the dual 2.5ghz accounts for 78% of failed coolant systems, check database link above, maybe apple could provide database with access for users to keep track of worst mac systems built. . .

there was another thread that apple decided to put into the archives at http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=957435&tstart=0

why does apple not have a uniform repair policy with these failed machines? Why do I need to speak with a manager and pursue all these avenues to deal with what seems to me a faulty piece of machinery that I have built system of peripherals around?
Manager at apple store has agreed to wave $100 diagnostic fee and to cover half cost of $710 repair bill. Not feeling great with the idea of paying $355+ in repairs for a computer that will probably start leaking once I put it back into high gear crunching data. . .
Others have had apple estimates of $1100 or even $2500 plus in overseas markets. . .

Could apple remove liquid cooling system, thereby eliminating future leaks/catastrophe’s?

Plan on making calls to APPLE to see if repair can be cleared regardless of out of warranty status. Pains me to have bought liquid cooled computer knowing that Apple removed cooling system in future models. . .

Oh yeah found in the G5 online manual they say. . .

Liquid Cooling System, Some Power Mac G5 models use a liquid cooling system to manage the temperature in the computer. The liquid cooling system is sealed and is designed to be opened only by an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP). · Warning: Do not attempt to open or service the liquid cooling system. Opening the liquid cooling system may damage your equipment, and such damage may not be covered by the limited warranty on your computer.

· Warning: Always operate your computer in an upright position. In the unlikely event that coolant leaks in or from your computer, disconnect all electrical power to the computer and do not restart it. Contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple for information about servicing your computer. After disconnecting electrical power, you can clean up coolant using an absorbent cloth. Avoid inhaling or direct contact with skin. Coolant may cause minor skin irritation. If coolant contacts skin, wash well with soap and water. If coolant contacts eyes, rinse thoroughly with water. Dispose of all clean-up materials in accordance with your local environmental laws, regulations, and guidelines. Coolant may be harmful if swallowed. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available at http://www.apple.com/environment/resources/msds.html.

•• alarming words I found are (some Power Mac G5 models), (unlikely event), (Avoid inhaling or direct contact with skin), (Dispose of all clean-up materials). . ahhhhh, why liquid cooled?

what to do what to do?

Dual 2.5ghz liquid cooled? Mac OS X (10.3.x) leaking coolant. . .

I’ve been noticing that lots of people are starting to have this problem recently. So far, Apple has only told me that this is very rare and that I’ll probably have to pay for it out of pocket, since it’s no longer under warranty.