17" PowerBook G4 Help?

[Theretrogamingroom]

Well, my 17" PBG4 (1.67, 2GB, 100GB, Super, Airport, BT, 10.5. 8) has decided not to work anymore.

I was using it one day when all of the sudden, the power supply indicator light turned RED and it shut off (Note: I have tried several power supplies). I let it sit for a while, tried to turn it on, and not a whole lot happens. The Superdrive makes a noise (as usual) and the fans max out for some reason, but other then that, no chime and no video.

Any ideas? Likely a Logic Board issue?

Thanks

 

[unity]

I am going to guess you pulled the battery out too? If not, yank it. Probably not the cause but ya gotta eliminate everything. Next do a power management reset:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1431

After that, its onto hardware. It could be the power/charging circuit. Which might be on a sub-card.

Edit: Google Gods say is could be a bad PRAM battery? When they go bad for me, its usually dead clock time, etc. I know some Macs can be fussy, but I thought older 68ks. Either way, its something to look at too.

 

[TheMacGuy]

The newer PowerBooks and iBooks never had a dedicated PRAM battery per say, normally the PRAM just runs off the main battery and when that dies or is removed the time and date are reset (this has even happened to me on some unibody MBPs, as I unplug the battery before doing upgrades).

Like unity said, try a PMU reset and a PRAM reset (hold Command+Option+P+R at boot until the computer chimes a 2nd time).

If these don't help I would look into the charging circuit, again like unity said. The LoBo is probably OK, but it would be best to take a look in the machine and see if anything decided to release the magical dust.

Luckily, parts for the later PowerBooks are getting pretty cheap. I had to install a new LoBo and Optic Drive in my 1.5GHz 12" model and spent under $70 (under $50, IIRC).

 

[techknight]

Im going to stick my neck out and say one of those SOIC-8 based MOSFETs had shorted in a voltage regulator somewhere. Happens quite often in the PC world.