Deep Dive

Check

Result

Action

Code

 

 

 

 

 

1.

Verify if any tape, gasket, cable

Yes

Secure the material so it

 

 

label, or cable is touching

 

doesn’t touch fan blades. If

 

 

the fan blades and causing a

 

tape adhesive has lost its

 

 

ticking noise.

 

stickiness, replace that section

 

 

 

 

of tape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No

Go to step 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

Run latest available Apple

Yes

Locate affected part and

 

 

service utilities and verify if it

 

check for correct cable

 

 

reports one or more errors.

 

seating. Use ASD Error

 

 

 

 

Codes table and sensors

 

 

 

 

location table (in General

 

 

 

 

Troubleshooting) to decode

 

 

 

 

error. Follow instructions in

 

 

 

 

table for resolving error, then

 

 

 

 

retest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No

Go to step 3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.

Verify if noise sounds like one

Yes

Reset SMC by disconnecting

 

 

or more fans are spinning faster

 

power cord for ~15 seconds

 

 

than expected.

 

then retest. If issue continues

 

 

 

 

go to step 3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No

Go to step 6.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.

Verify if noise changes when

Yes

Suspect issue with optical

 

 

optical drive is being accessed

 

drive or media used.

 

 

or media is inserted or ejected.

 

Go to Optical Drive Noisy

 

 

 

 

symptom flow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No

Go to step 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.

Mute the system volume. Verify

Yes

Go to step 6.

 

 

if issue still occurs.

 

 

 

 

No

Suspect issue with speakers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or audio amplifier circuitry.

 

 

 

 

Go to Audio: Built-in

 

 

 

 

Speakers Have Distorted

 

 

 

 

Sound symptom flow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.

Adjust brightness on display

Yes

Suspect issue with LCD

 

 

between maximum and

 

display or backlight controller

 

 

minimum settings. Verify if

 

board. Go to Noise/Unstable

 

 

issue changes depending on

 

Flickering symptom flow.

 

 

brightness level.

 

 

 

 

No

Go to step 7.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010-09-09

iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010) Symptom Charts — Mechanical  119

Page 119
Image 119
Apple MD094LL/A manual Location table in General, Go to Optical Drive Noisy, Go to Audio Built-in Speakers Have Distorted