2
Score
Charmy
25
Asked
Caustic smell comes out of ventilation slot!
After a day or two since I first turned on the iMac 27" i7 a week ago, a noticeable strong bad smell started to come out from the left side of the ventilation slot behind the display as you see it from the front, i.e. the right upper corner as you see it from the back; I believe this is where the power adapter is situated. The smell resembles the way brand new iMacs smell but with a much, much stronger smell, from which you get a burning-caustic feeling in your eyes (imagine a very mild tear gas feeling).
Any ideas what it might be, what to do about it and to what extent I should be worried about it would be appreciated very much.
Update
Thanks guys for the prompt answers.
I'm nowhere near an Apple store! The fumes still persist constantly till now, nearly ten days after purchase. Yes, burnt chlorine is a fair mach, I guess. No other problems. Running smoothly from day one.
Here are some temperatures and fan speed that the widget iStat Pro shows:
Temperatures:
HD = 57˚
CPU = 46˚
Ambient = 22˚
GPU Diode = 60˚
GPU Headsink = 60˚
Mem controller = 52˚
Optical Drive = 49˚
Power Supply 2 = 67˚
Fan Speeds:
Optical drive = 1000rpm
Hard drive = 1297rpm
CPU fan = 939rpm
Thanks
Edited by: Walter Galan ( ) , Sterling Hirsh ( ) , Ben Eisenman ( )
2
Score
Cam
127
Answered
Nothing good is happening. Some electronic component is going to blow shortly. I suggest unplugging and getting to repair facility before the item blows. I would worry that the item that is defective would take out other components then you would have to repair more items or more expensive items. It should still be covered by Applecare, so be sure to call them, maybe they have ideas. But also you get your problem on record in case you need a warranty repair.
The smell is probably a flame retardant in a board or component being charred by an electrical short or over heating component. I know this smell well, in an earlier job we were accelerated aging circuit boards in ovens. As the flame retardant additive degrades in spits off bromine (or chlorine for some additives).
You need to unplug rather than just shut down because the power supply will always be drawing some power when plugged in.
1
Score
mister790
2.2k
Answered
The closest thing I've had to this is when my Airport Express died. Something inside popped and fried -- the smell was kind of like burnt chlorine, if that makes any sense. Have you had any performance issues?Anything not working that used to work?
In the short term, while you figure out what's going on, I'd highly recommend ensuring you have good air circulation/fil
For what it's worth, here are a couple of threads in which people are complaining of burning smells from their new iMacs. Seems that others are seeing this in conjunction with display flickering/blac
speaking of the flickering problem, Apple recently released a firmware update for that: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3181 Not sure if in any way related, but perhaps worth installing if not already
bac,
1
Score
bac
5.3k
Answered
if it's a very strong smell and you're near an Apple Store, I would bring it in and have them check it out, it doesn't sound normal. is the smell persistent, or has it gone away after a couple days?
I've had a 27" iMac i7 for a couple months and not noticed anything like that, nor have I noticed anything like it with another 27" C2D iMac.
