How do you change the pram battery on a slot loading iMac?

Question

I'm hopeful that a new pram battery will solve the problems I've been having with my iMac. I just have to put it in, and judging by the correspondence I've seen on this subject, that's not an easy job. (One letter spoke of having to remove 16 screws) Does anyone know of a site that gives instructions complete with illustrations for changing the battery? It seems silly to have to take my set to a repair shop to change the battery, but I don't feel up to removing 16 screws without very clear instructions.

Answer 1

Hello,
So far, so good. My computer started after I changed
the battery, however, I can't be sure until tomorrow
morning because my set was still warm when I started
it. Tomorrow is the acid test. I'll let you, and
everyone else who has tried to help me, then.
Glad to hear that you survived, and that it seems to be working
Let us know what you find tomorrow.
A few comments: Whatever happens, this experience
will give me more courage for the future. I now know
that I can open my computer without breaking
anything--anything important, that is.
That's always a good thing
Possible problem: After putting in the new battery, I
noticed a loose black wire with a metal tip right
next to the battery.
Interesting...
The only thing I could think of that might look like that might be the Airport antenna.
But, it could be something else. Without pictures, it would be hard to really guess at it.
I hadn't noticed it before, so I
don't know if I might have accidentally unplugged it
from where it should be. Anyway, just to be sure, I
wrapped the metal tip with scotch tape to insulate it
in case it comes in contact with a metal part.
Was it attached to the logic board (the main circuit board which your battery was on)? Or, was it coming from somewhere inside the computer's case?
Any idea or description of where it's other end was attached?
I hate to tell you this now, but electrical tape would have been a better choice for insulating it. It's still possible for electrical current to pass through scotch-tape.
A small, white polyethene? part fell out during my
activities. I can only hope that it's not essential.
Without a description, it's hard to say what that might have been.
Does it look like a bracket? If so, it may have gone around one of the connectors around the CD-ROM drive connectors, or one of the other cables you disconnected.
Otherwise, if it doesn't appear to have a function, it might just be a piece of broken plastic.
If it's flat and rectangular, it could also be a cap that goes over the battery. But, those are usually black with a couple of tabs to hold it in-place.
Also, it looks like two small,flat, grayish tabs got
snapped off the bottom panel when I removed it.
That happens sometimes. I was fortunate with my system. I've opened it many times without breaking anything (yet).
I didn't find the job to be easy, but maybe that's
because I was stresed out during the whole operation.
Yes, that doesn't help.
Fear was the problem. I was afraid that I might touch
the wrong part, I was afraid that I might drop a
screw ito the computer, I was afraid that I was going
to break the bottom panel in the process of removing
it, etc. The most difficult step was replacing the
heat shield. For a while, I thought that I would have
to give up and just attach it as best I could.
Glad to hear it all went back together.
Hopefully the extra parts and cable were not important. I would feel better figuring out what they were if it were my machine. But, it's up to you if you want to delve back in there and try and figure it out.
Well, that's a summary of Niku's excellent adventure
in the computer repair world. Tomorrow I'll know if I
was successful. Wish me luck.
Thank you for the update. I hope all goes well and continues working for you.
Be sure to tell us what you find out in the morning.
Let us know if you have other questions.
P.S., if you'd like, go ahead and click the "Helpful" or "Solved" buttons on any of the posts / replies above if you feel they were helpful or adequately answered your question.