Flipstick476

Q: Macbook Air - Intermittently Charging , Now not at all

Hi all,

 

I own a Macbook 13 inch air which I purchased in early 2012. My problem lies with the charging of my laptop.

 

The symtoms;

 

Macbook intermittently charges, but is now not charging at all

Mag connector is not showing any lights (being green or orange)

Laptop shows no charge increase with mag attached and no light

 

Took laptop into my apple store and they ran a 'diagnostic test' which showed everything as OK . I also noted that as soon as they plugged the laptop in the charger started charging the battery.

 

I then took my laptop home frustrated, after trying for the last week to get it to charge with no success. I plugged the laptop in and it started charging. Unusual i thought!

 

However now the same problem has came along again, with my laptop not charging and the mag light not glowing any colour.

 

Is this a hardware fault perhaps?

 

My software is up to date.

 

I have tried multiple known working plugs around the house.

 

The power adaptor is in excellent condition, it just sits in the same place and is never wrapped up etc and looks in perfect condition.

 

The power plug on laptop and mag are both clean.

 

Im really struggling to find any info as to what is wrong?

 

Any ideas?

 

Much thanks in advanced,

Flipstick476

MacBook Air, iOS 5.1.1

Posted on Sep 4, 2012 1:22 AM

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Q: Macbook Air - Intermittently Charging , Now not at all

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  • by Ryan BB,

    Ryan BB Ryan BB Feb 24, 2013 8:03 PM in response to Jabjones
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2013 8:03 PM in response to Jabjones

    I was referring to the problem with the charger not working.  The Apple Genuis person who helped me said its not a problem because he had not heard about it.  I told him of the discussion board and he said its only a few compared to the tens of thousands sold. But it's extremely frustrating when I or you have to deal this problem.

  • by Simon Alarie,

    Simon Alarie Simon Alarie Feb 25, 2013 8:34 AM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2013 8:34 AM in response to Flipstick476

    I posted about the same problem before and by the time, I went to the Apple Store and they replaced my power supply. Problem solved for now but the Genius person didn't care to look at the problem mentionned here (I had the conversation printed).

     

    Considering the fact that other people report the same problem again and again, even after replacing the power supply, I look forward to get some feedback from Apple!

     

    I am a web designer and I cannot rely on intermittent technology. In the same manner, I am thinking of a slick website, with all the social bells and whistles, picturing Apple's hair dryer technology. What do you think? May be it could put some emphasis on us, the fews upon tens of thousands.

     

    We pay for premium technology and we expect premium service. Are you there Apple ??

     

    Simon A.

  • by stone4345,

    stone4345 stone4345 Feb 28, 2013 7:58 PM in response to stone4345
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 28, 2013 7:58 PM in response to stone4345

    Just an update from my original post...
    It was starting to get a bit bothersome to go out of my way to get a hair dryer and blow it. Since I still had a couple of days on my warrenty, I knew I needed to get the thing replaced at the Apple store. The thing is, the last time I went there, it just happened to work inside the Apple Store when I had tried almost all my outlits at home. Today, I put the Charger in the freezer and let it stay there for an hour or so, and then drove to the store. They tested it and bam, didn't work. They replaced the charger for free and told me many others seem to have this problem, especially during cold weather such as now. Even though the trick I showed before usually works, the best solution is to just go to the apple store and replace it with a new one if its still under warrenty.

  • by Jabjones,

    Jabjones Jabjones Mar 1, 2013 10:31 AM in response to stone4345
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 1, 2013 10:31 AM in response to stone4345

    It's actually my new one that isn't behaving..I just got the old one replaced under warranty 2 weeks ago (the cord had worn right through, otherwise it was charging fine.) But good luck with it.

  • by Sureshot941,

    Sureshot941 Sureshot941 Mar 3, 2013 8:15 PM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2013 8:15 PM in response to Flipstick476

       Same problem here. Never tried the hair dryer but seems kind of out there. I get mine to work wiggling the mag adapter or flipping it around. Sometimes lights red but shows 5 hrs charge time with 85% remaining. Seems like a poor conection in the mag connector. Possibly arcing damage.

     

       Was at the Apple store in my travels but could hardly get a little help with other issues.

     

       I found the Genius's more like arragont ***** for the most part. You go there for help not someone to treat you like an idiot. It is their job to know it inside out and help, and know this is far from my first computer experience. I have used them for work continuously since 1987 and worked on software and programs.

  • by sailboatchick,

    sailboatchick sailboatchick Mar 10, 2013 11:09 AM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2013 11:09 AM in response to Flipstick476

    Do and SMC reset, which won't affect any of your settings

     

    SMC reset instructions for a MacBook Air are:

    1. Shutdown your MacBook Air (go to the Apple menu and choose “Shut Down…”).
    2. Make sure your MacBook Air has external power. Connect the power adaptor, if it isn’t already.
    3. Using the Air’s built-in keyboard (not a plug in keyboard or bluetooth keyboard), of the left hand side of the keyboard press Control-Shift-Option and on the top right of the keyboard, the power key at the same time.
    4. Release all the keys at the same time.
    5. Press the power key to start the computer.
  • by Lakhesis,

    Lakhesis Lakhesis Mar 14, 2013 10:17 PM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 14, 2013 10:17 PM in response to Flipstick476

    I had the same problems. I think there is a structural issue with the Mac Air charger.
    I now just use an old charger from a 2006 Mac Book - much better design and no problems so far.

  • by Hoka Hey,

    Hoka Hey Hoka Hey Mar 20, 2013 6:01 PM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Mar 20, 2013 6:01 PM in response to Flipstick476

    Same problem with my 2011 MBA. Tried different power outlets. Tried jiggling the magsafe plug in the computer. No luck. Narrowed problem to the power brick by testing the computer with an MBP 2011 power brick which charged the MBA.

     

    After reading this forum, I put the power brick under a heating pad. It worked.

     

    Does anyone have any idea why heating a power brick would make it function?

     

    Thanks stone4345 for this helpful tip.

  • by steven.avonds,

    steven.avonds steven.avonds Mar 24, 2013 3:42 AM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2013 3:42 AM in response to Flipstick476

    I took the effort to login and to confirm that the heatblower trick works. Thanks guys, I thought my laptop was gone to ****.

  • by Sagasu,

    Sagasu Sagasu Mar 25, 2013 3:32 AM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 25, 2013 3:32 AM in response to Flipstick476

    + 1.  Charger on Macbook Air 11" working only intermittently with the problem starting just days after one year warranty ran out.  Very disappointing to have a problem like this with my first apple computer. 

    Now have a new adapter and no problems for the day or so that I have used it. 

    The new adapter seems to have a slightly heavier and somewhat thicker sheath around the cable than the old adapter had. 

    Is it possible that Apple have wised up to the problem?

  • by SvenGPS,

    SvenGPS SvenGPS Mar 28, 2013 4:03 AM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 28, 2013 4:03 AM in response to Flipstick476

    Just as a side note this problem seems to be affecting my 1 day old Macbook Pro Retina. Will monitor and for now. Not good....

  • by jared777,

    jared777 jared777 Apr 2, 2013 12:56 AM in response to SvenGPS
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 2, 2013 12:56 AM in response to SvenGPS

    I placed my battery in the window to heat up and then i noticed the pins gave me a shock, the charger did not work, i let it sit again disconnected and made sure not to accidently touch the pins and it worked. I think the battery has a built in serge and possibly shorting out, I am thinking the heat may trigger the charger to reset possibly

  • by nelson.wu,

    nelson.wu nelson.wu Apr 4, 2013 8:01 PM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 4, 2013 8:01 PM in response to Flipstick476

    I had the same problem too. I am amused by you guys who bother to take a hair dryer just to continue using the mac book. For me it is simple, there are may other good products coming out and getting so closed to iProducts but with cheaper price. It is now time to try some alternative products. Why hang yourself on a tree who does not care if you are falling down.

  • by CMP@SFO,

    CMP@SFO CMP@SFO Apr 6, 2013 9:57 AM in response to Flipstick476
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2013 9:57 AM in response to Flipstick476

    I can't believe I need to blow dry my power cube. Insane. Same problem here and now charging fine.

  • by BevisCheng,

    BevisCheng BevisCheng Apr 14, 2013 8:05 AM in response to stone4345
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 14, 2013 8:05 AM in response to stone4345

    Same problem and same solution, can't believe Apple's product need a blow.

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