FinchDrive
Level 1 (7 points)

Q: I got a replacement battery, reset the SMC, and my computer will still turn off unexpectedly.

Early 2011 15" Macbook Pro, 2ghz iz, C0*****F8V.

 

My original battery wore down to the point where it would not be recognized as available and the computer couldn't power on without shutting down in a few minutes. I ordered a replacement battery, certified Apple genuine, but after 3 days it reached about half charge and the computer died, not turning back on without the adapter. When it did reboot the battery was at 0% and not charging, and the computer was incredibly slow and laggy.

 

I refunded and returned this battery and got a new one. I've had it installed about 2 days and the computer will still turn off if not plugged in at about 80-85%. I have reset my SMC multiple times and my PRAM as well. coconutBattery says nothing is wrong with the battery.

 

What can I do? I'm a freelance video editor and this is basically calling me out sick from work for a week now.

 

Thanks!

 

<Personal Information Edited by Host>

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10), Early 2011 15"

Posted on Jan 16, 2015 5:40 PM

by FinchDrive,Apple recommended
FinchDrive FinchDrive
Level 1 (7 points)
A:

UPDATE: After a trip to the Apple store and a brand new battery my issues have stopped.

 

MORAL: DO NOT BUY THIRD PARTY BATTERIES

Posted on Feb 3, 2015 8:31 PM

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FinchDrive

Q: I got a replacement battery, reset the SMC, and my computer will still turn off unexpectedly.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jan 16, 2015 11:35 AM in response to FinchDrive
    Level 9 (52,047 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 16, 2015 11:35 AM in response to FinchDrive

    Did you purchase the battery from Apple?

     

    Open System Preferences>Power and post this:

    Make certain that the charger is connected.

    Screen Shot 2013-08-22 at 7.19.46 PM copy.png

    Ciao.

  • by FinchDrive,

    FinchDrive FinchDrive Jan 16, 2015 12:41 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (7 points)
    Jan 16, 2015 12:41 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    No, the battery was purchased from Wegener Media in South Carolina, so i'm not 100% sure they're genuine, although at this point I doubt two batteries would both cause my computer to turn off at 80% after only 3 days. They also came in original plastic wrapping.

     

    Screen Shot 2015-01-16 at 12.40.31 PM.png

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jan 16, 2015 1:44 PM in response to FinchDrive
    Level 9 (52,047 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 16, 2015 1:44 PM in response to FinchDrive

    I do not see any thing out of the ordinary from the System Information data that you posted.  I still am suspicious of all third party batteries even if they are wrapped in plastic (which is not hard to do).

     

    What does CoconutBattery say regarding Design Capacity?

    Screen Shot 2015-01-16 at 4.38.08 PM.png

     

     

    Run an Apple Hardware Test.  That may pickup a clue:

     

    http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201257

     

    Note that an error free AHT is not definitive.

     

    Ciao.

  • by FinchDrive,

    FinchDrive FinchDrive Jan 16, 2015 3:29 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (7 points)
    Jan 16, 2015 3:29 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Thanks for the help so far.

     

    Here's what coconut has to say - a much lower capacity than the one you posted.

    Screen Shot 2015-01-16 at 3.27.31 PM.png

    I'm going to run the hardware test now and see what I get - will post the results here also.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jan 16, 2015 3:35 PM in response to FinchDrive
    Level 9 (52,047 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 16, 2015 3:35 PM in response to FinchDrive

    FinchDrive wrote:

     

     

    Here's what coconut has to say - a much lower capacity than the one you posted.

     

    I have a 17" MBP so there will be a difference, so do not become concerned.  What I was looking for to see if the Design Capacity was significantly greater that the Maximum charge level which is not the case.  That is a good sign.

     

    Ciao.

  • by Eustace Mendis,

    Eustace Mendis Eustace Mendis Jan 16, 2015 3:58 PM in response to FinchDrive
    Level 7 (25,402 points)
    Jan 16, 2015 3:58 PM in response to FinchDrive

    A suggestion, the result might give you some insights:

    Remove the battery and run the computer off the power adapter. If the computer continues to misbehave you can rule out the battery as the cause of the issue.

     

    (Since this is just a test you do not have to put all those screws back, just place the computer on the bottom and run it as usual.)

  • by FinchDrive,

    FinchDrive FinchDrive Jan 16, 2015 7:55 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (7 points)
    Jan 16, 2015 7:55 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    I just finished running the AHT and an extended test. Hardware error pointing to the battery on both:

     

    4xxx/40000005: "Battery"

    and 4xxx/4/40000005: ◊òä "Battery"

    upon the extended test.

     

    Do these codes refer strictly to the battery, or to possibly other components that interact with it?

     

    Eustace Mendis:

    I'm not experiencing and performance issues, just a total shutdown of the computer whilst on battery power only, so I don't think a battery-less test will tell me anything about my problem.

    I think the control test will be to get a battery through Apple and see if the problem persists.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jan 17, 2015 2:15 AM in response to FinchDrive
    Level 9 (52,047 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 17, 2015 2:15 AM in response to FinchDrive

    FinchDrive wrote:

     

    I just finished running the AHT and an extended test. Hardware error pointing to the battery on both:

     

    4xxx/40000005: "Battery"

    and 4xxx/4/40000005: ◊òä "Battery"

    upon the extended test.

     

    Do these codes refer strictly to the battery, or to possibly other components that interact with it?

     

    I can not give you a definitive answer to that.  The 'x's' which I have marked should be letters.  If so, could you provide them and that may give us a clue:

    Screen Shot 2015-01-17 at 4.56.06 AM.png

    If that is actually what was generated by the AHT, then I am a bit surprised.

     

    At any rate, the bottom line is that the MBP does not like your battery even though the output information that you provided does not indicate anything adverse.  An Apple battery should correct your problem, I would think, but there is an alternative that I came across yesterday that you might consider.  OWC. a Mac oriented vendor, is now selling replacement batteries for MBPs.

     

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/BAP15MBU78W/

     

    Based on the reputation of the company, I personally would be willing to try their non-Apple branded replacement.  I have dealt with them a fair amount, so my statement is from experience.  Note that is has a 1 year guarantee as do the Apple batteries.  ( I will need a replacement for my 2010 MBP and I will probably purchase it from them)

     

    Ciao.

  • by FinchDrive,

    FinchDrive FinchDrive Jan 19, 2015 5:45 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (7 points)
    Jan 19, 2015 5:45 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    This is actually what the AHT reported, x's and all. I've been keeping my computer plugged in at all times to avoid crashes but i'm going to contact my seller and show them the system report indicating faulty battery for a refund - an apple battery if definitely going to be the only one i buy from this point out.

     

    What is an MBP exactly?

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jan 20, 2015 1:53 AM in response to FinchDrive
    Level 9 (52,047 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 20, 2015 1:53 AM in response to FinchDrive

    MBP - Mackbook Pro.

     

    Ciao.

  • by FinchDrive,Apple recommended

    FinchDrive FinchDrive Feb 3, 2015 8:31 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (7 points)
    Feb 3, 2015 8:31 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    UPDATE: After a trip to the Apple store and a brand new battery my issues have stopped.

     

    MORAL: DO NOT BUY THIRD PARTY BATTERIES

  • by Hotchili,

    Hotchili Hotchili Jan 26, 2016 9:58 AM in response to FinchDrive
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jan 26, 2016 9:58 AM in response to FinchDrive

    I do repairs on Macs for a living and have replaced hundreds of batteries with 3rd party batteries. I've never encountered this issue until recently. It makes me wonder if Apple has inserted some code into the OS to check for an authentic Apple battery. The replacement battery I used (from Lizone) was recognized by the system, appeared to charge and hold a charge as normal. However, I was getting very poor performance, CPU load was over 600% when booted to the desktop on a fresh install of the OS. A hardware test came up with the same error that you got.

    This thread seems relevant: MacBook Pro having frequent CPU spikes

    I contacted Lizone to see if they had any clues, they did not (but did promptly offer a refund).

     

    I'm not sure if the moral is to not buy 3rd party batteries, more like that Apple will continue to make it more difficult to repair your own computer using anything other than their own overpriced goods and services. I guess that remains to be determined.

  • by Hotchili,

    Hotchili Hotchili Jan 31, 2016 4:42 PM in response to Hotchili
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jan 31, 2016 4:42 PM in response to Hotchili

    I ended up installing another aftermarket battery and the issue went away. I still get the 4xxx/40000005: "Battery" error in AHT, but I am no longer seeing the CPU spikes.