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Strimkind

Q: Battery Recall

I just read an article about how more ibook batteries are being recalled:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news/index_mail.shtml?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-24- 2006/0004421452&EDATE=

Time for everyone to check their batteries again (I do not believe mine applies with HQ4527 =/...oh well). Its not on the apple website yet, but it should be soon.

iBook, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Aug 24, 2006 10:37 AM

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Q: Battery Recall

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  • by LiQuid AcE,

    LiQuid AcE LiQuid AcE Aug 25, 2006 4:09 PM in response to Jerry Markle
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 25, 2006 4:09 PM in response to Jerry Markle
    Apple's website states-

    "If the first 5 digits of your battery’s 12-digit serial number fall within the noted ranges, please order a replacement battery immediately."

    Immediately? Yeah, I'm only trying to follow instructions but not getting too far with my invalid yet explosive battery.
  • by MacMacIntosh,

    MacMacIntosh MacMacIntosh Aug 25, 2006 4:33 PM in response to Kim Mcdaniel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 25, 2006 4:33 PM in response to Kim Mcdaniel
    It is 00:30 GMT on the 26th and the online register is still not accepting my battery serial number although it definitely falls within the range stated on the website. I have no desire to sit at the phone for hours so Apple better get it sorted.

    12" iBook G4   Mac OS X (10.4.7)  
  • by Carl Schofield,

    Carl Schofield Carl Schofield Aug 25, 2006 4:36 PM in response to Jerry Markle
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 25, 2006 4:36 PM in response to Jerry Markle
    I got exactly the same response when I finally reached an Apple rep on the phone. He wouldn't (or couldn't) tell me how he knew my battery (6C538...) was not from Sony. If they don't clarify this further on the website I'll still be a bit nervous about using this battery.
  • by Kurt Triffet,

    Kurt Triffet Kurt Triffet Aug 25, 2006 4:47 PM in response to Paula Goodfellow
    Level 1 (94 points)
    Aug 25, 2006 4:47 PM in response to Paula Goodfellow
    Having my iBook flame up in my lap is actually preferable to the grief of trying to get though to Apple to get my battery replaced at this time.

    For those of us who have batteries that fall within the serial numbers, but due to the form database problems, are rejected, waiting a couple weeks is a better way to go.

    I tried the form again this AM, and they still haven't fixed it. Think it will probably stay that way.
  • by Carl Schofield,

    Carl Schofield Carl Schofield Aug 25, 2006 4:55 PM in response to Michael Battenfield
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 25, 2006 4:55 PM in response to Michael Battenfield
    Well, they have had ample time to clarify this mess on the web site and I still don't see any update or changes.

    So - unless he was lying, or Apple is looking for a
    lawsuit, the web site should accurately tell you if
    your battery is affected or not.
  • by Bob xyz,

    Bob xyz Bob xyz Aug 25, 2006 5:58 PM in response to Carl Schofield
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Aug 25, 2006 5:58 PM in response to Carl Schofield
    Try having the form work, my battery needs to be replaced, but I am in Argentina, going to Chile and there are no Apple Shops in either county.
    I have written tech support but that avenue has never helped me on this trip before. Any suggestions from anyone on how I will be able to solve this?
  • by tomas472,

    tomas472 tomas472 Aug 25, 2006 6:22 PM in response to Bob xyz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 25, 2006 6:22 PM in response to Bob xyz
    Perhaps the easiest way, Bob, would be to have a friend in the United States contact Apple Customer Support on your behalf and have the battery shipped to them, then have them re-ship it to you.

    They might also do the contact work, but see if Apple would ship to your expected location in six weeks or so. If Apple will ship to there, it would save you the cost of shipping the batteries both ways.

    GOOD LUCK!

    Tomas
  • by Bob xyz,

    Bob xyz Bob xyz Aug 25, 2006 6:36 PM in response to tomas472
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Aug 25, 2006 6:36 PM in response to tomas472
    Good reply, makes sense. A Canadian friend in Canada is the only change.
    I'll have to make some plans around that but hey, plans are good.

    Thanks
  • by Trixie B.,

    Trixie B. Trixie B. Aug 25, 2006 6:46 PM in response to Carl Schofield
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 25, 2006 6:46 PM in response to Carl Schofield
    I got the "same song & dance" when I called Support. I'd love to know how the rep knows that I don't have a Sony battery when he never even asked me for the serial number to verify it. As soon as I said "battery recall...serial number within range" he said it wasn't a Sony battery. I'm not buying it until I see an update on the recall page stating that's the case. Perhaps I'll try Customer Service tomorrow, seems that people are having a better time getting answers through them.
  • by Tiger1964,

    Tiger1964 Tiger1964 Aug 25, 2006 6:51 PM in response to Strimkind
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Aug 25, 2006 6:51 PM in response to Strimkind
    Hmm this whole thing is an awful mess. My battery serial number is definitely in the range Apple has posted yet is also invalid 6C542. Now how can one feel safe using this battery when it meets both the serial number and the made in China criteria in the original recall? I bought an Apple because all I heard was it was sooo much better than a PC. LOL, what a joke!!!! My first and last Mac. My Windows machines allow me to do what I want with them at a cheaper price, my poor little iBook treats me like a 5 year old child and tries to simplify my life and ends up driving me insane. Perhaps I'll list it on Ebay as an expensive firestarter, just in time for winter heating season.
  • by BigJG,

    BigJG BigJG Aug 25, 2006 7:01 PM in response to Tiger1964
    Level 2 (260 points)
    Aug 25, 2006 7:01 PM in response to Tiger1964
    Yeah this battery thing is a drag, but if you're going back to Windows, have fun with those viruses and spyware and lock ups. Heck, I'd offer you my old PC but it had a meeting with my 12 gauge last year. May it rest in pieces.
  • by Tiger1964,

    Tiger1964 Tiger1964 Aug 25, 2006 7:22 PM in response to BigJG
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Aug 25, 2006 7:22 PM in response to BigJG
    I didn't say I was going back to Windows. I never left. We have 7 computers in this house, only 1 Mac. I bought it on a whim thinking I would like it, and yes I did like it, for about a month or so. Then I became increasingly frustrated by the iStuff and reinstalled the OS without it. As far as spyware, viruses and all the other crap, yes.....it does seem to affect Windows more. Why bother writing something malicious that would only bother 3 percent of the market? But at the same time, you can avoid this by being careful.
    The battery recall fiasco is not shedding a good light on Apples polished image. At a time when Apple is trying to recruit switchers, this is just bad business in my opinion. But then again, its only my opinion and no one has to agree.....LOL, atleast not in a Mac forum of all places.
  • by Cheryl Christensen,

    Cheryl Christensen Cheryl Christensen Aug 25, 2006 11:20 PM in response to Strimkind
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 25, 2006 11:20 PM in response to Strimkind
    I've read a lot of griping about Apple. I was frustrated too when my serial number kept getting kicked back and I couldn't get through on the phone, but then I decided Apple was smart to get the recall info out ASAP (so we could take out batteries out of our laptops to avoid any more injuries). Better to get that info out right away than to wait until all the bugs were worked out of the form on the site. Also remember that the problem is with a Sony battery, not Apple hardward, and Dell is having to do a recall of Sony-made batteries for the same reason. Things might be even more chaotic over there since there are a lot more people with Dell notebooks than with Apple iBooks and PowerBooks.

    Apple HAS now added some clarifying information on the website that put my mind at ease about whether my battery is safe. Now the serial number ranges include not only the beginning 5 characters but the last 4 as well. Maybe that's what tells Apple what batteries are made by Sony and what batteries are made by another manufacturer. The clarification of the last 4 characters took my battery out of the recall, so for now, I'm going to relax and put my battery back in my computer.

       
  • by BigJG,

    BigJG BigJG Aug 26, 2006 12:25 AM in response to Cheryl Christensen
    Level 2 (260 points)
    Aug 26, 2006 12:25 AM in response to Cheryl Christensen
    Thanks for the info. Looks like I'm in the clear.
  • by Queenhermione,

    Queenhermione Queenhermione Aug 26, 2006 1:31 AM in response to LiQuid AcE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 26, 2006 1:31 AM in response to LiQuid AcE
    I can only dream of getting through to a real live person. Got hung up on after 7 expensive minutes of button pushing and musical waiting. I'm not going to try any more as they obviously are stressed out over in Ireland where the call centre is, and clearly won't give me any useful answers.

    Obviously, I have the same problem; my battery comes in the 6C5 band and is getting the not valid message. Less obviously, ever since I bought the lappy, the battery has been growing burning hot on my leg - normally gets quite uncomfortable after a couple of hours, so if it's okay, what on earth are the other ones like???

    Actually I am more worried about the thin bit of plastic round the edge of the battery space getting snapped, so I don't feel I want to have the lappy vulnerable for several weeks. By which time the guarantee will have run out.

    I think my best hope is that my leg gets blown off by the blast and Apple have to supply me with free products for life. See - I haven't lost faith...




    Pippin, a dear little 12" iBook   Mac OS X (10.4.7)  
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