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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 K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Aug 26, 2006 2:07 AM in response to Cheryl Christensen
    Level 6 (14,367 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 26, 2006 2:07 AM in response to Cheryl Christensen
    Not to address any one in my reply; but instead to share both grief and a
    measure of relief in this process of finding out and then submitting information
    to Apple online regarding the battery replacement issues.

    The site accepted my computer's serial number and battery serial numbers.
    Then when I went to submit the page, the site told me the address I use
    (and have bought several computers, Apple accessories, and get my mail
    over several decades) is NOT CORRECT and so it could not proceed with
    my replacement battery request. This went on for about 5 hours; nope 7
    hours. Too late to call into Apple Support or AppleCare about it, I went
    through the web page hoping to find some other means of contact.

    I reported the errors to the Apple web site security department, as such
    an error needed to get to whomever was most qualified to look into it;
    since I have also bought several items from Apple direct, and my address
    IS the correct one; not what the site was implying. After all, with all this
    headache, if where I'm living is not my address, Apple can send all my
    money back... I'll supply a different address, of course.

    In the meantime, I'm thinking "Nu Power, Newer Technology" rather than
    wait 4 to 6 weeks so I can use my iBook G4. I seldom use it now; so
    why should I plug it into a power adapter for 4 to 6 weeks, awaiting battery?

    This is nuts. I should be able to take my battery the mere 200 miles to
    the nearest Apple authorized reseller and get a new one. I was in there
    just yesterday and said hi to Ben... One Apple guy in a sea of CompUSA.
  • by tomas472,

    tomas472 tomas472 Aug 26, 2006 2:41 AM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 26, 2006 2:41 AM in response to K Shaffer
    ...Then when I went to submit the page, the site told me the address I use
    (and have bought several computers, Apple accessories, and get my mail
    over several decades) is NOT CORRECT and so it could not proceed with
    my replacement battery request.


    Had the same problem, but got around it. Seems to be some flaky programming at the site...

    For me the server's complaint was:

    "City/Zip code/County mismatch: Please ensure the city,
    county, and zip code match one of the combinations below.
    Lakewood Pierce (ptba)(rta) 98467
    Tacoma Pierce (ptba)(rta) 98467
    University Place Pierce (ptba)(rta) 98467"


    What eventually worked for me was entering "Pierce (ptba)(rta)" for my county instead of just "Pierce"...

    If the server's complaint was remotely similar for you, you might want to just copy/paste what it shows as city, county and zip into the blanks in the form...

    HTH!

    Tomas


    eMac, iMac, iBook Mac OS X (10.4.7)
  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Aug 26, 2006 2:50 AM in response to tomas472
    Level 6 (14,367 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 26, 2006 2:50 AM in response to tomas472
    The server complaint was a little similar, but I was unable to choose
    a valid town; the other choice was not a town and not a true rural route.

    The problem really is when Apple ships to an address other than USPS
    for most things, and then they want a postal address. I get my mail at
    a post office; and that is the only use of the Zip Code in my area. The
    code is not used for rural route, they use a different code so as to not
    confuse the Postal Carriers who drive the route.

    Now, if Apple could have fixed their site so I could click on the correct
    item (as your's shows more than one) and then I could weed out the
    bad information -the database had in it- from the facts that applied to
    getting my business done and the page launched, I would be hours ahead.

    [I did get a confirmation email -- finally, so at least that much worked;
    after alot of wasted time and frustration that I didn't expect on a form.]

    ... Now, what about the iBookG3 dualUSB white computer's likelihood of
    a replacement battery being in this recall group? They can use the same
    battery as the iBookG4. I know of a few users who may be have a Sony.
  • by Jerry Markle,

    Jerry Markle Jerry Markle Aug 26, 2006 7:08 AM in response to Strimkind
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Aug 26, 2006 7:08 AM in response to Strimkind
    OK, when the man on the Apple support line told me that my 6C539 battery wasn't made by Sony and that I could just safely put it back in my computer I was leery. Overworked and given a story to tell those who could not get the site to validate the serial numbers they entered was my conclusion. He did tell me that the site was going to reflect changes, glaring omissions, on their part. I did feel brushed off when he gave me the time to talk but did not give me the specifics of the change they would make or examples of valid serial numbers that fell into my category. His reassurance did not make me feel comfortable. Now I see the website has made changes and that my battery is safe. Mine ends in S9ZD and the affected batteries end in S9WA. Now, why couldn't he tell me that? I suppose he did not know and all he could say was that my serial number tells them that it was not made by Sony. He never could tell me the name of the company that did make it. Oh well, after seeing the change at the website I think that now I can feel safe enough to put the battery back in my computer. I do wonder why it took so many of us to cry out, why, for two days.
  • by bitfiddler,

    bitfiddler bitfiddler Aug 26, 2006 7:54 AM in response to tomas472
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 26, 2006 7:54 AM in response to tomas472
    Well, Don't I feel like an idiot. I've spent the last 50 some hours trying to resolve this problem in submitting data for a battery replacement, and it turns out that I had mis-read the serial number on my battery. I popped the battery out (once again) and double checked that O's were really Ohz, and 1's were really ones, and the culprit turned out to be "C" instead of "G" in theserial number. Sheesh . I didn't realize that i needed a manifying glass to get the serial number correct!

    In my defense the serial number was ZZ414OU7PVAC, so there were all kinds of opportunities for screw ups. [groan] I relly do feel foolish, but perhaps there are others that may be helped by double checking their serial numbers.

    I now have a confirmation number from Apple!

    Color me red ...

    -john

    imac G5/ ibook G4, SUSE 10.0   Mac OS X (10.4.7)   machines: Cyteen, Pell, Fargone & Viking
  • by doczee1,

    doczee1 doczee1 Aug 26, 2006 8:59 AM in response to Mike Zaffuto
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 26, 2006 8:59 AM in response to Mike Zaffuto
    i cannot even find a battery recall page at the apple website. can anyone post a link?
  • by bitfiddler,

    bitfiddler bitfiddler Aug 26, 2006 9:41 AM in response to doczee1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 26, 2006 9:41 AM in response to doczee1
  • by Froggy-hicks,

    Froggy-hicks Froggy-hicks Aug 26, 2006 7:16 PM in response to Strimkind
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 26, 2006 7:16 PM in response to Strimkind
    Yeah this recall is a great idea... if only they had it last year when my g4 ibook overheated so much that the screen caught on fire!

    My laptop is an older model and it doesn’t have a serial number in the range of the recall. Just wondering, if the computer caught on fire (like mine) does that count for the recall?
  • by dbth,

    dbth dbth Aug 27, 2006 5:26 AM in response to Strimkind
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 27, 2006 5:26 AM in response to Strimkind
    I dont see anything regarding ibook g4 15inch being recalled , is this an omisiion?
  • by Wizzard Prang,

    Wizzard Prang Wizzard Prang Aug 27, 2006 2:51 PM in response to dbth
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Aug 27, 2006 2:51 PM in response to dbth
    Yesterday the exchange page wouldn't accept my battery S/No as valid. Today I see they've added more detail for the iBook ones and have added the ending characters of those batteries which are affected. Mine is one of these and, fortunately, the web site accepted my details.

    So my advice is - check your S/No applies and try again. Good luck!
  • by skypros,

    skypros skypros Aug 27, 2006 4:35 PM in response to Wizzard Prang
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 27, 2006 4:35 PM in response to Wizzard Prang
    It appears that although my serial # falls within the range
    6C545*S9ZD
    The page indicates that because it is a "S9ZD" it is ok

    "I Think" it is good news for me
  • by Airren,

    Airren Airren Aug 28, 2006 8:11 AM in response to skypros
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Aug 28, 2006 8:11 AM in response to skypros
    I have had the same experience. I tried the website but although my ibook serial number was ok, my battery was not. I believed that my battery was NOT part of the recall because of the last four digits (S9ZD) but I wasn't completely sure. So I called Apple.

    I got through in about two minutes and the tech confirmed that my battery was not manufactured by Sony. This is apparent because of the LAST four digits of the battery's serial number. The information on the last four digits are on the site so I suggest all you people that are having problems pay attention to that.
  • by hockeychica,

    hockeychica hockeychica Aug 28, 2006 9:44 AM in response to skypros
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 28, 2006 9:44 AM in response to skypros
    heh.... okay, I guess I didn't need the battery after all. I'm also S9ZD. But since it's already been ordered through Customer Relations, what do you think I should do?
  • by Airren,

    Airren Airren Aug 28, 2006 10:16 AM in response to hockeychica
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Aug 28, 2006 10:16 AM in response to hockeychica
    It was free right? So...maybe you'd like an extra battery for those times you are away from a power source?
  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Aug 29, 2006 2:45 AM in response to dbth
    Level 6 (14,367 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 29, 2006 2:45 AM in response to dbth
    The three computer models referred to directly in the battery recall
    information are listed; the iBook12", 14", and PowerBook 15". In
    some cases, a few users with a replacement battery in a dualUSB
    iBookG3 series could have one of the recalled batteries, too.

    With the announced delivery times for replacement batteries now
    at between 4 and 6 weeks, most active users will have to buy a
    replacement battery from whatever source is available to them,
    and then be able to use the computer. I can't see running it as a
    desktop computer for nearly two months, plugged into AC power.
    I get utility outages and protect my desktop computer against
    them as it is.

    Will these batteries themselves light on fire when removed from
    the computer? If so, do we leave them outside in a metal box
    until the replacement battery arrives? And how do I get FedEx
    to stop and take away this hazardous like new iBookG4 battery?
    The last time I had to send something FedEX, I had to drive
    200 miles to get to the nearest FedEx drop-off point!

    None of this encourages me into owning another portable.
    Or buying a second battery when I expected my iBookG4
    with full AppleCare protection plan, to just work...!!
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