PowerBook G3 333 Lombard Battery Problems.

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Level 1

5 points

PowerBook G3 333 Lombard Battery Problems.

Hi,
I have a G3 with two batteries, the power cord and yoyo died, so I replaced it. This worked for about a month charging and powering the laptop, but was defective. I purchased a new apple yoyo and neither battery shows lights, nore do they show being connected. The laptop has not been used in over two months with no power or batteries with power. Does anyone have any idea if the batteries are gone? I have zapped Pram with Control Option P R and Also done it with the reset in the rear of the computer. Not sure what else to do.

Powerbook G3 Lombard 333, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Jul 27, 2007 2:59 PM

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Answer 1

jpl

Level 7

28,285 points

Jul 27, 2007 7:40 PM in response to Jwhittaker

jwhittaker,

When you press the test button on each battery, do any of the LEDs light up or flash?

If you have the 'X' over the battery icon in the menu bar, you are correct that neither battery is being recognized by the Lombard. The usual causes for this condition is a dead battery and/or a failed component in the Lombard and/or a funky controller in the lithium ion batteries.

If you have 9.x installed on the HD and is bootable, you can download and run a utility called Battery Reset which addresses the 'X' in the menu bar. You have the Lombard M5343.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60655

There was an earlier "workaround" for this condition that you might try if you can't run Battery Reset.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58449

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Answer 2

Jwhittaker Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 28, 2007 3:24 AM in response to jpl

Well I booted from 9.2 and ran the reset, it didnn't work. The red X shoes on top of the battery, I had taken the laptop apart a while ago and maybe something stayed disconnected, will have to check that out before getting a battery. Are there any apple utilities to test the logic board and other things to make sure all the components are ok?

Any other ideas?

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Answer 3

Jwhittaker Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 28, 2007 3:25 AM in response to Jwhittaker

No lights on either battery either.

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Answer 4

jpl

Level 7

28,285 points

Jul 28, 2007 8:00 AM in response to Jwhittaker

jwhittaker,

Apple did not start providing their Hardware Test CDs with powerbooks until the Pismo, nor am I aware of any utility that will test charging circuits. Be sure to try your batteries in the right media bay also.

The easiest test to determine battery or powerbook issues is to swap batteries with another Lombard or Pismo if possible. Depending on their age, you could have two dead batteries, so be careful in assuming the problem lies with the powerbook.

There are two components involved in charging your battery...the power supply card and the logic board.

By the way, if your power adapter is not at least 45 watts, the battery may only charge when the 'book is asleep or turned off.

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Answer 5

Jwhittaker Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 28, 2007 9:34 AM in response to jpl

Thank you for all of your help. After doing the reset, removing the batteires several times, and letting it stay plugged in while it was booting and the cover closed.. both batteries are now charged and seen by the system. My niece is going to be excited, as she thought the computer was a dead one.

Jeff

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Answer 6

jpl

Level 7

28,285 points

Jul 28, 2007 10:18 AM in response to Jwhittaker

Jeff,

Thanks for the update and am glad you have working batteries.

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