"Battery is not charging"

We are having this exact problem. None of the SMC articles or battery reset discussions seem to apply.

Hi, I've got the exactly very same problem with my macbook. I wrote the e/mail to service and they replied they need a serial number. I think they know about the problem, but why they need the serial number?

I have the identical problem - and resetting the SMC has no effect.

System profiler reports 126 cycle count and says 'Check battery'

Brian

OS X 10.5.6 MacBook 13 2.4Ghz Intel core duo 4 GB 667Mhz DDR2 SDRAM

Same here, taking it to a service centre tomorrow. Resetting the SMC didn't do anything as others have said!

I am surprised you had to buy a new battery. Have a look at this:

http://www.apple.com/uk/support/macbook_macbookpro/batteryupdate/

Seems to me this is a system problem. Other posts in discussion fora mention this programme.

I have a reservation to see a support person tomorrow am and will report further.

My MacBook is less than a year old and I bought the Apple Care service as well.

Trying to run the Mac off the Magsafe adaptor alone is a bonkers idea I think - the connector disconnects so easily (which is good) but without a battery crashes immediately of course.

I use my Mac at home - sometimes connected to the mains but a lot of the time on battery.

I have the exactly same problem. I tried the website offered above and downloaded the update and i got a message saying "this update does not apply"

the update above is old... from 2007

If you have OS X 10.5.6 then you have battery update 1.3ather than so it's not surprising it didn't work. 🙂 Reference to the update was not my point. Rather, we have evidence of a replacement programme for batteries which Apple has implemented before in similar circumstances - with the same symptoms. So the batteries are the problem and should therefore be replaced Free Of Charge by Apple (rather than being regarded as 'consumables').

Took my MacBook to the Apple Store in White City, London - as expected the battery was at fault. It was replaced at no cost to me with a new replacement battery.

The service was quick, highly competent and professional.

I did the same but mine is not eligible for battery replacement even though it had exactly the same problem.
Do you guys have any idea to replace the battery with no cost?

Message was edited by: idoidoidoido

okay this is crazy, same thing happened to me, left my running during the christmas break and i thought i would turn it on to charge, of course it would be dead but, it wont charge up, the green light is stayed on which was my first sign something is up, im glad i have like 2 weeks of warranty left though, im going in this weekend.

Same here. Everything was fine over Christmas break, I went to boot up today and it wouldn't.

Does anyone have any idea if there is an age limit on no-cost replacement? I'm not sure how long I've had my MacBook, but there are only 47 cycles on it.

Megatronbomb wrote:

Does anyone have any idea if there is an age limit on no-cost replacement? I'm not sure how long I've had my MacBook, but there are only 47 cycles on it.

Mine had 126 cycles on it and was replaced at no cost.

The helpful Apple support guy said that it's very difficult to have a firm number of cycles - but that something like 300 cycle time is a reasonable life.

A lot depends on how you manage the battery and how old it is rather than absolute cycle times. Lithium batteries need to be managed and it's actually not good for them to be connected to the mains supply the whole time. So it would be possible to have a battery that was dud with a small number of cycles on it IYSWIM.

See http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html

Exact same thing happened to me (10 days for the holiday Macbook off and unplugged), except I do not have an Apple Store check with. So I called and trouble shot for a while (SMC, Battery Update, etc), nothing worked.

Support asked that I check the cycles, mine was 446. That was enough for him to say it wasn't covered. Apparently if you are below 300, you may qualify for a free replacement, even outside of your warranty. But Apple figures if you get over 300 cycles, then you have consumed that batteries useful life.

On another note, what would you guys recommend for a replacement battery? Initially I would think a Genuine Apple Battery A1185, but there is no way to confirm when it was manufactured. So even if you get an unopened OEM battery, it still may be 1-2 yrs old. Thoughts? Alternatives?

Might I ask how old your MacBook is? Is it still under warranty?

I called Apple this morning and they told me to take it into the store, unfortunately, all the appointments for the store nearest me are booked up. I guess I'll just keep trying to make one.