Q: MacBook Pro Battery 'Service Battery' after Snow Upgrade

He booted from an ipod that had special diagnostic software on it to check my battery.

They hooked up a iPod Nano that they had labelled as a battery check tool. It gave a test reading on my screen that showed that it was okay.

I think it would be worth your while to take it in and have them check it to rule out a hardware problem.

I had similar problems. Indeed, I couldn't even calibrate the battery - my Macbook would cut out completely at 61%! What worked for me was running the battery down on the Windows (Bootcamp) side. By doing that, the 'Battery Service' instruction disappeared, and after calibration (on the Mac side), it now discharges much slower. Just an idea folks if you haven't tried.

Follow up here:

I do have applecare, called them, and they replaced my battery that would no longer charge after an upgrade to SL on my early 2008 MBP, at no charge. This battery was in the chassis at time of SL upgrade. I had a second battery which I have been using in the interim which worked fine when I put it in post SL upgrade . After the 10.6.1 upgrade (with second battery in chassis), I got the "service battery" message on my second battery as well, but it still held a good charge while running on battery and would charge fully as well. The message seemed cosmetic (applecare's words) and has since gone away. I didn't notice when, but it's been in the last few days. I'm currently calibrating my new battery. No "service battery" message on this one either, at the moment. The battery I sent back didn't have any noticeable defects or swelling. Anything changes, and I'll post back.

Update on my situation: I restored my pre-SL backup (10.5.7). While my batter/MBP were behaving normally prior to SL installation, the machine now shuts down without warning at 61% under 10.5.7. Here's my question: Does the SL install update firmware on the MBP? If so, the downgrade I performed would not have completely restored my system to its state prior to installing SL.

dselph wrote:
Update on my situation: I restored my pre-SL backup (10.5.7). While my batter/MBP were behaving normally prior to SL installation, the machine now shuts down without warning at 61% under 10.5.7. Here's my question: Does the SL install update firmware on the MBP? If so, the downgrade I performed would not have completely restored my system to its state prior to installing SL.

As per my last post... SNAP!

+1 updating to SL, battery screwed!
Macbook Pro 3,1 Latte 2007

Edit: SMC reset and calibrating were useless

Model Information:
Manufacturer: Sony
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0001
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0110
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0303
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 52
Fully charged: No
Charging: Yes
Full charge capacity (mAh): 720
Health Information:
Cycle count: 62
Condition: Check Battery
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 937
Voltage (mV): 12545

Message was edited by: Nioufy

More one here!!!!!

I was working in my SL and the battery indicate 10% the I restart the MBP to OS X 10.5 (because I left the OS X 10.5 in my disk.) and the battery indicate 37% and I was able to work about more ~45 min.

What strange problem!!! Apple should release the solution quickly otherwise we have to downgrade to Leopard 10.5.x!!!!

Hey folks, I just started getting the same battery issues last night. Running Snow Leopard 10.6.1.

MacbookPro4,1

Model Information:
Manufacturer: Sony
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0000
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0110
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0303
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 3367
Fully charged: Yes
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 3418
Health Information:
Cycle count: 73
Condition: Check Battery
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12449

I started following this thread last night, any new information out there?

Thought I would add my battery information to the list... my MBP 1,2 is older, and I already had my battery replaced a year and a half or so ago when they discovered it was bulging. So why the sudden change overnight!?

I tried to calibrate as well with no difference.

Battery Information:

Model Information:
Manufacturer: SMP
Device name: ASMB014
Pack Lot Code: 0002
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 102a
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0102
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 4034
Fully charged: Yes
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 4034
Health Information:
Cycle count: 267
Condition: Check Battery
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12554

Same thing for me, battery health on my MBP 3,1 went from 79% with 10.5.8 to 39% with 10.6.1. Tried resetting the SMC, no luck. Here are my battery specs:

Model Information:
Manufacturer: SMP
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0002
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0102
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0200
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 2664
Fully charged: Yes
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 2689
Health Information:
Cycle count: 134
Condition: Check Battery
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12539

Just adding my Macbook Pro to the list. Sometimes turned it on and within a few minutes it would run out of power. I initially thought I'd accidentally left it unplugged last time I had it on, but it's obvious from this thread that it is the same issue, especially as I have the "Service Battery" message. Used to have a good 4 hours battery life pre-SL.

Model Information:
Manufacturer: Sony
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0000
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0110
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0303
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 3025
Fully charged: Yes
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 3130
Health Information:
Cycle count: 191
Condition: Check Battery
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12374

I am having the same problem. I went to my local service centre. I was basically told my battery was old and it was time to replace it. Strange since before installing Snow Leopard the battery was still at %73 Health under iStat pro. I am also having the sudden shut down problems, very annoying. The battery meter will say as much as a %60 charge, then suddenly shut down.

I'm having the same issue... although on mine the battery seems to bobble between "Service Battery" and reporting normal status. I actually had this battery replaced about 8 months ago at the Genius Bar.

Model Information:
Manufacturer: Sony
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0000
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0110
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0303
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 3976
Fully charged: No
Charging: Yes
Full charge capacity (mAh): 3976
Health Information:
Cycle count: 110
Condition: Check Battery
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 165
Voltage (mV): 12633

Full charge capacity has been anywhere from ~3100 to ~4500 this week inbetween calibration. I made a Genius Bar appointment, but... that day it was reporting Normal status so I cancelled. Not sure what's going on, but I'm leaving on a 10 day trip tomorrow so the timing is definitely inconvenient.

I was testing it again earlier, and let it drain to 70%. Then I needed to reboot, so I did so, and the power cut off while I still had the Apple logo on the screen!!! How could it run out of battery power so quickly after having 70% charge??

Never had anything like this with Leopard, so it MUST be software related.