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

Yesterday I post about my MBP having the same issue....
After two battery calibration, today my battery just return to normal power (86%) and the "service battery" message disappears.
I definitely think that this is a 10.6 issue, not a battery problem
Hope it helps

Ma SF:

Sounds like you might be a good candidate for a battery replacement, even without Applecare. Other than the high cycle count, if you were doing fine before SL and started having challenges after SL, you may be successful.

Others are having mixed results with getting batteries replaced out of warranty. It can't hurt to try. I'm going to see if I can have mine replaced. My system refuses to hibernate. I've managed to get the low battery warning window to pop up fairly consistently.

Outside of that, I have to "double-time" it over to the A/C when that happens though, which isn't fun.

Yes! The message has disappeared!
I have now 86% health.
All I have done: switched the power adapter off and worked with a MPB for a while!

This does seem to be a battery and not SL fault. I went to genius bar today and battery was BAD. Only one year old battery - had to be replaced a year ago for similar problems. Got a free out of warranty battery as they could not explain why 2 batteries had both only lasted a year for me. My suggestion (for what it's worth) - get to genius bar and see if you'll get a new battery. This is very unlikely to be a software issue...

vincefer:

How many times did you have to interact with Apple before they replaced the battery?

I'd imagine if it were under Applecare, it would have been done almost without question.

Did you go into the Genius Bar a few times?

Having the same problem 4+ hours of battery life before Snow Leopard update 1.5+ hours after. Took it into the Genius Bar at a Apple Store and they tested and said bad battery. Gave me a new battery and re-tested and said bad battery. To make a long story short they could not find a new battery that would pass their test. They also said the MacBook Pro was not at fault. I don't believe they know what is going on as they said there was nothing they could do. So they gave me my original battery and sent me on my way. Oh well, when the update that fixes the Snow Leopard problem comes out we will all be happy again. Sigh.

Thanks for your suggestion, ErvDoggie.

Yesterday I recharged my battery for 5 hrs, after resetting SMC and PRAM for the 4th time, the battery health jumped back from 46% to 70% and the notice message changed from "Replace Now" back to "Replace Soon". Seems like an improvement. Haven't test if the low battery popup window is back again.

the weird thing is, I've plugged my MBP for more than 14 hrs now but the battery stopped charging while it reached 90% of its maximum capacity, is it normal?

Think I'll bring my MBP to an authorized service center today, wish me luck!

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): 4201
Fully charged: Yes
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 4421
Health Information:
Cycle count: 368
Condition: Replace Soon
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12346

Macbook Pro 2007

service battery message with immediate shutdows bettween 40% - 70% battery life.

Went to Genius bar yesterday and was told i would need to buy a new battery, Complained that i would not have to if i didnt have snowL installed as thats what is causing the immediate shut downs.

After a bit of complaining i had managed to get my money back from snowL if i uninstalled/downgraded and gave the disk back. Then said i would rather have that money off new battery. And then asked for it to be a repair price for battery rather than replace. So only paid half price!

all working great now.

wrfulton:

This would have been a great opportunity to accept the "new" battery anyhow, and let them know that you'll go home and do an SMC Reset and see how it performs over time--despite the message

What is interesting is they could not find a battery that did not report the same problem. I wonder if they did an SMC Reset for you right there on the spot.....

I had taken my laptop in to be serviced, my SuperDrive had failed. I have AppleCare, and my original battery had died forcing me to replace it. When I took the computer in, I included my original battery and told them that the battery was failing. Apple deemed that the battery died as a result of usage and not because the battery was defective and refused to replace it, even though before the first year it would only hold a 20 minute charge.

The new battery was working just fine up until either 10.6.1 or 10.6.2, I use it connected to the power cord most of the time, but I routinely let the battery drain, normally I get at least 2 hours of use (I've never gotten 4 hours) recently though, the computer just shuts down.

I'm guessing its a Snow Leopard issue, since the Laptop is an older generation, I'm willing to bet that there were unforeseen issues. I just hope they fix it soon, tired of being tethered to my power cord. The battery issue wouldn't bother me as much if it didn't just shut down, bypassing sleep mode causing me to loose all of my opened documents.

That's what leads me to believe its a software issue, something's disabled the PB's ability to go to sleep mode when the battery runs out.

Just another person here adding their frustration to the problem. 2008 MBP, 15". Battery went to **** after upgrading to Snow Leopard. Can't get more than 45 minutes on the battery now (was at 2 hours before).

Are you listening, Apple? I can't get phone support without paying first. I think buying my first mac was a huge mistake.

Hi all.

Just adding my name to this ever growing list of dissatisfied customers with battery issues. My late 2008 MBP is now showing 'Service Battery'. I have AppleCare so I'll be giving them a call in the morning.

Hi,

Glad to see I am not the only one with these issues and I'm not going crazy. Without sifting through the 40 pages of this thread... what should I be doing to take care of this annoying and absurd issue? Is there any type of patch in the works or is it strictly a battery issue?

Thanks

I bought a new battery put it in last night (11/29/09) charger it up started to use it about 20 min.
and no warning it just shut down. I connected the power adapter restarted and the battery says at 62%. I might say my other battery (2nd one) had only 44 cycles on it and only 13 months old, but the out fit " We love Macs" would not budge on giving a replacement or a discount for a new one, so I will never ever buy from them again.

Resetting the SMC worked for my macbook pro