My MacBook battery inflated

Question

Level 1

5 points

My MacBook battery inflated

I have a MacBook 2.16GHz (Mid 2007) and bought that in March 2008.

Recently I took a close look at the bottom side and saw the battery does not exactly closed. After removing the battery, I found my battery inflated. I think the issue has happened few months ago or last year, I just didn't notify that. Because the battery only inflated slightly, I still can install it to my MacBook and read the battery data, 41 cycle count, 4922 mAH fully charged.

Then, I called Apple Technical Support at Taiwan (should be Asia Pacific support team). She told me that the battery aged and should not be used anymore. I need to buy a new one to replace it. She told me that the inflation is a indication of aged battery and notify the user should replace it with new one.

So, I have curious questions here.
1. if it is a "designed" signature or indication of aged battery, it cannot warn or notify users because not everyone checks the bottom side of MacBook daily. Users might know the issue after the track-pad had been damaged by the inflation, or battery explosion, or fire by the short circuit.
2. I had iBook G4, and there are ASUS and IBM laptops in my family. Their batteries do not have the issue. Aged battery only has less power capacity.
3. The so-called aged battery has only 41 cycle count and 4922 mAH capacity (about 90% of original capacity, and we know 5500mAH is a theoretical value). If the so-called "aged" battery didn't inflated, I still can use the battery with the only 90% charged capacity without buying new one. Even if the capacity has only 50%, I'm still happy to use it because I didn't use battery power for long time use.

I have no idea of any solutions. But definitely I don't like to and won't buy new Apple official battery because 1) it is more expansive, and 2) it could inflates again and damage other components of my MacBook (even I have Apple Care Protection Plan, but it is going to expire in next year). I could never spend money for this if the God d**n battery didn't inflate, no matter what the capacity is.

God bless your MacBook, MacBook Pro, iPad, iPod, iPhone, and everything of Apple's product which contains a battery.

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.4), 2.16Ghz, 3GB DRAM

Posted on Aug 9, 2010 9:32 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 10, 2010 3:50 AM in response to jclin

It is not a sign of age, it is a defect in the battery. Call back and demand that it be replaced under warranty.

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Answer 2

Aug 10, 2010 6:05 AM in response to Jay Bullock

Are you kidding? I sure hope that was just some failed attempt at a joke. Not only is that a prime example of age on a rechargeable battery, at around 3 years out it is completely unreasonable to be expecting a new one. Batteries are consumables, they do not last forever, hence the root of the word: consume.

The OP should immediately remove the battery and take it somewhere to be disposed of properly, being very careful about handling it lest they get a handful of battery acid. It is then up to them if they want to try and purchase a new one or just continue using the laptop on AC power only. They should NOT be wasting their time calling Apple about it. Batteries are warrantied for a single year, and are NOT covered under AppleCare.

And there are really only about 3-4 companies that make all of these batteries, Sony being the biggest. But the brand of battery doesn't matter, this is what eventually happens to all rechargeable batteries if you leave them in long enough after they have reached their EOL point. It is a fundamental property of the chemicals used in the creation of the power storage gel. So when anyone here perfects a new type of battery that is infinitely rechargeable and doesn't eventually explode if you're stupid enough to leave it in, let me know when you're readying for an IPO.

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Answer 3

jclin Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 10, 2010 6:08 AM in response to Jay Bullock

I did argue with the Apple technical and Apple authorized reseller people.
They did say it is a age battery sign, and they don't agree with that is a defect.

<Edited by Host>

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Answer 4

jclin Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 10, 2010 7:02 AM in response to Scott Billings

I agree with you and know the battery is not covered by Apple Care. But it is not reasonable that the battery inflates and keep expanding to damage the other components. The battery is consumable item and I would like to buy new one if the battery is aged within reasonable conditions , such as low capacity, cannot recharge, or cannot support power anymore. There are too many cases that battery causes explosion, fire, and other serious damages, so I think the expanding recyclable battery is a defect one, not simply a aged batter.

But I did not agree with that aged battery inflates. I think it is a defect battery produced in 2006~2008. I'm not also asking for another new battery from Apple. So, in your opinion, I need to spend money to ask Apple for replacing the battery in my iPod touch 1st generation? As everybody knows, in Apple portable devices, their batteries are not replaceable. And if Apple battery (even the new bought one) will inflate, I would like not to use battery because it could damage my laptop someday if I didn't check hardware carefully.

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Answer 5

jclin Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 10, 2010 7:24 AM in response to jclin

Ref: http://manuals.info.apple.com/zhTW/APP_for_Mac_GS2A.pdf

Terms and Conditions
b. Limitations. The Plan does not cover:
(ix) Consumable parts, such as batteries, except in respect of battery coverage under APP for iPod or *_+unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials+_ and workmanship*;

I do agree with that terms and conditions and batteries are consumable parts of laptops. But the battery inflation is not a sign or protective mechanism of age battery. It could be a serious defect in its materials or battery design by Apple.

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Answer 6

jclin Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 10, 2010 8:18 AM in response to Scott Billings

We both know battery charge and discharge are slow chemical reactions. But they are controllable (won't cause fire or explosion like bomb or rapid chemical reactions) and then can be go to the market. Besides, the consumers should not keep using the inflated battery. That would lead to battery explosion or fire. Therefore, consumers also have responsibilities of keeping good habits of using batteries.

But it should not be a excuse for me because Apple Technical Support told me that is a battery protective mechanism and an indication. The inflation tells consumers the battery has aged and should be replaced. Batteries does not all work well in the way human designed it. It contains complex chemical reactions inside batteries and should be statistics and a probability issue. For all batteries being produced, they might have the following distribution (just for illustration)
2% not QA passed (cannot be recharged, cannot supply power, defects)
98% QA passed and shipped
In those 98% QA passed batteries, can we say they have the same condition and follow the same battery rule? NO, I think, because some of the problem could be emerged from normal use, for example (for illustration)
1% cannot be charged, cannot supply power after multiple charge/discharge.
1% cells will inflate. They will make the battery inflated after many months or years
98% normal and battery cell capacity become low
So, if we can call the first 1% batteries are defects, why the second 1% batteries are not defects. On the contrary, Apple tell me that is age battery.

So, even mine has only 41 cycle count and 4922mAH capacity after 2 years use, I might call it an age battery but I still would like to use it because other laptops' batteries are older than my MacBook's, *if the battery of MacBook didn't inflate*. There are many people have the same problem with Apple MacBook battery produced in 2006~2008. If the battery materials and inflation issue are a general case, there should be many battery inflation reports of other laptop vendors.

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Answer 7

Aug 10, 2010 10:29 AM in response to jclin

I'm no expert, but I think that the batteries for this time frame were defective at a very high rate. The Black 13" MacBook in particular had a total recall of batteries produced in this time frame. Apple should replace it for free regardless if you have Applecare or not. The swelling battery syndrome is a sign of the dangerous defect that this crop of batteries was manufactured with. The new ones do not do this. Also, in one of your posts here you mention batteries are not replaceable in Apple portables. That is not correct, it is just not USER-replaceable - you have to send the unit in to Apple and have them replace it.

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Answer 8

Aug 10, 2010 8:35 PM in response to jclin

None the less, you trying to make a claim now, some 3-4 years later, makes me think they're going to be far less sympathetic. If this had happened even 2 years ago, then maybe... But this far out, it strikes me as unreasonable to even ask. The battery should have probably failed ages ago, but didn't, so bonus for you.

I mean really... If I go out and buy some standard AA batteries, and 3-4 years later they start leaking, I would fully expect the clerks at the store to start laughing at me if I tried to take them back for a refund or exchange.

And I don't believe any of the battery recall programs applied to Intel based laptops. They covered the iBook, and PowerBook... Only specific models at that. Sony had some manufacturing issues back in the day, and a lot of batteries had a habit of exploding suddenly on people.

Just to be sure, I checked the Service News bulletin on it. The only battery exchange programs were for PPC laptops. And the only ones still active are for the iBook from May of 2005 and August of 2006. There are some active extended repair programs for MacBook Pro video issues, but that's pretty much it.

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Answer 9

jclin Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 11, 2010 3:59 AM in response to Scott Billings

Sure, it is not reasonable to claim new or refund after 3-4 yrs use.
Of course, batteries has 1 year (or 3 months if your battery is exchanged/replaced one) warranty. The limitation is made by human, not any chemical reactions or counter inside the batteries.
I think the reason I have swelling battery 2 years later because I didn't often use the battery and didn't make it charge/discharge frequently to make the issue emerge within 1 year.
Your AA batteries could already start to leak after first few times charge/discharge. But the reaction is very slow and no any signs cannot be observed from the outside of the battery.

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Answer 10

Aug 11, 2010 5:48 AM in response to jclin

No, it's just a natural process with rechargeable batteries. To date, no one has found a way to counter entropy. Things break down over time. Many times it's sooner than we would like, but that is life.

I don't really know what there is left to discuss on this since it appears you were already shot down on getting a new battery by Apple. You may disagree, but short of suing them over it, their word is final in this case.

Buy a new one or run your laptop without a battery. Those are your two choices now. Pick one, or I guess you could opt for door #3 and just get rid of your laptop.

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