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Level 1

127 points

Expanding battery

Hi all,

My MacBook's battery is physically expanding. The battery touches the trackpad from the underside and trackpad 'clicks' don't sound. My computer is 2 years old and the battery health is 80 % with 181 charge cycles. I calibrate the battery regularly and have no other issues with the computer or the battery. The other thing I noticed is that when I wake up the computer from overnight sleep, the battery appears to be normal and the clicks sound. Also, this only happens for corner clicks, I can click properly in the middle.

Thank you

MB5,1(6th generation), Mac OS X (10.6.7), Ubuntu box (self-made) iPod nano (2g)

Posted on Apr 30, 2011 11:30 PM

Best reply

TaylorN90

Level 3

645 points

Posted on Apr 30, 2011 11:33 PM

Whatever you do, DO NOT REMOVE THE BATTERY YOURSELF, please.

If you remove the battery, then you will have no chance getting this covered, Apple will say that removing the battery caused the damage.

What you need to do, is get in contact with Apple, or take the machine to an Apple Retail Store (only Apple can authorise an out of warranty exception) and request that the battery be covered. I cannot guaruntee that it will be, but this is your best course of action

Good Luck

😀

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31 replies

tartarsauce Author

Level 1

127 points

May 2, 2011 6:54 AM in response to tartarsauce

Some updates:

Went to the service centre. Told him the problem. His immediate response was "buy a new battery". I told him I was entitled for a free replacement as this is a manufacturing defect. He noted down the serial numbers of my MacBook and my battery. He said he will chat with an Apple tech guy and I may get a replacement within 2 days.

Should I celebrate?

babowa

Level 9

78,151 points

May 2, 2011 9:02 AM in response to tartarsauce

I'm inclined to be cautious - I'd wait until I get it..... 😉

tartarsauce Author

Level 1

127 points

May 3, 2011 12:56 AM in response to babowa

I didn't get it! The AASP guy called me back saying that Apple refuses to provide a free replacement and asked me to contact AppleCare. I called AppleCare and got my call forwarded to a senior customer care rep. I had a chat with him and he advised me to replace the battery myself. I told him I cant afford a new one at this time and asked him to do something about it. He had a talk with a customer relations blah blah.. and said nothing can be done.

I told him in that case I will have to continue with the old one and the only thing that scares me is that it may explode. He advised me not to use it and get it replaced, but assured me that the battery is properly designed and it will not explode.

So I will be using it for some time now.

tartarsauce Author

Level 1

127 points

May 3, 2011 4:16 AM in response to tartarsauce

In the mean time I am looking for a cheaper solution (I'm really low on cash). I am looking forward to buy this battery:

A1280 Battery for Apple 13.3" New Version Macbook Aluminum Unibody Mb466ll/a, Mb467ll/a Laptop, 6-cell 52whr

babowa

Level 9

78,151 points

May 3, 2011 9:03 AM in response to tartarsauce

I know you want to save money, but I would not a) continue to use any device with an expanding battery and b) personally would stick with the exact same specs for a battery. When you buy anything that uses batteries, you have to be prepared to replace them at some point - two years or more is great for a Macbook battery. Wherever you decide to get them, make sure they offer a warranty that doesn't include a bunch of clauses which will offer them the opportunity not to honor it and an iron-clad return policy with a 100% refund.

dcsos

Level 1

10 points

May 3, 2011 9:10 AM in response to babowa

I have exactly same issue..battery works but its expanding!

I showed it to a employee at Apple Store 67th st manhattan.

He told me I was out of luck and Apple would not cover this issue after the one year warantee is done.

I am still using it but worried as I cannot afford a new battery.

Don't buy replacement from Amazon..

Instead go to OWC at macsales.com

babowa

Level 9

78,151 points

May 3, 2011 9:13 AM in response to dcsos

If you'll read the warranty excerpt I posted earlier, it plainly states that consumable parts such as batteries are not covered - batteries never are in any gadget. You are expected to pay for replacements; the only difference here is that this type of battery is more expensive.

tartarsauce Author

Level 1

127 points

May 4, 2011 5:54 AM in response to tartarsauce

Thanks guys for all the help. So my final decision: "Buy a new battery (from Apple)"

babowa

Level 9

78,151 points

May 4, 2011 9:24 AM in response to tartarsauce

I'd also trust Amazon or other reputable online vendor such as lacomputers.com (I think that's what they're called), just make sure you get the right battery for your model.

May 4, 2011 10:27 AM in response to TaylorN90

If it's a MacBook which has a removable battery, you risk damaging the iBook further by leaving an expanding battery in it.

I called AppleCare when this happened to my battery. AppleCare told me to remove the battery (for safety's sake), and said they would cover the damage to the case, but that the battery was not covered. However, the nice AppleCare representative e-mailed me afterward and told me to install the battery when I sent my MacBook in for repair, and it came back with the case fixed AND a new battery. I was very happy.

P.S. It was out of warranty (I had had AppleCare on it) by several months when this happened.

I had ordered a battery from Other World Computing, but it was placed on backorder so when my MacBook came back from the repair with a new battery, I was able to cancel my order.

May 5, 2011 9:46 PM in response to tartarsauce

I don´t know about your personal experience but for me it was almost the same I had an expanded battery of my mac book, but for me I went down with just the battery in my hand and told the guy at Apple that some one told me about a replacement program for this kind of battery and in less than a minute he came back with a new one at no charge, I bought my computer on the 2006, so you better try again they don´t charge me anything!!!! I´m in Miami so good luck...

May 5, 2011 9:56 PM in response to tartarsauce

You can get a battery a little cheaper on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/Battery-Fr-Apple-MacBook-13-Aluminum-Unibody-MB771LL-A-/3503 64631319?pt=Laptop_Batteries&hash=item51935c0117

Here's a Youtube video on changing the battery. It's very easy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9z0pFhRTeQ

babowa

Level 9

78,151 points

May 5, 2011 10:26 PM in response to frederic1943

Buying a generic substitute from an ebay seller may work for you; I wouldn't put one of those in any of my machines and would not recommend it to anyone. You get what you pay for.

May 6, 2011 3:15 AM in response to Ronda Wilson

tartarsauce Author

Level 1

127 points

May 8, 2011 11:53 PM in response to tartarsauce

Thank you all for participating in this discussion 🙂

After a few days of research and observations, I now present my opinion on this:

1 - Why do batteries expand?

Batteries are made up of multiple cells. It is actually the cells that expand. The reasons are overheating, fast/overcharging and too much strain on the batteries. In my case, my battery expands when I charge it or my computer heats up. The outside temperature here is around 40 C. The battery tries to return to the normal size (shrinks) when it is discharging or is relatively cool. When I wake up my computer in the morning, the trackpad behaves fine and clicks are perfect.

2 - Are expanding batteries dangerous?

Yes, they are potentially dangerous to you as well as your computer. Li-ion-polymer batteries may leak or explode after a certain threshold. In other words, once safe limits for temperature, over-voltage/current and physical expansion are crossed, the battery is like a time-bomb. The battery may combust releasing toxic fumes. (Watch youtube videos)

3 - Is it normal for batteries to expand?

No. If the battery is used 'normally', then it should not expand. If the battery is expanding even though proper guidelines for usage are followed, then there is something wrong with the chemical composition of the battery, probably due to a manufacturing defect or due to its age.

4 - What does Apple do in this case?

Apple considers batteries amongst 'consumables' and does not provide any replacements after the 1 year limited warranty (or after AppleCare expires). The battery has instructions printed on it which ask you to replace the battery in case it is leaking/expanding/swollen/physically deformed.

5 - Then how did some guys get free replacements?

There was a batch of MacBook/Pros which were shipped with defective batteries, and consumers experienced problems quite soon. So Apple had a replacement program for these models (ended in early 2008). Apart from this if you got a replacement, then it was mere luck. When a consumer walks to a busy, crowded Apple Store flashing a defective, dangerous battery in his hand, it is best for the Geniuses to replace it without arguing 😀.

6 - What should I do?

Talk in person with a Genius. If it doesn't work, try another store. If nothing works, buy a new battery and safely dispose off the old one.

Expanding battery