domingogirl

Q: Powerbook G4 1.67 GHz  Battery not charging

Charge Information:

Charge remaining (mAh):     0

Charging:     No

Full charge capacity (mAh):     2768

Health Information:

Cycle count:     182

Condition:     Good

Battery Installed:     Yes

Amperage (mA):     0

Voltage (mV):     4170

 

System Power Settings:

 

AC Power:

System Sleep Timer (Minutes):     10

Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes):     10

Display Sleep Timer (Minutes):     5

Automatic Restart On Power Loss:     No

Wake On AC Change:     No

Wake On Clamshell Open:     Yes

Wake On LAN:     Yes

Wake On Modem Ring:     Yes

Display Sleep Uses Dim:     Yes

Battery Power:

System Sleep Timer (Minutes):     5

Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes):     180

Display Sleep Timer (Minutes):     5

Automatic Restart On Power Loss:     No

Wake On AC Change:     No

Wake On Clamshell Open:     Yes

Wake On Modem Ring:     No

Display Sleep Uses Dim:     Yes

Reduce Brightness:     Yes

 

Hardware Configuration:

 

Clamshell Closed:     No

UPS Installed:     No

 

AC Charger Information:

 

AC Charger (Watts):     65

Connected:     Yes

Charging:     No

PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Nov 3, 2012 4:55 AM

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Q: Powerbook G4 1.67 GHz  Battery not charging

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BGreg,

    BGreg BGreg Nov 3, 2012 6:19 AM in response to domingogirl
    Level 6 (17,522 points)
    Nov 3, 2012 6:19 AM in response to domingogirl

    There are 4 components to the charging circuit ... the power adapter, the DC-in card, the battery, and the logic board. Unfortunately, there's no diagnostic that can tell you what's failing, so it's process of elimination to fix.

     

    Since you just said it's not charging, assume you're running on wall power, and the system sees the power adapter, so the power adapter is good. That also means the DC-in card is probably good. Do you have a spare battery you could substitute? Maybe see if your local Apple store happens to have one. If you determine it's not the battery, then you have a logic board issue, which can only be fixed by replacing the logic board, or only running the PowerBook on power. We had this issue on one of our PowerBooks, and it was fixed with a replacement logic board.

     

    One other thing you might try is resetting the PMU.

  • by Texas Mac Man,

    Texas Mac Man Texas Mac Man Nov 3, 2012 6:18 AM in response to domingogirl
    Level 8 (46,611 points)
    Nov 3, 2012 6:18 AM in response to domingogirl

    Try resetting the PMU http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431

     

     Cheers, Tom

  • by domingogirl,

    domingogirl domingogirl Nov 4, 2012 6:26 AM in response to Texas Mac Man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2012 6:26 AM in response to Texas Mac Man

    Yeah did that.  Already had a good read through similar posts.  Similarly to another user, the Powerbook had been replaced and I was only using it occasionaly for certain aps I haven't yet updated.  So a month could go by with no use.  Meanwhile the battery seems to have died.  i can continue using it with the power cord in, but the internal date and time keeps resetting to 1970. 

  • by domingogirl,

    domingogirl domingogirl Nov 4, 2012 6:29 AM in response to BGreg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2012 6:29 AM in response to BGreg

    I'll try taking it to an Apple Store, but I don't want to spend any money as eventually I'll upgrade this to a new desk-top.  (currently managing with a macbook air)

     

    As mentioned in my other reply: Similar to another user, the Powerbook had been replaced and I was only using it occasionaly for certain aps I haven't yet updated.  So a month could go by with no use.  Meanwhile the battery seems to have died.  I can continue using it with the power cord in, but the internal date and time keeps resetting to 1970. 

  • by BGreg,Helpful

    BGreg BGreg Nov 4, 2012 7:07 AM in response to domingogirl
    Level 6 (17,522 points)
    Nov 4, 2012 7:07 AM in response to domingogirl

    The date resetting means your internal PRAM battery needs replacing.  Finding a replacement is challenging. If your 1.67Ghz is a 17" model, however, OWC has a replacement here.

  • by domingogirl,

    domingogirl domingogirl Nov 4, 2012 8:02 AM in response to BGreg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2012 8:02 AM in response to BGreg

    It's a 15" 

     

    I'll check out how to replace before I part with the money!