Battery Recall

I tried it yesterday the whole evening - my battery was not recogniezed - this morning (Amsterdam time 9.30) it worked. So I just have to wait if and when the new battery will arrive. I have got my computer now for 3 years with this battery. It never had any signs of becoming hot. I suppose that I still can use my battery till the new one arrives - or has this problem anything to do with the age of the battery? How many batteries actually had this problem?

I hope that indeed the Apple Rep was giving you/us the straight scoop. If that is true they should REALLY update their website and let the media know. I followed a media link to the apple support site and there was no hint that this would be the case.


imac G5/ ibook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.7) Cyteen, Pell, Fargone & Viking

Finally got through to an Apple rep via phone. He
reported that even though some people have batteries
with serial numbers that fall into the range of
recall numbers posted on the web site not all are
actually qualified for replacement because they were
not manufactured by Sony.

He may be correct - or may not.

After 24 hours of rejecting one of my battery serial numbers as being invalid or not qualified for the recall, the site suddenly accepted it as a valid, qualified battery S/N, and processed it - I have a "Battery Confirmation Reference Number" on it now.

Had I accepted the website's initial rejection that my battery was not subject to recall, and not retried a number of times, would I have been left with a potentially hazardous battery?

I honestly think that rep MAY have been passing on what s/he and other reps think MIGHT be a reason for the site rejecting some S/N ranges, rather than passing on some "official word" they had gotten - I'd want to see it in writing.

If that is just rumor being spread, Apple could have a future problem caused by people retaining and using potentially hazardous batteries because of it.

Tomas
(retired engineer)

No manufacturer single sources components and only apple knows who made which battery. Consecutive numbers could have been made by different sources, plants, processes.

The entire point of serial numbers on physical objects is to identify origin and manufacturing run (not the product they're supposed to go in), and doubly so for serials which begin with alphanumeric sequences. It's because of multiple sourcing that headers on serial numbers differ, not in spite of it. If you lump multiple sources together in one numbering sequence you've missed the entire point.

If Sony built all four sizes -- 12"/14"/15"/17" -- but in two runs (14"/17" before the contamination, 12"/15" during) and then sent them to Apple in one shipment, I could see Apple labeling them all with the same serial sequence. That would make sense.

OTOH, Sony and Toshiba shipping 12" iBook batteries at the same time, then Apple labeling them both with the same serial numbering sequence -- suicide if one turns out bad. Sony wouldn't assume liability for Toshiba's mistake and vice versa, and Apple can't afford to assume liability for both.

So I doubt this is a multiple source issue. I appreciate your answer, nevertheless.

Tomas

My feelings exactly, i will keep trying to get a response out of the website, Tell me, did you put in the entire SN, or just the 5 digits that the web is looking at as valid "Ranges"?

Inquiring minds want to know.

-john

Tomas

My feelings exactly, i will keep trying to get a
response out of the website, Tell me, did you put in
the entire SN, or just the 5 digits that the web is
looking at as valid "Ranges"?

I have two affected batteries for my iBook, one which the system accepted immediately, one that it rejected repeatedly, then finally accepted.

At all times I was entering the complete serial numbers for both batteries.

(My serial numbers actually have an asterisk in front of them, and I even tried it with the asterisk included - the result was the same, battery one was accepted, battery two rejected. The page removed the leading asterisk in it's responses.)

The only change that finally got the second battery S/N accepted was time - and something at the Apple site...

HTH,
Tomas

I tried several times last night to get my iBook and battery's serial numbers to validate. The iBook would, but the battery just kept returning "One or more of your serial numbers didn't validate", despite my number falling right in the middle of one of the ranges of batteries in the recall.

So - I resolved myself to calling Apple sometime today.

OK - after spending a total of 50 minutes on hold, I finally spoke with an Apple rep who explained the entire program to me, asked if I had tried to use the web page, and then ran a check on my serial numbers.

My battery, although it falls directly in one of the recall slots, is not manufactured by Sony. Apparently even within batches they originally posted (first few digits of the battery SN), there is a variety of manufacturers. He said it actually takes the entire number to know who the manufacturer was.

He claimed that the web site's validation process has been updated - and now, if it gives you the "your erial numbers didn't validate", then it is for certain that your battery is not affected by the recall. He said the info on the web site is being updated to better explain the situation and eliminate the huge confusion this has caused.

So - unless he was lying, or Apple is looking for a lawsuit, the web site should accurately tell you if your battery is affected or not.

Thanks for the info.

I wish that they would put change bars on the page or "this pages updated on 25 August 1402 GMT" or some such.

we shall see.

I just checked my battery and it was manufactured in China, not Japan, so even though my SN does fit the bill, my battery isn't part of the recall.

I just checked my battery and it was manufactured in
China, not Japan, so even though my SN does fit the
bill, my battery isn't part of the recall.

The recalled batteries were assembled in China, Taiwan, or Japan, using SONY batteries.

One of my legit recalled batteries was assembled in China (3K520*) and the other in Taiwan (ZZ427*) using the suspect Sony batteries.

Where it was assembled does not eliminate the problem...

In fact, check the official CPSC notice on this:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06245.html

Which includes:

Assembled in: Japan, Taiwan and China

Tomas


eMac, iMac, iBook Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Apple is recalling the batteries with the model/part number given, no others. All other parts can be assumed to be ok no matter how 'similar' the numbers. You may, with your 14" model, requiescat in pace. Have a good weekend.

Personnally I've decided to wait a few weeks till the storm dies down and get my battery replaced (12" 6c521) then

I didn't know that, thanks. Both of my batteries still come up as invalid so I'll keep trying.

As so many visiting the battery replacement website my computer serial number is valid while the battery serial is not and no matter how many times I put it through I'd get the same result. Well I finally got through to support on the phone and explained this to him and he tells me it is because mine is not a "Sony" battery, and that it is safe to put it back in my computer. I persisted telling him that my serial number falls within the described range listed on the site and gon on about how if the serial number fits then it should be recalled. He asks me if I would like him to try putting it through and takes the serial number of both my computer and the battery and supposedly ran them through as I waited. when he is done he says he got the same result and that it is as he stated before, the battery is safe and not manufactured by Sony. Also that they are going to correct the information on the site. So then I ask if they are going to change the serial numbers listed and he tells me no. Now this I can't figure and ask how that is going to fix it at the site and tell him that he is going to get unending calls by people like me who are going to think they are just being brushed off. I tell him that coconut battery tells me the battery was assembled in China, but that means nothing really, right, a Sony battery assembled in China. Anyway I didn't get anywhere. He tells me it isn't a Sony battery while I believe it is a Sony battery assembled in China. I am going to follow up on this at a later date when things have cooled down some at the Apple website. I feel as if I have been given false hope by someone that is being overworked. After all if the serial number is going to fall within the range shown then how can you feel good about being told that it is OK to keep on using it. I am going to have to see this in print on the site, that even though you have a valid looking serial number, for recall, you don't have to worry because it is an exception to the rule. Has anybody else gotten the same story?

Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Mac OS X (10.4.6)

I am confused by one item of the battery recall. My battery serial number fits in the number range for the recall - 3K4503--- but, the model number on the battery does not. The battery model number is A1080. It would seem to me that the serials and models should correlate. Is this battery part of the recall?

Apple's website states-

"If the first 5 digits of your battery’s 12-digit serial number fall within the noted ranges, please order a replacement battery immediately."

Immediately? Yeah, I'm only trying to follow instructions but not getting too far with my invalid yet explosive battery.