My iBook G4 has a problem where the battery says its running on reserve power even though the battery has around 80% charge left in it. when i go to charge the battery it will go to 98% or sometimes it will go to 88%. any way to fix this?
iBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 2004 model
Had you tried to reset the Power Management Unit?
• Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit (PMU) - Apple Support
...Sometimes, it may also be helpful to reset PRAM. (older Mac uses same reset as...)
• How to Reset NVRAM/PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support
Also the battery may actually be getting old, that series had lower battery life than
the later portable Apple computers who use different technologies. However if you
have a NewerTech battery from OWC macsales, and if it is less than a year old,
you may want to contact them and discuss the matter. Some other brands that may
be available for older PowerPC portable Mac iBook G4/PowerBookG4 if you locate
then, such as Anker, have reportedly been fairly good. Odd brands, are a mixed bag.
And another item that may be partially responsible for irregular charge/discharge or
strange behavior with battery and AC use, may be the DC-in Board. This is the port
and circuitry behind the port in the computer. So you may have any one or more than
one part that may be affected due to age & wear. Battery, AC Adapter, + DC-In Board.
Some idea of the complexity of the internal components in iBook G4 can be seen here:
• iBook G4 Repair Guides (all models) - iFixit:
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iBook_G4
To locate a replacement AC adapter is another matter. Third party models do not
generally have the indicator light on the DC-out plug, if a generic design...
NewerTech 65W AC Power Adapter for Apple PowerBook G4, iBook G4 & G3
Clones may or may not be OK. These are different than later MagSafe...
• Mac notebooks: Troubleshooting power adapters with a Barrel-type connector - Apple Support
I have a few iBook G4 batteries that suggest they have 80+% charge, but really don't.
That, partly due to their age; two replacements from Apple some years under a recall
program they had at the time, they weren't long lived. I'm considering an OWC battery.
The replacement battery type and inventory number will vary depending on Display size.
https://eshop.macsales.com/search/batteries+for+iBook+G4 (12-inch + 14-inch iBookG4)
Sorry to have a magic talisman or other means of making the unit 'just work'
though some magic may seem to be involved, if stars are aligned just right.
In any event...
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂
The PMU and NVRAM resets didn't do it. for some reason after the PMU reset the iBook started going painfully slow. I'll look into getting a new battery.
From the looks of it ,you need to replace your battery
iBook G4 battery problem
