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I think my iPad Battery swelled up? UPDATED x2 7/23 Final Results

Being a bit of a electronics technician, from what it looks like to me (personal opinion) someone sat on it on a soft surface or an animal of some kind. Battery damage would show different signs, good luck getting it replaced.

Typically with battery swelling (and the fact that the damage is on the opposite side of where the battery is located) you'd get some kind of mild odor when your face was closer to the ipad, especially since there's a direct open space. A long with such, you'd see more of a warping then a bend. (Think of something large pushing out of the easiest place on your iPad. The aluminum back is not the easiest place to push compared to the non-screwed in glass.

Also, from my knowledge there wouldn't be any graphical issues on the front of the screen, as the screen would have pushed upwards not the aluminum, and only minor pushing of the logic board would actually happen.

Don't take my words for it as I have not actually looked at an iPad internally.. just from pictures.

UPDATE:

I think I've actually figured it out by looking at your pictures.

From what it looks like and from experience with similar damage on electronics, it looks exactly like someone leaned on it with their arm on a bed/soft surface. I retract my animal/sitting statement.

The even pressure wouldn't cause the screen to crack but the aluminum would bend if the person did not notice they were leaning on it for a decent amount of time (5-15 minutes).

Could have happened by complete accident. Let's say where you charge the iPad is close to your bed. You place the iPad on the bed to charge for the night, forgetting about it an making your bed. Leaning on the bed for a bit to find the iPad for several minutes and then placing it on a desk to charge overnight would cause almost exact damage to the device as the pictures depict.
 
From the pictures, It looks pretty obvious its not something you did. If you had dropped it that hard for it to separate and bend like that it would of for sure broke the glass. I would go back for a second opinion and get a manager involved if they still give you problems call applecare at the store. Apple im sure doesn't want to take the risk of your battery blowing up and you getting injured or something catching on fire.
 
FirePak said:
From the pictures, It looks pretty obvious its not something you did. If you had dropped it that hard for it to separate and bend like that it would of for sure broke the glass. I would go back for a second opinion and get a manager involved if they still give you problems call applecare at the store. Apple im sure doesn't want to take the risk of your battery blowing up and you getting injured or something catching on fire.
Click to expand...

I think it's pretty easy for the Apple store to just take it apart and remove the battery. If the swell had caused that (which is NOT obvious to me at all), then they'd be able to show him the battery.
 
saving107 said:
Hello,

So I just returned from my appointment, and the genius employee told me that it is pretty obvious that I either dropped it or used excessive force and since I caused the damaged, my iPad is now out of warranty and if I would like a replacement unit, it would be a $299 fee.

Shinigami301, I looked at the iFixIt teardown and I know the battery is located on the opposite side from were the damage is located on my iPad, and trust me, their was no excessive force. As I stated in my first post, it sat idle on my nightstand.

I am a little disappointed of the situation, I spent over $600 on this thing only 3 months ago. If I would've caused this damage to my iPad, I would accept full responsibility, but I didn't and I have no way of convincing an Apple Employee otherwise.

So at the current moment, it seems like I know have a very big paper weight sitting on my desk, which is cool because it has been a little windy these past few days. (sad humor)
Click to expand...

Batteries do explode, but its uncommon. If apple store wont replace it, id send an email to steve, call a manager, and if all else fails take it apart and rub it in their noses showing that they were wrong.
 
Ace134blue said:
Batteries do explode, but its uncommon. If apple store wont replace it, id send an email to steve, call a manager, and if all else fails take it apart and rub it in their noses showing that they were wrong.
Click to expand...

I would do all of this, If they refuse to budge take it apart very carefully and do video and still photos of the teardown. If it was the battery I know a few websites that would love to have that footage hehe :)
 
If you take it apart yourself, I would imagine you'll have no chance of a refund.

I think you'll have to let Apple take it apart and accept their findings. I doubt they will be able to do this in the store, so you'll have to be prepared to wait while they send it back.

It's sad to see your iPad in this state, but if the battery had swelled I would expect to see the case showing signs of outward pressure. It does look as though any pressure came from the outside.
 
I just want to say thanks to all of you who replied, I appreciate all of your feedback.

like I said before, I know what happened and I know its going to be hard to convince anyone else otherwise.

A little wile ago I decided to call Master Card to review my benefit options since I paid the entire balance using this card. The rep told me to call back in the morning a file a claim. I am covered under product insurance (for lost or damage for a full refund or a new iPad) and extended warranty if Apple refuses to help.

(the extended warranty kicks in after Apple's 12 months warranty, but if they refuse to help, then the extended warranty kicks in now)
 
saving107 said:
I just want to say thanks to all of you who replied, I appreciate all of your feedback.

like I said before, I know what happened but I know its going to be hard to convince anyone else otherwise.
Click to expand...

Well, clearly you don't know what happened. :)
 
ipad002.jpg


Looking at this again, it's CLEAR to me this was abuse of some sort (intentional or otherwise). If the battery had swelled, it would NOT bend the frame in the same direction. The bend in the frame indicates pressure from the outside. It's the ONLY logical explanation. Think about it! It's not possible for a battery to do that!

Anyway, that's my take and I'm sticking to it.
 
Swollen batteries are not rare in thin devices. I had a nano battery swell and break the case open. It was a super old nano so I didn't care.

Also we used to see this on many different mp3 players when I worked at CCity years ago. I'm not sure what causes it but unfortunately it does happen :/

To the OP: Try calling apple instead of going to the apple store. They will most likely have you send the unit in.
 
saving107 said:
the reason why I made another appointment as soon as I walked out was because my appointment was scheduled at 6:45pm, but I didn't get helped until 7:20pm. the genius employee apologized but he was the only one working the counter at that moment, and their were a lot of more people waiting (I don't know if everyone was on lunch/break, but he was alone the entire time I was in the building)

I don't know if he was just trying to rush me out or what, but in all the years i've own mac products and had genius apt, I've never had service like this today (putting aside my iPad situation).

if I must send it in, I am perfectly fine with that.
Click to expand...

I've had some really bad experiences at the genius bar in the customer service area recently. I have let apple know and they didn't seem to care (and this was an ongoing issue over several months). There isn't much that will get me back to the store for purchase or repair at this point. No desire. None.

Btw, i-device appointments are 10 minutes, macs are 20. The appreciate if you double book back to back if you have an issue that will take awhile.
 
iPads are pretty rigid. I don't think you could bend it by just leaning on it on a bed or anything like that, they are way sturdier than that. If you leaned it against a wall and pushed on it, yeah, but it's not something you wouldn't notice doing, IMO.


TraceyS/FL said:
I've had some really bad experiences at the genius bar in the customer service area recently. I have let apple know and they didn't seem to care (and this was an ongoing issue over several months). There isn't much that will get me back to the store for purchase or repair at this point. No desire. None..
Click to expand...

Did you file a complaint with Apple Customer Relations? I doubt they would ignore you.
 
pooryou said:
Did you file a complaint with Apple Customer Relations? I doubt they would ignore you.
Click to expand...

The saddest part of all was that it was a Customer Relations case to start with. The piss poor attitude carried from my CR Rep to the store. It was quite the opposite experience with customer relations than from a few years ago, leading to my feeling of apple not giving a rats ass about the decline of the customer service level at the genius bar....

Oh well, no clue how to get to my dudes supervisor to complain so I just will continue to wanna puke when I look at my mbp. And I haven't once told anyone to buy a Mac or iPad since then......
 
The battery appears to be two units fitted to a sub-assembly.

So there are two battery packs with one face-up, or only one side has printing on it representing the assembly (hence why some assume the battery is only on one side).

see here

However, I'm finding difficulty in explaining how the expansion/swelling of a battery would bend the chassis at an acute angle. had the battery swollen, I would expect to see the rear case bulging outwards.

But. In actual fact, it is bulging towards the back. If I'm not mistaken, just above the controls on the side, at the rear of the case, there seems to be a bulge. Hard to tell with the shadows cast by the pictures on the wall. Perhaps some new photos from the side with a plain background. It's just possible that the theory of "unintentional misuse or abuse" are a result of the angle at which the side on picture has been presented.

EDIT: However, looking at the placement of the battery assembly and here, the battery doesn't reach the buttons on the side let alone above the buttons. I'm curious.
 
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Dead Ipad

Just a thought... Is there any source of heat near where your night stand is ? If the board in the case is hard fixed and the Ali expands such as in a bi-metal strip, and the heat was enough from either inside or externally. You would then get the case to expand and bend. It would have to be a constant heat but it could be possible.
:confused:
 
WilliamG said:
ipad002.jpg


Looking at this again, it's CLEAR to me this was abuse of some sort (intentional or otherwise). If the battery had swelled, it would NOT bend the frame in the same direction..
Click to expand...

I thought the same for a second, but it could be barrel distortion from the camera lens?

OP: If you lay your iPad face down on a glass tabletop, is there a gap between the two glass surfaces?
 
TraceyS/FL said:
The saddest part of all was that it was a Customer Relations case to start with. The piss poor attitude carried from my CR Rep to the store. It was quite the opposite experience with customer relations than from a few years ago, leading to my feeling of apple not giving a rats ass about the decline of the customer service level at the genius bar....

Oh well, no clue how to get to my dudes supervisor to complain so I just will continue to wanna puke when I look at my mbp. And I haven't once told anyone to buy a Mac or iPad since then......
Click to expand...

Hm that's not good. My experience with them was many years ago myself.
I would just start over again, hopefully you can deal with a different person.
 
The picture does look like what would happen with a puffed pack. The back has to give somewhere. The bending force is greatest in the middle, but taking advantage of the weakness of the volume button hole takes priority.

It can't be on the wrong side. There are two batteries, one on each side.

A puffed pack is a fire hazard if it bursts. I would keep it on the cement floor in the garage away from anything flammable.
 
So I just got off the phone with Apple Care. The lady was very nice and courteous to me at first, but the moment I explained the situation, she looked at her notes from what the genius said last night and I felt like she immediately shut down and all the sudden had a tone with me. She kept iterating over and over that the genius already explained to me that if I wanted this to get fix it would be a $299 fee (out of warranty fee) because from his assessment, I must have dropped it or caused the damage myself.

I told her that I know this is my word against theirs, but I want a second opinion and asked if I can send it in to get it looked at by Apple Care. She repeated herself a couple of times, "We'll send you the box and you can send in the iPad to us, but I'll tell you right now, the moment they turn it on, we're just going to send it right back to you" "their not going to even touch it." I asked her if maybe the battery could have caused damage to the screen or caused my iPad to bend, she told me "its obvious their was physical damaged caused to the iPad" (she based her theory on the Genius diagnosis), I like how she's being very presumptuous without actually seeing the iPad for herself.

As soon as I got off the phone with Apple Care, I contacted my Master Card to file a claim. she told me that I need to obtain a printed quote from Apple of the repair fees (which is $299) and they would cover my charges pending approval on the claim, which should take up-to 7 days to complete. Using Master Card's Extended Warranty service, they will cover charges up-to $1,000 in damages if the manufacturer refuses to help or if the warranty period has ended. Since Apple doesn't want to help, then the extended warranty kicks in now.
 
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