Issues with charging

[thepiper92]

So I got my first macbook, a 13 inch Pro, in the middle of September. I haven't used the Mac in about 2 weeks, and went to use it to find only a 1% charge. After using for a bit, I gendered at the top to see it still saying 1%, with the battery symbol showing red, as it would with low battery.

I looked around l, couldn't find much, but downloaded the coconut battery app. The app shows the battery is in good shape, and that it is charging...but it will only charge at 0.3 to 0.4W. What is the deal with this? I've own many windows laptops, and I've never once had issues unless I was trying to overclock things for fun, and my first mac is showing issues after 3 months or so of light use (some weeks I don't use the mac).

 

[Mike Boreham]

Just to eliminate the obvious, have you got an alternative charger to try and/or alternative lead? Different wall socket?

 

[thepiper92]

Just to eliminate the obvious, have you got an alternative charger to try and/or alternative lead? Different wall socket?

Shoulda mentioned that...yes, went down to best buy to buy a new "block", as I tried another cable from a Samsung charger. The Samsung "block" would not let the Mac even boot, just showed a battery dead symbol. I tried 4 different outlets as well.

 

[thepiper92]

 

[Mike Boreham]

Shoulda mentioned that...yes, went down to best buy to buy a new "block", as I tried another cable from a Samsung charger. The Samsung "block" would not let the Mac even boot, just showed a battery dead symbol. I tried 4 different outlets as well.

Not sure from that if you were able to try a proper Apple charger and lead? or only Samsung one.

AFAIK the only maintenance action you can take related to charging and batteries is SMC reset. M1 macs don't have a specific SMC reset procedure but unplugging everthing and shutting the machine down does the same things, and you have probably done that.

The only other thought is how long did you leave it plugged in and charging at .3/.4W? I have seen deeply discharged devices take a while to come back to life. I would leave it a few hours.

if no joy it looks like a repair job. Since it is less than a year old it should be in full Apple warranty. Would be worth phoning AppleCare anyway. They may have another suggestion.

 

[thepiper92]

Not sure from that if you were able to try a proper Apple charger and lead? or only Samsung one.

AFAIK the only maintenance action you can take related to charging and batteries is SMC reset. M1 macs don't have a specific SMC reset procedure but unplugging everthing and shutting the machine down does the same things, and you have probably done that.

The only other thought is how long did you leave it plugged in and charging at .3/.4W? I have seen deeply discharged devices take a while to come back to life. I would leave it a few hours.

if no joy it looks like a repair job. Since it is less than a year old it should be in full Apple warranty. Would be worth phoning AppleCare anyway. They may have another suggestion.

It is a Best Buy brand block...the block and cable are a lot nicer than Apple, and 140W capable, but I only bought it rule out the stock cable and block.

It was the same result with 0.3-0.4W output.

I did leave the laptop plugged in over night, and it got to 6% charge.

 

[Mike Boreham]

It is a Best Buy brand block...the block and cable are a lot nicer than Apple, and 140W capable, but I only bought it rule out the stock cable and block.

It was the same result with 0.3-0.4W output.

I did leave the laptop plugged in over night, and it got to 6% charge.

Sounds like a trip to a Store, or phone AppleCare.

I assume the result is the same whichever of the USB-C ports you plug the charger into?

 

[thepiper92]

Sounds like a trip to a Store, or phone AppleCare.

I assume the result is the same whichever of the USB-C ports you plug the charger into?

Yep, either port.

Took it in today. The guy couldn't figure it out. He said he's seen similar, but it was always from a bad battery, and the Mac notifies about the battery issue. Diagnostics that he ran showed the mac to be in perfect condition. He took it apart a bit in the back, and said everything looked clean and no signs of water damage. If it were water damaged, someone had to have broken into my house, taken it out of the bag, spilt water and place it back in the bag lol.

They have my Mac now, and I was told they will be checking firmware, and start replacing parts if needed.

Typical of my life...a problem no one has encountered before.