Just switched (C2D MBP) and having battery problems...

[ShaunAnderson]

I've just switched to Mac & love my MacBook Pro (2.16, 160GB, 1GB) except for my issues with the battery.

1) The laptop will not turn on from battery power alone. It won't come back from sleep with only battery power. If I start it up when plugged into the wall and then unplug it it will run off the battery for a while so the battery is holding some sort of charge...

2) The battery icon in the upper right is a black X 99% of the time. Occasionally it shows a percentage, but if I try to shut down then and bring it back up under battery power it still won't work, and then the battery icon is an X again.

3) If I push the button on the battery it used to be all lit up indicating that the battery was charged. Right now it's one blinking light (I just ran the battery dead trying to calibrate the battery, more later)

4) I've followed the directions to calibrate the battery which didn't seem to do anything.

5) I've tried resetting the System Management Controller and it didn't seem to do anything.

6) Right now the light on the power adapter is green, even though the battery its self indicated that it's dead and should be charging. I have seen the light on the MagSafe connector be amber before, which I think means that it's charged...

Any ideas? Other than that I love my mac

Shaun

 

[macs4ever]

If the magsafe connector light is amber, it means the battery is charging. A green light means the battery is charged.

However, that is a minor issue. Without looking too much into it, you've definitely tried to fix this and obviously its Apple's problem. It could just be a battery problem, do you know of anyone else who could lend you a similar battery to try?

 

[ShaunAnderson]

Actually I managed to convince one of my friends to order a MBP on Sunday so maybe I'll wait till his shows up and I'll try it with that.

I guess my other option is to take it down to the local dealer and see if they have one to try.

Thanks for your help

 

[ShaunAnderson]

I figured it out, but it's really weird...

If I'm facing the MBP with the lid open and tilt it back so I can see the battery and I slide the battery a fraction of an inch to the right (while it's still seated firmly in the laptop) it'll start to charge the battery.

If I slide it left (again, seated firmly in the laptop) it stops charging and I get the black X again.

Does anyone else have a C2D MBP that will do this? I would have to assume that the batteries/cases are manufactured to be identical and it seems weird that I would be the only person to have this problem.

I'm thinking that I could (gasp) bend the pins so they always made contact, but I think I'd rather take it back and have it really "fixed" so I don't take a chance of voiding my warranty.

 

[Cybix]

FORGET it... get the whole thing back to apple immediately and get them to replace or fix whatever needs replacing or fixing. Unlike grey box PC's where you 'tinker' with them yourself, not so with Apple gear, just get it looked at. It's under warranty!