macbook turns off HARD within 2-20 seconds

[pesos]

have a macbook here, and when we turn it on, it stays on for maybe 2-20 seconds and then just turns off HARD.

any ideas?

 

[killerrobot]

Are you running off of battery? When did this start happening? Leaving a few more specific details about the whole shebang would really help out.

 

[miniConvert]

Indeed, if it runs fine when plugged in to the mains then you need a new battery.

 

[anothermacaddic]

Mine just started to do this too, on battery after about 10-15 mins after being unplugged and it will do it very intermittenly. It happened about 10 times last month and i tell you it really peves me when it does. I did the battery updates, the firmware updates, all the hot fixes suggested and no luck. I took it into the mac store where i bought it (4 months ago) told them about the problem. They couldnt reproduce it the battery "tested" fine. They said that i should hope that it gets worse so i can possibly get apple to fix it. Nice? Im mad as hell! Never happened on my 12 pb, or imac. This is 3rd gen???
I guess if you want a nice steak you can either stick your head up a bulls ass or you can take the butchers word for it.