Suggestions for MacBook Pro 2018 Battery Expanding

[Rocket 442]

I have a Mid-2018 Macbook Pro 15" with Touchbar, and I just noticed that the top doesn't close flush anymore. I'm 95% sure its the battery expanding the whole device as it isn't straight anymore. I've not dropped it at all, and it's unlikely I bent it somehow while traveling. Battery Cycle Count is 114.

I'm trying to find out how to get this replaced without waiting for it for 2-3 weeks which is what I'm reading the time is to get it replaced while paying Apple 300+ just to do it on a less than two year old device.

I might just be overlooking an available replacement battery I could install myself. I see an iFixIt guide to replace the battery, but don't see a place that actually sells one.

With my work, I really would love not to lose days of time getting a loaner or older mac of mine out and rebuilding all of my local development environments, apps, etc. So that is where my idea of fixing it on my own came in. Not sure its even an option.

Has anyone found a faster solution than getting a device shipped out to apple, and am I in some very small minority of people who this is happening to for 2018+ models?

 

[0128672]

Sounds like you don't have Applecare, which is too bad. Not sure where the $300+ figure comes from because Apple states out of warranty battery service is $199 for the 15" MacBook Pros with touchbar. Did Apple give you that estimate?

Mac Repair and Service - Apple Support

Need to repair your Mac? See your service options, their costs by coverage type, and how long they take.

support.apple.com

 

[Rocket 442]

Sounds like you don't have Applecare, which is too bad. Not sure where the $300+ figure comes from because Apple states out of warranty battery service is $199 for the 15" MacBook Pros with touchbar. Did Apple give you that estimate?

Mac Repair and Service - Apple Support

Need to repair your Mac? See your service options, their costs by coverage type, and how long they take.

support.apple.com

Yeah, $200 [$199] is the number, not sure why I typed 300. Still seems like a bummer a 2 year old device has this happen and they have to ship it off for weeks to get it fixed. Seems like a common problem over the years and I'm hoping for everyone else's sake its less of a problem now than the 2015 era ones and I'm just unlucky.

I don't have Apple Care, as I think $3,500 is a good chunk of change itself, and Apple touts its design and build quality over its competitors. Hindsight is 20/20 but most extended service deals are going to make more money on folks than the folks are going to make from the company, or they'd not do them. I'm unfortunately one of the people who could've used it.

On my other question, outside of Apple Care, the only method is directly through Apple? I know they're not fans of right to repair, but it seems to allow folks to buy batteries might be a good idea with the fail rate of the past with their stock macs. I'm more concerned about the time frame than the cost, to be honest. I imagine if I were to order parts myself (if they are available somewhere) it'd cost as much or more than the $199

 

[Fishrrman]

Short answer:
Pay the $200, and get it fixed.

Longer answer:
Do you have OPEN brick n mortar Apple Stores where you are?
If so, make an appt. with the genius bar and take it in.

If you DO NOT have access to an Apple Store, then call APPLE directly.
DO NOT call a "3rd party service provider".
Call APPLE.

They will send you a shipping carton prepaid.
You send it off, and the turnaround is around 7-10 days.
It MIGHT be less -- depends on their workload.

Be aware that because it's a swollen battery (fire hazard) it can't go "by air".

Bottom line:
You have to do, what you have to do to get it fixed.
Pay the $200 -- all things considered, it's relatively cheap.

If you have an older Mac you can use while this one "is away", well... get it out and use it.
That's the luxury of keeping a "second" or "third" Mac around...

 

[macagain]

1. Your keyboard is giving you issues too, right? Those keyboards are known to not respond, or repeat, often times intermittently. If so, they keyboard replacement is covered under an apple "quality" program for 4 years from first purchase, and when the kb is replaced, the whole bottom case is replaced, which includes the battery... ?

2. I definitely do not agree with all the hate showered on 3rd party (authorized) service providers, esp. the premium ones. Yes, some are horrible, but I think it's unfair to universally slam a whole class of business, when the individual (often times small businesses) businesses are completely unrelated to each other. You just need to make sure that if that's the way you're going to go, find one that has good reviews and reputation. I myself have had 2 great experiences with my local service provider (premium authorized, small business, tech heads) who just replaced the kb++ on my 2018 last month (covered by apple "quality" program), and on my 2013 a couple years ago (which I had to pay std apple $199 for). This particular shop had apple certified service people that were knowledgeable and professional; working with them was a whole lot better that any experience I've had with the apple tech people on the phone, or in the store. In fact, before going to them, I had called apple, and the rep i got was both not knowledgeable and rather condescending, and would not commit to anything being covered... just you'll have to send it in, and we'll let you know... Also, when a 3rd party service provider performs a repair covered by an apple program, they are just reimbursed by apple... they get paid either way, by the customer or apple, so I think this actually makes some shops quite willing to take on covered repairs more willingly. I've heard/read varying accounts of apple readily covering or refusing to cover the 2018 swollen battery depending on the rep they get, or which apple store they go to...

Another thing is I really don't like my mac sent in the mail/ups/etc. Yes, it's covered by insurance, but if it does get lost or damaged, think of the trouble you're going to have to go through to get it rectified. I had a friend who had this happen to him, and Apple and FedEx just pointed fingers at each other. Yes, it was finally rectified, but it was a major PITA, and lots more time w/o your mac! With the 3rd party provider I used, they just had to get the kb++ ups'd to them from apple, they installed in-house, and I picked it back up a week later (longer than usual because delivery was slower, and they were busier than usual because apple stores were closed and apple was sending a lot more people their way).

 

[jerryk]

I might be tempted to see if there was anything off (even just a little) with my keyboard or trackpad before I visited Apple. If there was, I would mention that in addition to questioning the expansion. This might drive them to the conclusion they need to to a "top case" replacement which is keyboard, trackpad, battery, and Al case where you hands rest. Hopefully, this replacement would be covered under the current Apple keyboard replacement program with no cost to you.

 

[Rocket 442]

I went to my local Apple Store, and they're sending it in for repair. They say it'll be back within 5-6 business days. I hope so as that'd be a faster turnaround than what I've seen mentioned. A bit skeptical but we'll see and I'd love to eat some crow.

The good news is they are doing it free as while it was out of warranty they said it is within 2 years of new, and considered a hardware malfunction. I didn't argue at all on that one. So that worked out.

I did also talk to a local authorized Apple repair place but they charge $90 just to look at it and run their diagnostics. I knew it was the battery expanding, so it seems a bit silly to pay them that, and then they'd still need to have Apple ship them the battery to replace it and they didn't mention it being covered at all. I am part of the Joint Venture business program so maybe that helped me out but hopefully for anyone else they get the same treatment. My hope is that I'm some unlucky minority with a 2018 MBP that has battery issues, and it isn't a repeat of the 2015 era.

I just dug out my old trashcan mac pro and am back to being in one place in the house working, but its better than nothing for now.

I still really am bummed at not having any options to fix your own battery issues if you're someone inclined to do so. I'm all for right-to-repair. Not even having a choice to buy a battery myself makes me more nervous with how expensive these things are, and how more often the laptops have had various issues.

 

[jerryk]

I went to my local Apple Store, and they're sending it in for repair. They say it'll be back within 5-6 business days. I hope so as that'd be a faster turnaround than what I've seen mentioned. A bit skeptical but we'll see and I'd love to eat some crow.

The good news is they are doing it free as while it was out of warranty they said it is within 2 years of new, and considered a hardware malfunction. I didn't argue at all on that one. So that worked out.

I did also talk to a local authorized Apple repair place but they charge $90 just to look at it and run their diagnostics. I knew it was the battery expanding, so it seems a bit silly to pay them that, and then they'd still need to have Apple ship them the battery to replace it and they didn't mention it being covered at all. I am part of the Joint Venture business program so maybe that helped me out but hopefully for anyone else they get the same treatment. My hope is that I'm some unlucky minority with a 2018 MBP that has battery issues, and it isn't a repeat of the 2015 era.

I just dug out my old trashcan mac pro and am back to being in one place in the house working, but its better than nothing for now.

I still really am bummed at not having any options to fix your own battery issues if you're someone inclined to do so. I'm all for right-to-repair. Not even having a choice to buy a battery myself makes me more nervous with how expensive these things are, and how more often the laptops have had various issues.

If you really wanted to fix it yourself the tools, parts, and procedures are there from places life iFixit. However, the parts alone will eat up a good chunk of $199 battery replacement out of warranty price. Then there are steps like heating up a pad to melt off glue of the 4ish battery packs. And obviously if you do this yourself you will not get a new keyboard, trackpad, and top Al plate. There are a lot of things I am OK fixing so save some money, but a MBP battery replacement is so cheap that the letting Apple do it is a better use of my time plus I am likely to get a new keyboard, trackpad, and Al top case.

 

[Rocket 442]

If you really wanted to fix it yourself the tools, parts, and procedures are there from places life iFixit. However, the parts alone will eat up a good chunk of $199 battery replacement out of warranty price. Then there are steps like heating up a pad to melt off glue of the 4ish battery packs. And obviously if you do this yourself you will not get a new keyboard, trackpad, and top Al plate. There are a lot of things I am OK fixing so save some money, but a MBP battery replacement is so cheap that the letting Apple do it is a better use of my time plus I am likely to get a new keyboard, trackpad, and Al top case.

Yeah I think that is a good way of looking at it. My concern was more the downtime of losing my main work machine, but good points and with it getting fixed by them in a shorter time frame I’ll take it for sure.

I see the iFixIt tutorial to replace the battery for 2018 MBPs but I haven’t seen anywhere selling the batteries themselves. I might be mistaken but I haven’t found any for sale to any peon consumers like us.

 

[jerryk]

Yeah I think that is a good way of looking at it. My concern was more the downtime of losing my main work machine, but good points and with it getting fixed by them in a shorter time frame I’ll take it for sure.

I see the iFixIt tutorial to replace the battery for 2018 MBPs but I haven’t seen anywhere selling the batteries themselves. I might be mistaken but I haven’t found any for sale to any peon consumers like us.

It definitely sucks to lose use of your machine, but you get some additional benefits (new KB, trackpad, upper case). And maybe you will get lucky and the machine will come back sooner. But, at least the price was right.

 

[Fishrrman]

You've got a trashcan Mac Pro "for a backup"?
Gee, stop complaining!