Need Help: My MacBook won't start or stay on unless it's connected to a charger.

[Captain Brooks]

OK. One day I was just using my MacBook when it shut down for no reason. I tried to turn it on, but it instantly turned on and shut down one second after after I pressed it. It only turns on if it's connected to a charger. If the charger is disconnected, it shuts down. Could somebody tell me what to do?

[motulist]

remove the battery, clean the contacts, reinsert securely.

[speakerwizard]

could try to reset the power management, cant remember the keyboard short cut as i dont use a laptop, try apple.com/support

[logana]

If the charger is disconnected, it shuts down. Could somebody tell me what to do?

How old is the MacBook ? Do you have AppleCare ?

Depending on the answers - might be a faulty logicboard.

[mpw]

It sounds like a knackered battery, mine did this and when I walked into my Apple Reseller and they didn't blink or query whether it was still under warranty; just popped out the old one and fitted a new.

[BanjoBanker]

OK. One day I was just using my MacBook when it shut down for no reason. I tried to turn it on, but it instantly turned on and shut down one second after after I pressed it. It only turns on if it's connected to a charger. If the charger is disconnected, it shuts down. Could somebody tell me what to do?

The same thing happened to my son's MacBook. I apologize for posting without remembering the cause, but it was repaired at no charge by Apple. It must be a known issue, they repaired it at the store in two days.
Run it by the geniuses at the Apple store, they should take care of it right away.