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2010 MacBook Battery Swelling Damage
- Thread starter JackieInCo
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Yes i've come across this issue when fixing a mid 2010 white MB for a friend. Are you using the original battery, if so book a genius bar appointment and see what they can do, if you're lucky enough, they'll replace the trackpad and topcase FOC as they did in my case (The MB was out of warranty), but as with most things it depends who serves you on the day and it's not an absolute given.
I may do that. For now, I got the following idea when my 2008 MB battery swelled. They had mentioned to take a pin and poke a hole in the package wrapping the battery since the reason the battery swells is a build up if gas. People have reported no further problems using the MB and the battery continued to perform normally even after a year.
I lifted up the trackpad and stuck a pin into the right package and the gas released instantly. Did the same to the left package and the gas released. The trackpad now lays flat. The trackpad no longer works but I use a Magic Trackpad and t he MB is in closed lid mode connected to a monitor. For now it's no problem. I'm the only one who will ever see it. I think eventually I'll replace it with a Mac Mini.
While placing a pin into the packaging to release the built up gas may seem like a quick fix. it is a fairly unsafe method and I wouldn't recommend this has the battery poses a fire hazard and could leak, causing damage to your macs logic board. My advice would be to remove the battery ASAP and use the mac with the power cable attached. while your macbook will only run at half speed, this is the safest option until the battery can be replaced. As for the trackpad, remove the battery, turn the mac back over, open it up and depress the trackpad a few times, close your mac, screw the bottom cover on (do not put the battery back in), open it up again and turn it on again with the power cable attached. that should get your trackpad working again.
I can't take the battery out. They use those weird screws so that the average person can not replace the battery.
Yes, Apologies, there is a tri wing screw that holds the battery in place. First port of call would be to disconnect the battery from the logic board, so theres no current passing through the battery eliminating the fire risk. To remove the battery completely you'll need to use a tri wing screwdriver. Tri wing screwdrivers can be picked up on places such as amazon and ebay, the correct size you'll need is 360 x50
Since this is incredibly obviously NOT user inflicted damage, I feel like you may have luck asking Apple to fix it for you.
