Is this a swollen battery?

[ght56]

I did contact Apple via Chat this evening. I was not sure what to expect after yesterday's disappointing conversation. The rep was helpful and typed "Oh my" when she reviewed the photos I send which are the same as the ones posted above. They are sending me a shipping box and she told me a typical battery replacement would be $199. When I received an email confirmation it included the following: View attachment 961617
I am hoping that they will repair this defect for free. I will update the thread once I know. I am planning to wipe my laptop before sending it. I also see I could use FireVault but I have not used that perviously. Does anyone have recommendations on what would be best and easiest. I back-up via Time Machine to an Airport Time Capsule, as well as a stand alone 2 mirrored disk NAS drive and will also add a separate non-networked SSD drive as well (can't be too careful!). I would expect some password and other glitches reinstalling from a TM back-up but not sure. Glad to hear member's thoughts.

Thanks for the assistance.

Just encrypt it and send it with the data on the local SSD once it is encrypted. FileVault is extremely secure and extremely reliable, and Apple does not need the password to service the system. Run First Aid on the OS and Data disks before encrypting. Obviously you will want to do this on AC power and watch the system closely given the current state of your system.

I would also recommend making a bootable backup with Carbon Copy Cloner or a similar program. This is superior to Time Machine in the sense that it is a true, carbon, point-in-time backup that you can restore in a verbatim sense (i.e., it carries everything over down to network settings, UI settings, and known devices.) Even if the logic board needed replacement (which means the SSD also gets replaced), you can literally restore a carbon clone on replaced unit and getting set back up is usually a pretty quick and painless process. You can even boot the external clone drive on a completely different Mac provided that different Mac is compatible with the OS on the clone drive and external booting is enabled (if on a T2 Mac.)

 

[Fishrrman]

GKess --

ght56 makes a very good suggestion in reply 51 above -- use CarbonCopyCloner to create a BOOTABLE backup of your internal drive before you ship the MBP to the repair center. CCC is FREE to download and use for 30 days, this will cost you nothing.

My suggestions for maintaining the battery when it comes back:
- DO NOT leave it plugged into the charger all the time. This KILLS batteries.
- 3-4 times per week, take it "off the charger" during the day and let it run down to about 35-40%, then re-connect it.
- AT NIGHT, UNPLUG the charger from the wall. Plug it back in in the morning. Do this whether you power off the MBP at night, or just let it sleep.

 

[Fred Zed]

GKess --

ght56 makes a very good suggestion in reply 51 above -- use CarbonCopyCloner to create a BOOTABLE backup of your internal drive before you ship the MBP to the repair center. CCC is FREE to download and use for 30 days, this will cost you nothing.

My suggestions for maintaining the battery when it comes back:
- DO NOT leave it plugged into the charger all the time. This KILLS batteries.
- 3-4 times per week, take it "off the charger" during the day and let it run down to about 35-40%, then re-connect it.
- AT NIGHT, UNPLUG the charger from the wall. Plug it back in in the morning. Do this whether you power off the MBP at night, or just let it sleep.

Good solid advise there. Reference keeping it plugged in, not unless a battery limiting software is installed it should be fine ?

 

[radus]

"not keeping it plugged in" is an Advice in
"You are holding it wrong"
style ...

 

[Yebubbleman]

I noticed that my laptop wobbles on the table. First thought that the table is deformed. But the laptop wobbles on other tables too. I took out the bottom. The bottom cover actually sits flat on the same table. This is how the battery looks like. Is this considered a swollen battery?

The model is mid 2015 MBP with Retina display. I bought it in May 2018 so it is out of warranty. Checked series number and Not part of the recall. Battery has 55 cycles and battery life is normal.
View attachment 907278

Apple may be trying to be overly cautious as they know that if they are wrong about your machine being unaffected and you experience the issue that the recall was issued for (which could be as severe as an actual combustion), that you could sue the pants off of them and win.

 

[Ciordia9]

Very jealous. The person I typed to on their service pulled up a local repair shop that said they needed my machine for up to two weeks. I can barely have it out of my hands for two days.

 

[GKess]

Thank you to everyone who chimed in with advice in response to my posting. I received my repaired laptop back from the certified Apple repair center yesterday and I am just getting it back working. The paperwork says they replaced the top case and battery (not sure what that included). So far so good. All at no charge. I suspect the photos I posted which I sent to the Apple rep on the chat were sufficiently scary that a free repair was in order. Very appreciative for the good service. Too bad it took speaking to several Apple reps to get this resolved. My after picture:

 

[rokinsky]

I have the same issue with MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018). It is not sitting flat and the lid is not closing properly.

Is it possible to run the Apple Service program for this case? How many customer complaints should happen and where to complain about it (I don't live in the US)?

 

[Fishrrman]

rokinsky --

Yes, you do have a swollen battery (of course!), and I reckon that Apple will still offer a free replacement on a 2018 model.

If you have an Apple Store nearby, make an appt and take it to them.

If you DO NOT HAVE an Apple Store near, call Apple directly.
DO NOT call a "3rd party service provider".
CALL APPLE.

They may send you a prepaid shipping box in which to return it to them.

EVEN IF APPLE WANTS YOU TO PAY for a replacement, it's still a good deal.
In the USA this costs $199 which includes parts, labor and a short warranty.

But... don't delay on this.
Call as soon as you can.