Late 2011 A1297 17" MBP - Battery/Trackpad Help!

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

I am still using my Late 2011 17" MBP. Lately, I have noticed that the trackpad has become difficult to click. I saw a number of youtube videos which show that the issue may very easily be rectified by simply adjusting a screw on the trackpad underneath the battery.

I attempted to do this today but strangely & unlike many of the MBP's shown in the YT videos, there was a factory sealed sticker on my battery stating not to remove the Battery. As I did not know the consequences of doing so, I left it alone but this means I was not able to access the adjustable screw for the trackpad underneath.

I do not know why Apple have put this sticker on the battery on this model as I have never seen it on many other models so am wondering the reason - is it for genuine reasons to avoid potential damage or to deter users from using non apple supplied parts, repairs/servicing etc?

Does anyone here know why there is a sticker there not to remove the battery & what would be the consequences & if it would it mess things up badly if one actually did in this case to get to the trackpad screw? I thought it best to ask here from those in the know just to be sure!

Many Thanks!

 

[chabig]

The battery is not designed to be user serviceable. If you remove the battery you will void your warranty, you might damage the battery, or something might not work if you don't put it back together correctly. That's why they put the sticker on there.

 

[Bazzy]

The battery is not designed to be user serviceable. If you remove the battery you will void your warranty, you might damage the battery, or something might not work if you don't put it back together correctly. That's why they put the sticker on there.

Hi,

Many thanks for the reply - the warranty expired a long time ago so can you shed some light on the type of things that might not work or be affected by removing it for few minutes just to adjust the trackpad screw? I ask as I genuinely do not know! This is of course assuming that it is carefully done without causing any damage to the battery & it is put back together correctly?

Many Thanks

 

[justashooter]

I have replaced batteries in two 13 inch MacBook Pro's, a 2009 and a 2011. Both had this sticker. Don't be afraid to unplug and remove the battery. You will want to investigate whether the battery is going bad and has swollen. The 2011 track pad was hard to click and upon removing the battery, to check the trackpad from underneath, I found the trackpad then worked just fine. I discovered the battery was swollen and pushing on the trackpad.

 

[Bazzy]

I have replaced batteries in two 13 inch MacBook Pro's, a 2009 and a 2011. Both had this sticker. Don't be afraid to unplug and remove the battery. You will want to investigate whether the battery is going bad and has swollen. The 2011 track pad was hard to click and upon removing the battery, to check the trackpad from underneath, I found the trackpad then worked just fine. I discovered the battery was swollen and pushing on the trackpad.

Hi,

Thanks again greatly for this - it has been of much help! I have now seen further YT videos on a number of people (including professionals) removing batteries with the same sticker so your input gives great reassurance!

The battery is original & only has 133 Cycles so hopefully it will not be swollen - looks OK from the top side at least!

Many Thanks!

 

[justashooter]

Well, unfortunately batteries need to be exercised. I would rather your battery had 1000 cycles. Both that I have replaced had low cycles (less than 200). My 2012 MPB 13 has 1800 cycles. It has lost some mAh's but still works fine.

 

[Bazzy]

Well, unfortunately batteries need to be exercised. I would rather your battery had 1000 cycles. Both that I have replaced had low cycles (less than 200). My 2012 MPB 13 has 1800 cycles. It has lost some mAh's but still works fine.

Hi,

Again, thanks greatly for the info - I used the large 17" MBP as a desktop replacement so it was pretty much always connected to the mains ac power. Like a noob, I thought the low number would preserve the battery for much longer - luckily, it still charges to 100% - I have attached a couple screen-shots about battery health - I think for it's age it still looks good - can you confirm?

Many Thanks!

 

[Sanpete]

Looks great to me.

 

[Bazzy]

You will want to investigate whether the battery is going bad and has swollen. The 2011 track pad was hard to click and upon removing the battery, to check the trackpad from underneath, I found the trackpad then worked just fine. I discovered the battery was swollen and pushing on the trackpad.

Hi justashooter,

Well, I adjusted the trackpad screw till there was more than enough of a click & checked the bottom of the battery was nice & flat. However, it was when I was fitting the battery back that I noticed a couple of bulges on the top of the battery at one area pretty close to each other - not visible with the eye. One is bigger than the other but you can feel them with the fingers.

As I had adjusted the trackpad screw a fair (but not excessive) amount, I thought it had plenty of wiggle room to compensate but sadly, upon putting everything back together, it is still pretty much the same! Arghhh - you were right - it seems to be the darn battery!!

May I ask, since the bulges at this stage are quite small, is it safe to still use the laptop & how long for? I guess I will have to get a new battery eventually but am guessing a genuine Apple one will be very expensive - that is if they are even available anymore?

I do not mind getting a non Apple replacement one but am concerned that I might inadvertently get a poor quality and/or fake one & not sure how to tell? They are much cheaper from Chinese vendors selling on ebay but you never know with them - having said that, all the UK vendors still get all theirs from China anyway!

Any tips on how to ensure I do not get a poor or fake one?

Many Thanks!

 

[profcutter]

Once it starts to swell, it's a goner. You don't want that thing to pop. I pulled a friend's battery when it was swollen, for some reason he took it into his back yard, put it in a metal trashcan and started poking it with a stick. There were fireworks.

 

[Steve686]

Ya.

I second the swollen battery probability being the cause of a tight trackpad.

My 2008 UMBP's removable battery swelled and made use of the trackpad almost impossible. The battery even made the battery cover pop off because it was so swelled.

 

[justashooter]

I wouldn't trust that battery for nothing. Attached is a picture of a battery that was in a 2011 MacBook Pro 13" that wasn't used for almost 2 years and was then charged. Some time in the next week this is what happened. Had to drill out one of the screws that held the bottom cover on to take it off. A new battery for your MBP can be had at Other World Computing https://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/BAP17MBU95W/