My trusty old macbook pro 15" (2010) has been running strong for 3.5 years. However, it takes multiple tries to plug in the charger before it finally starts charging. It seems to have gotten worse over time, and now it takes 5 or so tries before it starts to charge. Is this common behavior, or is something wrong?
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macbook pro (2010) intermittent charging
- Thread starter Freyqq
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It sounds like you may have a problem with your MagSafe adapter or the battery port in your Mac or the connector to the logic board. Check the connections to make sure they're clean and tight. Try another MagSafe adapter, to see if it helps. Check out the link for Troubleshooting MagSafe adapters at the bottom of the CHARGING section of the Battery FAQ. Also, for battery, power, or charging issues, you might try resetting the SMC.
The link below should answer most, if not all, of your battery/charging questions. If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend you take the time to read it. Resetting the SMC made no difference. I've tried 3 different chargers with no difference. The connectors are clean.
Then it sounds like the problem exists with your charging port or the connector to your logic board, or the logic board itself. I'd take it to Apple and let them run tests to diagnose the problem.
When I've had this problem it has been due to corrosion on either the adapter leads or the leads on the charging port of the computer. What I would always do was take a q-tip with just a little bit of alcohol on it and then clean both the leads on the charger and on the charging port of the computer. Of course, make sure your computer is off when you do this (and the charger unplugged).
Got a screw loose? I am not surprised that standard battery replacement instructions don’t include tightening all the screws that hold down the edges of the circuit boards and other parts. Bad connections cause dead and damaged batteries. Several of the screws hold down boards at gold corners that made me think they need grounding. Taking the bottom off and turning it upside down yielded a black 1/2” screw from the back corner opposite the MagSafe falling on the desk. Several other screws were quite loose despite having blue thread-locker on them. Now the charger works! (This is similar to electrical problems in cars caused by loose ground cables and straps.)