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MacBook Pro battery... popped.

P

Pants Dragon

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 8, 2006
212
0
I don't know a better way to describe what happened. Basically the battery just popped. I'll provide some pictures. I phoned Apple support and was told I may or may not be covered, but I have to go to a store about almost 100 miles away to find out. I was hoping I could just get a new one sent to me.

The computer is no longer under warranty, but come on, it's not like the battery is only working at half capacity or something. It broke open and from what I've read could have potentially started a fire.

The guy also gave me a couple articles to refer to, but from when I look for them on the apple site they apparently don't exist.

Anybody have any ideas on what I could do?
 

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That sucks but did you have to ask what to do? Take it to Apple. Were the MBP batteries ever recalled?
 
Well like I said, I was hoping to get one mailed to me. The closest Apple dealer is roughly an hour and a half away.
 
Well - that may be an important hour and a half drive with what is at stake. My guess is that, absent any mistreatment, the battery will be found to be highly defective and Apple may give you a new notebook and charge the cost to the battery provider. Apple wins, you win, battery manufacturer becomes more motivated to design and build better batteries.
 
Apple Corps said:
Well - that may be an important hour and a half drive with what is at stake. My guess is that, absent any mistreatment, the battery will be found to be highly defective and Apple may give you a new notebook and charge the cost to the battery provider. Apple wins, you win, battery manufacturer becomes more motivated to design and build better batteries.
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I highly doubt I'll get a new laptop, since the actual computer didn't sustain any damage. (That my untrained eye can notice anyway) I just want a new battery and I'll be happy.
 
A battery that popped like that? I'd want a new laptop just in case something did happen to the insides.
 
::looks around:: some of you have been on these boards for years and pretend like you've never seen this issue!

Apple knows their batteries expand (which is more or less what this issue is official called), but don't think you'll get a new machine or even a new battery for this, especially since your machine is out of warranty.

In addition to batteries being considered consumables, Apple is notorious for needing serious prodding to get them to do anything about this issue. Don't get me wrong, worn or not, no battery should expand, ever, at all, under any circumstances. I just wish apple would see this and offer a no questions asked replacement.
 
Apple Corps said:
I'm seeing damage - the casing looks blown out - maybe I'm not seeing clearly :confused: :confused:
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Well yeah, the battery is blown out. but none of those pictures are the laptop itself.:p Which looks fine to me. I mean I'd love to get a new computer, but I don't see how Apple would give me one. I do however think I deserve a new battery. Maybe I should call back and ask to speak to somebody a level up or something.
 
Sorry to break the rules with a bump, but I thought I'd update everybody on the situation. I called back and got somebody a lot more helpful, who said the last person I talked to never should have referred me the way he did and she forwarded me to a product specialist who has had a replacement sent free of charge.:) Which is the resolution I wanted. Thanks, Apple!:)
 
Pants Dragon said:
Sorry to break the rules with a bump, but I thought I'd update everybody on the situation. I called back and got somebody a lot more helpful, who said the last person I talked to never should have referred me the way he did and she forwarded me to a product specialist who has had a replacement sent free of charge.:) Which is the resolution I wanted. Thanks, Apple!:)
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Yay for apple doing something right for once!
 
armoguy94 said:
Yay for apple doing something right for once!
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YEA! Damn that Apple, and their general lack of comprehension of right and wrong. For shame. I can't believe that this is the first time Apple did something correct, and we were here to witness it. O there will be much rejoicing and frolicking in fields of daffodil and lilac. Let us sing!
 
I have had this happen on 4 different mac book pros, and after lots of shouting at apple each time they have given me a replacement,

the last time was only a few weeks ago when two went at once, Im glad to say none of the replacements have done it...
 

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I'd like to add a humourous coda to this story. The charge indicator on the back still lights up all 5 lights (Full charge) when pushed. Yay!:p
 
With the amount of threads and uncertainty with batteries and replacements, I asked my manager/team leader and was told that Apple will/should replace batteries that are defective and if you do have AppleCare - it's a given. As for those without AppleCare, unless the battery is under a program for recall, Apple doesn't cover it. Supposedly this was discussed in training by I happened not to have payed close attention (damn you SGT's)...:D

Hopefully this will clear things up. I know it's one thing to know what they should do and another if they choose not to but I hope this information helps those who are having battery problems and helps you position yourself better when dealing with Apple.
 
Be careful, sometimes LiPo + epic fail= FIRE! I'm frankly terrified of mine, I think I've heard of Apple replacing them out of warranty, not sure but possible. I'd give it a try. That's a bummer to hear about that issue.
 
iLog.Genius said:
With the amount of threads and uncertainty with batteries and replacements, I asked my manager/team leader and was told that Apple will/should replace batteries that are defective and if you do have AppleCare - it's a given. As for those without AppleCare, unless the battery is under a program for recall, Apple doesn't cover it. Supposedly this was discussed in training by I happened not to have payed close attention (damn you SGT's)...:D

Hopefully this will clear things up. I know it's one thing to know what they should do and another if they choose not to but I hope this information helps those who are having battery problems and helps you position yourself better when dealing with Apple.
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I'm not under original warranty and I never had AppleCare. I also don't believe my battery has a serial number on the recall list.

designgeek said:
Be careful, sometimes LiPo + epic fail= FIRE! I'm frankly terrified of mine, I think I've heard of Apple replacing them out of warranty, not sure but possible. I'd give it a try. That's a bummer to hear about that issue.
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Yeah, I wasn't even home when this happened, I just came home to a popped battery. I'm very thankful the damage was only the battery and didn't take out my computer or god forbid start a serious fire in my home.
 
Add me to the list. 17" MacBook pro with expanded battery.
Spent about an hour on the phone with apple last night. They suck.
I don't have AppleCare so they don't believe me that it's defective. Why should I have to pay them for obviously crappy production?
I know have to take it to an apple penius to see if it really is defective since my word and the offer to send them pictures and even to charge me for a new one and then credit me once they see the double thick battery!
I'm really unhappy at the product and more at the support for a 3 thousand dollar laptop!
Will repost when I contact an authorized apple service center or travel 3 hrs to get an idiot to tell me what I already know!
Thanks a lot crapple!
 
bahamallama said:
Add me to the list. 17" MacBook pro with expanded battery.
Spent about an hour on the phone with apple last night. They suck.
I don't have AppleCare so they don't believe me that it's defective. Why should I have to pay them for obviously crappy production?
I know have to take it to an apple penius to see if it really is defective since my word and the offer to send them pictures and even to charge me for a new one and then credit me once they see the double thick battery!
I'm really unhappy at the product and more at the support for a 3 thousand dollar laptop!
Will repost when I contact an authorized apple service center or travel 3 hrs to get an idiot to tell me what I already know!
Thanks a lot crapple!
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...do you feel better after venting?

Calm down before going in, they will be more likely to assist if you don't put them on the defensive right away = good luck with your battery...
 
Pants Dragon said:
I'm not under original warranty and I never had AppleCare. I also don't believe my battery has a serial number on the recall list.

If Apple assisted and gave you a battery that's great. I was just speaking on what Apple's take was. Too many people come here expecting Apple to do this and that and bring the wrong information/attitude which results in them getting rejected the first time and getting more frustrated. I'm just putting it out there so people know how Apple looks at the situation so they know how to proceed rather than going in and saying "give me a new battery free of charge".
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