Macbook Pro unibody battery problem

[terefere]

Hello,
For a week or so I have been having problems with my Macbook's battery.
Instead of usual 3-4 hours it only lasts 40-70 minutes. I immediately checked battery properties and it says that it only has 1769mAh...

You can see it on a screenshot here:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1211620/macbook2.jpg

Sorry it is in Polish, but I am sure you can figure everything out

The macbook is from 2009:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1211620/macbook1.jpg

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Have you calibrated the battery yet or looked at Activity Monitor to see, what process might hog the CPU?

______________________________________________________
This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions:
Apple Notebook Battery FAQ by GGJstudios
______________________________________________________​

 

[terefere]

I did not calibrate the battery, on the apple website is says that batteries in unibody Macbooks are already calibrated, should I do it anyway?

Nothing is hogging the CPU, the problem is that the battery now has 1769 mAh instead of 5000mAh or whatever it was and should be...

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I did not calibrate the battery, on the apple website is says that batteries in unibody Macbooks are already calibrated, should I do it anyway?

Yes, you should. Rad the battery FAQ I linked to and also have a look at Coconut Battery.
You can also use the

button to insert the image address and have the image visible here, but know, that if your image is wider than 800 pixel, that you should add a "T" in front of both IMG tags surrounding the address.

 

[terefere]

I read the FAQ, but it doesn't really help. I will calibrate the battery tonight, but the whole process seems like something that I did accidentaly few days ago ;-)

Coconut Battery shows this:

 

[simsaladimbamba]

646 load cycles in two years without proper and frequent calibration can do that to a battery, that is why I linked to the a Battery FAQ, as it tells you how to take care of your battery.
Do you still have Apple Care or some similar warranty?

 

[terefere]

I do not have AppleCare or any kind of warranty.

I know 646 cycles is a lot, but I have another Macbook, old good white this time, and it has over 800 cycles:

That's what I would expect, 86% after almost 4 years and 855 cycles seems resonable. 33% after 2 years and 646 cycles does not, at least to me. Also, in the FAQ you linked it says:

The built-in battery in the new 13-, 15-, and 17-inch MacBook Pro is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at up to 1000 full charge and discharge cycles.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I do not have AppleCare or any kind of warranty.

I know 646 cycles is a lot, but I have another Macbook, old good white this time, and it has over 800 cycles:

Image

That's what I would expect, 86% after almost 4 years and 855 cycles seems resonable. 33% after 2 years and 646 cycles does not, at least to me. Also, in the FAQ you linked it says:

Yeah, I know, that is why I asked about warranty or Apple Care, as you may have a faulty battery. It happens, especially with mass produced hardware.
My MacBook had only 300 cycles in two and a half years, but it still had a health of 97% or more (I sold it a while ago).
Sorry I can't be of further help.

 

[terefere]

Thanks for trying Maybe someone else has something to add?

 

[TheJing]

646 load cycles in two years without proper and frequent calibration can do that to a battery, that is why I linked to the a Battery FAQ, as it tells you how to take care of your battery.
Do you still have Apple Care or some similar warranty?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but calibration does not affect the battery's capacity. It is only to get a more accurate reading.

 

[miles01110]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but calibration does not affect the battery's capacity. It is only to get a more accurate reading.

This is correct.