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jfine427
1
Asked
My MacBook battery is swelling. Should I worry?
I just noticed that my MacBook wasn't sitting level on my desk. I lifted it to look underneath it and noticed that my battery has a swell in it. It just seems to have gotten fat. What would cause this?
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Score
Chris Green
14.9k
Answered
I would ditch the battery as soon as possible. A swelling battery poses a fire hazard. Even if it's still holding an ok charge, it's not a good idea to it keep in the computer, as it may leak battery acid into the computer. If you don't want to replace it, then I would consider removing it, and running the computer off the wall charger only.
Agreed, you don't want to mess with a potentially bad battery... although if things do make a turn for the worse, it would make an interesting lawsuit
Gabe,
I'm fairly certain that batteries no longer contain acid, but agreed...still a very bad sign and can lead to unpleasantness at best, property or personal damage at worst. Don't leave it alone, get it replaced. As for a lawsuit, it wouldn't hold up in court if he knew the battery was swelling and didn't get it addressed. It's like suing a doctor for not finding the ulcer that was causing you pain that you didn't tell him about.
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rdklinc
15.3k
Answered
Take it to the Apple store -- they will most likely replace it for free.
They will almost always replace a bulging battery, and it helps if you tell them it's been getting REALLY hot. They need the serial number of your computer, so it's probably best to bring the laptop in with it. They are more likely to swap the battery if the laptop is still under warranty, but I've seen them do it many times out of warranty...they are very concerned about faulty batteries causing fires and causing them to get sued, etc.
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Spikey2
1.2k
Answered
1
Score
scotthemin
13
Answered
My MBP 17 did the same thing - it's been getting really hot. I replaced the battery with OWC's higher beefier one. Interesting that the battery KEPT swelling after I took it off. No goo coming out but the packets inside are quite visible. The heat may taken it's toll though - it's running like snail snot today. Disk utility isn't helping.
Apple had already replaced the first one at 1.5 years (out of warranty) for free. Kinda don't think they'd give me a second one.
Actually I think they will most likely replace it a second time. It's a defect in their product, and not only that but potentially a dangerous one. It's not a result of anything you did wrong.
I was having a problem with my power cord so I had to go to the apple store. I took the swollen battery thinking wtf - if they don't replace it at least they will recycle it. Surprise! they gave me a new one! thanks for the heads up, rdlinc!
returning the battery? You don't need to take the laptop in - just take the battery and the serial of your Mac to the apple store. If the store is a busy one, make an appointment first or you will be sitting around until they get an opening. The Genius Bar guys have to look at it to see it's swollen. They fill out a defective battery invoice, you sign it and walk away, battery in hand.
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Parker
495
Answered
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kim
13
Answered
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Sam
1
Answered
Apple will not replace a bulging battery out of warranty, having gone through 2 apple senior analysts on the phone and a local genius bar, they don't recognize it as a defect. They do recognize that it only happens once in a blue moon, but apparently that isn't a defect, that's normal. The phone analyst did say they may fix it as a one off if you have damage on the machine stemming from the bulging battery, but they offer no guarantee of course. btw, this apparently happens to the new MBP integrated batteries as well and again they may or may not fix your machine out of warranty if the bulging damages circuit boards.
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David
1
Answered
I went to the local Apple Retail Store today with both my MacBook 13" and my MacBook 14" that I bought in November of 2009. Both of the machines have bulging batteries that are pushing out the back cover so that the machines do not sit on a flat surface properly. They said they could not replace the battery with a new one, but would be happy to sell me 2 new batteries. Since both machines are different models with bulging batteries, so much for the "once in a blue moon" claim! If it's so rare, why are both of my units suffering from the battle of the bulge!
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hello
207
Answered
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Score
Answered
its due to over charging... Im supervisor of RCA tech support in Los Angeles and we have portable tvs that this happens to every now and then. Disconnect your charger from the computer when it has reached it full charge unless your using it.
Technically its still the companies fault for not warning of this potential problem. Here at RCA we will replace a battery in this condition no matter how long the customer has had the product.
Im here because the same thing happened to my macbook today. Im hesitant to call tech support after reading some of your posts though.
FYI for all rechargeable battery devices, unplug after fully charged. phone, portable tvs, computers etc.
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Bruce
1
Answered
I took my Macbook 13" Unibody late 2008 in to the Apple repair store last week because the trackpad had been very stubborn for a long time. I ended up having to pay over US$90 to have the track pad replaced. However, the reason they told me for the problem was a swelling battery, but they would not replace the battery unless I traded in the old one to them and paid a further US$120. So much for Apple replacing defective batteries. Apple shares are at an all time high and they exploit Chinese workers to increase their profits, and no doubt manufacture poor quality batteries for which they charge extraordinarily high prices. Don't be taken in by their mouth-watering advertising. You have to pay for their mistakes to keep their shareholders happy.