[nredman]

anyone else have an iPod that doesnt charge anymore? i remember the good old days with it would play for 8-9 hours...now on full charge it lasts 1 to 2 hours at the most. i think i am going wait until the 4th of july and blow it up with some fireworks anyone else have this problem.

[Yoda's Erotic Piggyback]

A quick search would show the 1000 threads on this topic. So I would have to say yes, other have this problem.

[macndave]

Originally posted by nredman:
anyone else have an iPod that doesnt charge anymore? i remember the good old days with it would play for 8-9 hours...now on full charge it lasts 1 to 2 hours at the most.

I have the same iPod which experienced the same problems you referenced, had gotten 10 hours of battery life, but it dropped to 15 to 30 minutes.


I found the following instructions posted by a member of one of Apple's discussions boards .

I followed the instructions below as my iPod was well out of warranty. It may be alittle scary to open up your iPod, but this worked for me and many others. I am now getting 7 to 8 hours per charge of music play. PLEASE proceed with caution and at your own risk. Don't even think of trying this if your iPod is still under warranty. One change I made was to just unplug the battery, not fully remove it:

===========================
Pod configuration:
Original 5GB iPod, Software 1.2.1

This is something that I don't recommend at all, but if you've tried it all, this one is for you. OK, here is what I did to solve the problem:

1. Open your iPod case.
2. Disconnect the battery from the main board and leave it disconnected for 5 minutes.
3. Now, with the battery disconnected, plug your iPod to you Mac and restore the iPod with 1.2.1 software (remember: RESTORE the iPod).
4. Follow the procedure like normally you do to restore the iPod, when it ask you to unplug and plug it, just do it.
5. Now that the iPod is restored, eject the iPod from your desktop and disconnect the FireWire cable.
6. Leave the iPod another 5 minutes.
7. Connect the battery to the main board and check that the iPod turns on.
8. Close your iPod and test it.

At this time, your iPod has reset all its settings, including the clock, language, etc.

I did this and the battery problem is now gone, my battery now is behaving normally and it lasts 8-10 hours with 1.2.1 software.

This are the problems that I had prior to the "hard reset":
-Battery lasts only 2-3hrs, no matter wich version of software, 1.1 or 1.2.x
-If plugged to the wall charger or the Mac, it charges the battery, but it doesn't matter how much time it charged, it only last 2-3hrs and sometimes less.
-If used it with backlight and changing tracks, the battery only lasts 15-30 mins

So, as you can see, this worked for me, but I don't guarantee that it works for you.

Anyway, give it a try and maybe you can get you iPod back to the road again.

Good luck !

[slider]

wow, that sucks. How does that happen, obviously if you can just reset the hardware and get the life back it means the battery is NOT use just run down. that's weird Well congrats on the fix and thanks for posting it.

[JLFanboy]

Okay, I'm having that problem too. The fix sounds good, but how do I take apart the case (Step 1)?

[macndave]

Originally posted by JLFanboy:
Okay, I'm having that problem too. The fix sounds good, but how do I take apart the case (Step 1)?

That was really hard. I used a set of small screwdrivers I purchased from a computer store years ago. I used a 1.4 mm screwdriver between the plastic and metal casing to pry it loose, then I used a 2.0 mm screwdriver to work around the opening. Once I had a section open, I just continued on around the case. Finally, it the metal backing popped off.

It was much, much easier getting the metal casing back on. align it in place, then push until it snaps closed.

If you don't have such small screw drivers, just a sharp tipped knife. Just be careful not to cut into the plastic or push too hard causing the knife to slide off the case, then cut your hand.

Again, don't take the battery off, just disconnect the battery cable. I think it is blue and black, but whatever the colors, it is the only cables that you will see. The connector slides out towards you. It is a bit of a pain to get back into place, just don't force it out or back in.

Today, I managed to get almost 10 hours of continuous music play time. I was so close to buying a new iPod but was holding out for an update. Now, I may just wait much longer.

I've several Macs and love them dearly, but the iPod has changed my music listening experience and it definitely my most cherish Apple purchase.

Take care, Dave

[tikki]

Its ridiculous. Let's just go through a typical day of my iPod usage.

7:00 - 7:20am - walk to class
8:30 - 8:50 - walk home from class
9:30 - 10:30 - workout
12:00 - 12:20 - walk to class
4:30 - 4:50 - walk home from class

if i don't charge it over night, it is dead the next morning on my walk to class.

I have a CompUSA warranty, but I don't know if its worth the drive to get it replaced with another 5gb iPod, or just wait until the 5gb is nomore and the 10 or 20 is the bare minimum...

[driven]

This is one of the fears that I expressed a few days ago.


I may be returning mine when it arrives this week, and wait for one with a replacable battery.

[tikki]

Originally posted by driven:
I may be returning mine when it arrives this week, and wait for one with a replacable battery.

i think you will be waiting a while.

[macndave]

Originally posted by tikki:
Its ridiculous. Let's just go through a typical day of my iPod usage.

7:00 - 7:20am - walk to class
8:30 - 8:50 - walk home from class
9:30 - 10:30 - workout
12:00 - 12:20 - walk to class
4:30 - 4:50 - walk home from class

if i don't charge it over night, it is dead the next morning on my walk to class.

I am not a student, so I don't generally turn my iPod off. While at home, it is plugged into the a/c. I didn't purchase a second a/c adapter, so my typical day is:
6:30am out the door, into car - iPod plays while connected to a cassette adapter.

7am enter the office, connect iPod to cheapo desktop speakers (this is a cube environment, so the volume is turned low enough for me to hear only)

7am to 6pm Phone calls, meetings, Database/web development, more calls and meetings. iPod plays joyfully in the background.

Around 3:30pm/4:30pm, the battery is drained.

6pm Leave office, listen to NPR on the car radio

Get home, plug iPod into a/c and stero system, play tunes all right.

So, as you can see, I generally get 9 to 10 hours of battery life.

As I seem to mention with each posting, be very careful and don't do the procedure if your iPod is under warranty.

On the weekends, I use my iPod very hard: Snowboarding in the winter, backpacking in the spring, on Century bike rides in the summer, raking leaves, cutting grass, plowing through this winter's snow, running with the dog. It has been dropped, stepped on, slept on, kicked by accident, left out in below freezing weather, borrowed out to several people and most recently partially taken apart, but it hasn't lost a single data/mp3 file and is running like a champion now.

[tikki]

It should still last longer than it does for me. I let it run nonstop one saturday and got ~8 hours out of it, but if i even think of skipping a few songs or turning on the equalizer, I am screwed.

[driven]

Originally posted by tikki:
i think you will be waiting a while.

Perhaps.

[Todd Madson]

Hi all:

I managed to KILL mine about two weeks ago. Read on.

I used my iPod eight to ten hours a day, five to six days a
week for a year, three months and 20-some days.

It was my constant companion. The thing was used constantly
and kept on going.

My wife and I took a 2500+ mile trip with our iPods. We'd have
them plugged into the car stereo and would drive hundreds of
miles a day to the next destination with all of this music.

I had 1250 tunes on mine, she had 800. It was unreal. We didn't
repeat a single tune unless we wanted to.

At night the units would charge and be ready for the next day.
They were great - the Walkman I always wanted with unlimited
selection and playing time.

They took a beating and kept on ticking. I was ready to send
Steve Jobs and e-mail and go "Home run, Steve. Home Run."

That was then....

My suspicion is there is a cold solder joint in the firewire plug
because for a while holding the firewire cable at a certain angle
while inserting it would cause my iPod to charge again.

I think that presently my battery charge is so low that the thing
can't possible even give me a display.

And for a while my iPod would work if powered off of the firewire
cable but a TERRIBLE thing happened two weeks ago.

I usually keep the iPod in its case except when I'm charging it to
prevent lots of heat buildup.

I charged it overnight using my wife's iPod charger and cable (I
was told that sometimes the cable can be a problem).

I woke up and was walking from the bedroom back to the computer
room. The iPod was not cased since I'd just charged it. Lo and
behold in my sleepy state it slipped and I dropped the laptop onto
a linoleum kitchen floor.

CRASH! The chromed backplate literally FELL OFF the back of the
iPod and I was instantly awake and in a cold sweat.

I had experiences where the unit dropped before but never this
severely.

It hasn't worked since although it looks mint.

When the backplate was off I checked to make sure it was still
connected to the battery and the like and it appeared to be okay.

So, I guess I get to get it repaired or maybe I should wait for
new ones.

Let me get this straight: I eat walkmans and headphones for lunch.
I'm a musician and music freak. I want music I like all the time.
I've left a litany of over-used, broken and dead walkman and
headphones in my wake. I use things to excess and they die just
through excessive use.

I really USE whatever it is I buy until it doesn't work anymore and
then I buy something else. I'm not surprised that this happened
since dropping it probably did a number of bad things (I can see a
delicate solder joint cracking).

I'll figure out a way to get this fixed one way or another.

-One very bummed iPod owner.

[tikki]

wow, that sucks

Sorry, man.

[Agasthya]

Originally posted by tikki:
Its ridiculous. Let's just go through a typical day of my iPod usage.

7:00 - 7:20am - walk to class
8:30 - 8:50 - walk home from class
9:30 - 10:30 - workout
12:00 - 12:20 - walk to class
4:30 - 4:50 - walk home from class

if i don't charge it over night, it is dead the next morning on my walk to class.

I have a CompUSA warranty, but I don't know if its worth the drive to get it replaced with another 5gb iPod, or just wait until the 5gb is nomore and the 10 or 20 is the bare minimum...

my old 5GB was very similar to yours. I'd take it out like 4 or 5 times a day for around half an hour at a time and the battery indicator was always at 1 bar or 2 bars when I got home. I was also having a problem with the scroll wheel getting ridiculously loose so the volume would go crazy when I was using it while working out so I did the online form and they sent me a new iPod in a day and I'm happy to say the new one does not have any of the problems of the old one (yet). I'm sure the scroll wheel will go nuts again in the future so I guess I'll have to RMA it right before the warranty runs out

[edit]
if you goto CompUSA they might not have anymore 5GB iPods since Apple isn't shipping them out anymore. Compusa's website lists the availablity of the 5GB units as "call" so a drive over there might net you 5 extra GBs and a non-mechanical scroll wheel...plus, doesn't your TAP have unlimited replacements if the product continuously sucks? So right before your TAP runs out you can drop kick it or something and get a new one

[mark9939]

Small Dog is offering a service for $50, to open your iPod and take care for your charging problems. Here's the deal...

Small Dog Electronics announces its iPod Restoration
Program: Small Dog will perform the iPod restoration procedure for $50
(cheaper than buying a new one).

You MUST email robin@smalldog.com first. She will then send back an
RMA number, so that they know whose iPod belongs to whom. iPods sent
without first receiving an RMA cannot be serviced.

Send in your out-of-warranty iPod and we'll reset the battery for you.
Remember, the iPod MUST be wiped of all data during this procedure, and
no arrangements can be made to save the data for you. Don't send us an
iPod that has anything on it that you want to keep.

Semi-legal mumbo-jumbo: NO warranty is expressed or implied in this
procedure, and there is NO guarantee that your particular iPod will
work any better or worse than when you sent it to Small Dog
Electronics. Your iPod may have another problem(s) not associated with
the battery restoration procedure, and this procedure will not affect
the other problem(s). Do NOT send in an iPod that has any other problem
than short battery life, since that problem(s) will NOT be fixed. All
data will be erased from any iPod sent to Small Dog for this procedure.
No iPod will be serviced without an RMA number.

Sounds like a good deal to me.

[vmpaul]

I'm surprised some ambitious firm hasn't stepped forward to provide a battery replacement service.

Is it possible to get new batteries for these things? Or would it be too expensive?

[dab007]

I have a 5gb ipod and the battery is going dead. I do have the CompUSA TAP program for 3 years and I'm waiting for the ipods to be updated. I know if I when to comp now they only have the 10 and 20gb. Any word on the update for the ipod?

[Tiny-E]

Holy crap, you guys are freaking me out! Sorry to hear about the crappy battery life after a while on the ipods. Are all these complaints only from the old 5 gig version? has anyone had this battery drainage problem with the new 10 or 20 gig ones? I got a 10 gig one for christmas and love it dearly but now i feel like I'm going to have to count the minutes just to make sure I'm getting the proper battery life!

[tanhauser]

Originally posted by Tiny-E:
Holy crap, you guys are freaking me out! Sorry to hear about the crappy battery life after a while on the ipods. Are all these complaints only from the old 5 gig version? has anyone had this battery drainage problem with the new 10 or 20 gig ones? I got a 10 gig one for christmas and love it dearly but now i feel like I'm going to have to count the minutes just to make sure I'm getting the proper battery life!

No, not at all...

Up until a couple of days ago I had one of the original 5 Gb iPods. From the day I got it until then it worked flawlessly, constantly giving me a good 7-8 hours worth of non-stop music. The trick, I think, is to avoid navigating a lot through all the menus, and not to use the backlight unless you really need to. I flew back from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam and used during the flight (a good 8 hours) and still had plenty for the ride home from the airport.

My point, if you're careful with it you won't really have any problems.

Oh, and I'm now loving my brand new 20 Gb iPod :o)

F

[tikki]

Originally posted by dab007:
I have a 5gb ipod and the battery is going dead. I do have the CompUSA TAP program for 3 years and I'm waiting for the ipods to be updated. I know if I when to comp now they only have the 10 and 20gb. Any word on the update for the ipod?

I dunno, but let me know how your experience goes with the TAP program. I am always paranoid with trying to get warranty service from companies. Must be b/c of all the bad service i get from best buy/circuit city.

[BurpetheadX]

Yea my battery is crap too. But you know what is really super crap. My wheel. The wheel on my 5 GB iPod i so crap it just slides all over the place when I barely touch the unit, and I have to constantly keep pressing it and "snapping" it back in. The design on this wheel is so bad. I've used this iPod probobly 8 hours max in my life, and its battery has already given out, as well its wheel. I feel shafted.

[dab007]

Well, I broke down and we to compusa to return my 5g ipod. They told me that they need to keep it for 24 to 48 hours to run tests. To see the the battery is up to spec. Person said some thing about refunding my money because they don't have any more 5g ipods. I will be really upset if this is the case. I don't want my money back I want an ipod. Its less then a year old and I paid for the TAP. I feel if they don't have a 5g then they should give the 10g. I'll keep you posted......

[tikki]

Originally posted by dab007:
Well, I broke down and we to compusa to return my 5g ipod. They told me that they need to keep it for 24 to 48 hours to run tests. To see the the battery is up to spec. Person said some thing about refunding my money because they don't have any more 5g ipods. I will be really upset if this is the case. I don't want my money back I want an ipod. Its less then a year old and I paid for the TAP. I feel if they don't have a 5g then they should give the 10g. I'll keep you posted......

According to what I was told when I made my purchase, if they don't have your model, they have to give you the next one up.

Who knows. maybe the guy just wanted a sale.

[dab007]

tikki,

I was told the same thing and will make that point if they try to refund my money.

[bradoesch]

Originally posted by tikki:

7:00 - 7:20am - walk to class
8:30 - 8:50 - walk home from class
9:30 - 10:30 - workout
12:00 - 12:20 - walk to class
4:30 - 4:50 - walk home from class

What is the weather like on your walks to class? I noticed the battery in my camcorder always acted weird in the cold. I think the batteries started to work better once they warmed up again, but I don't quite remember.

And I can't try it again and see because it was stolen by the French. Really. Well, stolen in France, but that doesn't sound near as good. If getting my camcorder stolen could sound good.

[tikki]

Originally posted by bradoesch:
What is the weather like on your walks to class? I noticed the battery in my camcorder always acted weird in the cold. I think the batteries started to work better once they warmed up again, but I don't quite remember.

And I can't try it again and see because it was stolen by the French. Really. Well, stolen in France, but that doesn't sound near as good. If getting my camcorder stolen could sound good.

hmm. It has been frigid, but its starting to warm up. We'll see if I notice any improvement.

[Todd Madson]

I'll add this to this thread since the other one is not real active (i.e. no responses):

Here's the latest.

As you may know if you read the "battery problems" thread in
this forum I had been running into odd issues with my iPod
shutting off shortly after being turned on until it just
wouldn't even work anymore.

If I connected via the firewire connection on the top of the
unit, it would work - just so long as it connected to my G4.

So far so good, right?

The more I think about it the more I KNOW FOR A FACT that
the iPod is NOT charging at all. I have pictures that I've
taken tonight with my digital camera.

I'd heard about early revision iPod units that would develop
a cold solder joint in the firewire jack so the battery just
would not charge even if connected - the voltage wasn't
getting there.

My friend Paul took out his volt-ohm meter to determine
what if any voltage the battery had left. He devised an
intricate way of reading the battery and found out it has
160 millivolts left, which is manifestly too little.

He used alligator clips, a short length of lead from a
twist tie to connect to the battery terminal and the
standard probes from the volt ohm meter.

We connected the firewire charger to the AC voltage and he
tried to route the voltage to the battery bypassing the
firewire jack altogether and got the battery to go from 160
millivolts to about 3.7 volts in a matter of minutes but it
was still too low to get the iPod to twitch a knee.

Stand by. I've heard Apple once replaced iPods with the
cold solder joint problem but since I'm long out of warranty
I need to do these ridiculous things to get the thing going
again.

We're thinking if we can get a full charge on the battery I
may have a working iPod again.

Then we need to consider how to get the firewire jack
operational again since I don't relish opening the back
of the iPod every time I want to charge the battery.

Stay tuned.

[dab007]

update: I talk to compusa about replacing my 5g ipod with the TAP. They will not replace it with 10g ipod. They now issue gift cards for the value of the ipod you bought. I can say that I will never buy anything from compusa again.

[Todd Madson]

Just be patient. Any freaking day now the new ones will be out. Then you can get yours swapped.

[dab007]

Originally posted by Todd Madson:
Just be patient. Any freaking day now the new ones will be out. Then you can get yours swapped.

Thanks, I'll do that.

[Leaping Gnome]

Todd, I've heard of that problem back when 5 gigs were all anyone had. IIRC, if you open the iPod (take the back off), you will probably see that one or more of the firewire contacts is broken. I think you can just solder it back on and you should be fine. I remember a site having procedures for this, you could probably search on Google and find something. Sorry for the non-specific data!

[tikki]

Originally posted by Leaping Gnome:
Todd, I've heard of that problem back when 5 gigs were all anyone had. IIRC, if you open the iPod (take the back off), you will probably see that one or more of the firewire contacts is broken. I think you can just solder it back on and you should be fine. I remember a site having procedures for this, you could probably search on Google and find something. Sorry for the non-specific data!

I'd rather go to war with CompUSA than start soldering my iPod.

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by Todd Madson:
Just be patient. Any freaking day now the new ones will be out. Then you can get yours swapped.

Here's my theory: new iPods released/announced on the same day as the new Apple music service. And with new iPod software for integration. Nice package.

[PHoynak]

I am glad I purchased a 4 year extended warranty from Mac Mall when I purchased my 5 GB iPod. So far the battery life is not as good as it should be but it is not bad enough to call to have it fixed.

[Todd Madson]

Originally posted by Leaping Gnome:
Todd, I've heard of that problem back when 5 gigs were all anyone had. IIRC, if you open the iPod (take the back off), you will probably see that one or more of the firewire contacts is broken. I think you can just solder it back on and you should be fine. I remember a site having procedures for this, you could probably search on Google and find something. Sorry for the non-specific data!

It's sadly too hard to get to those solder points with taking the entire thing apart.

I've got another solution for an iPod. More later.

[Todd Madson]

Originally posted by aaanorton:
Here's my theory: new iPods released/announced on the same day as the new Apple music service. And with new iPod software for integration. Nice package.

I bet you're right. I wonder when this will happen?

[schalliol]

I bet Apple will offer some repair procedure, assuming the numbers of units needing repair are high. I'm not saying for free, but for a fairly low price. Apple won't let tens of thousands of early Apple adopters get screwed.

[Todd Madson]

The local Micro Center was blowing out iPod 5 GB models for $199 this past weekend. They were selling 25 a day with that price with a special voucher.

I got one and so did a friend.

So, I now have an iPod again.

But I'm being a bit more careful with it than I was the last one. It will remain in the clear plastic it was wrapped in (the "don't steal music" warning was easily removed with a little saliva and elbow grease). And it will be cased when it's not charging.

The dead one is an interesting project, perhaps. I might try and resurrect it later or something.

[schalliol]

Perhaps you could get something like a "Groove Jacket". I don't think that plastic was ever intended for constant use and some of the cases ought to provide a bit more protection anyway.

[Athens]

im a happy discman owner

[tikki]

Originally posted by Athens:
im a happy discman owner

Do you want a hero cookie or a handshake?

[tonton]

My original 5GB iPod is awesome (still). I originally bought it in December and it was replaced in March because of a blown out FireWire port. So my current unit is 12 months old. I get over 8h of battery life after a full charge. I have turned off alarms. With alarms on it will completely drain in about 24 hours. With alarms off it drains completely in about five days.

[Todd Madson]

Yes, the clear wrapper is 'clearly' not going to stay on the iPod
permanently.

The case I have now (Marware) is great but I'm not sure just how
well it will protect it from mars, scratches and the like. I'm
being a bit anal about this one I guess.

As far as the dead one, if I can find a way to get to the circuit
board where the firewire port is it probably can be resoldered.

My suspicion is that the hard drive might be "frelled" (in
Farscape vernacular) after it got dropped.

I hope not but....stand by.

[vmpaul]

Originally posted by schalliol:
I bet Apple will offer some repair procedure, assuming the numbers of units needing repair are high. I'm not saying for free, but for a fairly low price. Apple won't let tens of thousands of early Apple adopters get screwed.

I sure hope you're right. At least a battery replacement service at some point for those out of warranty. I wonder what the cost could be? $50? $75?

How come a 3rd party repair service hasn't popped up? Are those batteries available to be sold separtaely?

[schalliol]

Originally posted by vmpaul:
I sure hope you're right. At least a battery replacement service at some point for those out of warranty. I wonder what the cost could be? $50? $75?

How come a 3rd party repair service hasn't popped up? Are those batteries available to be sold separtaely?

I would think $50-$75 looks about right for such a service. I don't know how much the batteries are, but if they're special Apple parts (when the iPods came out there were some threads on this sort of thing) they may be hard to get. It's a pretty small case, so whatever they use has to be a perfect fit.

To any company considering offering this service, contact me today, $50 and my iPod will be on your way.

[schalliol]

Time to try the new software: 1.2.6 I have updated, but it's too soon to tell if it's making a difference for me.

http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/

iPod Software 1.2.6 provides improved battery management which solves a problem that may appear to shorten your iPod?s battery life.

Some customers have reported that over time their iPod?s battery life has declined. This update enables the iPod to more accurately monitor its battery charge, thus using the entire battery capacity and regaining long battery life. The result is longer playback time and extended standby time. After updating the iPod, customers can expect at least 10 days of standby battery life on a full charge.

Prior to this update, the iPod would sometimes mistake a temporary low voltage condition as an indication that the battery was discharged. This resulted in the iPod shutting down prematurely, even though the battery was still capable of powering the iPod.

Update your iPod software to version 1.2.6. This update is recommended for all iPod users.

[Jerommeke]

1.2.6 REALLY improvbed my battery performance, it is better then the conditions when I bought it, it seems!

no more strangeness with battery indication being '0', then 3, then 1, then 4, then 2 and then suddenly out of power

[schalliol]

That is excellent!

Has anyone noticed improvement who has suffered from total unresponsiveness (leaving off for a few days and then plugging in would fix)

[cube-dude]

In case not everyone with battery life challenges has updated, I wholeheartedly recommend 1.2.6. Since updating, I have utilized my iPod (5 GB) the same as always and have not needed to charge it since the day Apple made 1.2.6 available.

Before the update, playing under the same conditions, the iPod would die in a day (two if lucky), or need to be rebooted, or be dead if it sat overnight uncharged.

Like many of you, my iPod love affair was waning because of the battery issue, but with 1.2.6 the honeymoon period is back full throttle! (And it didn't even cost me dinner and a movie first.)