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DerekJ · Jun 22, 2003, 03:28 PM

I have a 2001 Dual USB ibook (500Mz) which is having the same battery problems that so many have had after the 10.2.4 upgrade. My battery now lasts for 20 minutes. I do have applecare for this iBook and I called in today to try to get some help. The guy had me reset the pram and a few other things, but said that if these didn't work i'd have to go buy my own battery, as batteries are not covered by AppleCare. The pram reset didn't work so i have one question. Has anyone gotten a new battery from applecare, and if so what did you do to get it?

MacNZ · Jun 22, 2003, 05:24 PM

I don't think I'll be much help because I live in NZ but I have got a new battery under warranty before. My battery packed up like yours, I took it in and they sent it away to Apple. They needed the machine serial number to send too. The bad part was that I was minus a battery for a week but they did send a replacement!

I eventually bought an extra battery anyway, because it is always good to have a backup. They always give up after a while, but the current iBook probs are pretty annoying.

bartman00 · Jun 22, 2003, 07:18 PM

All battery's die after about 2 years... that's just life. NO company covers batterys for that ammount of time.. it just dosn't happen. You'll have to buy a new battery. Welcome to the laptop life.

Bart

dbeth77 · Jun 22, 2003, 09:08 PM

At the end of May, I was finally fed up with my battery life. For the past couple months, I would unplug my power cord, and I would get 30 minutes, top, of life. This has been this way for most of my time in OS X since getting my Dual USB iBook (500 MHz). I got this iBook in June 2001.

So, I called AppleCare (I've been covered since purchase) about a month ago (end of May). They guy on the other end was very helpful; I explained my situation and what was wrong. He sent me a new battery via Airborne Express w/in 2 days, I repackaged my old battery in the box and sent it back to Apple. As long as it was back to them in 10 days, my credit card wouldn't be charged (I had to give them my number).

My advice: Just call and see. Be honest and don't get pushy. If they'll take it back, great! If not, just ask why in a calm manner. It can't hurt.

Good luck!

misc · Jun 22, 2003, 09:56 PM

If you paid for Applecare then they should give you a new battery, free of charge.

Particle_Man · Jun 24, 2003, 02:32 PM

I had the battery for my 500MHz iceBook replaced under warranty about 2 months ago. Just went to my local Mac shop and told them that I was getting less than an hour and a half on a battery that used to give me three hours. They ordered me a new battery under AppleCare and had it in less than a week. I went in, handed them my old battery, and walked out with the new one.

I'm in Australia but that shouldn't matter since the Applecare coverage on laptops is international.

mgl · Jun 24, 2003, 10:27 PM

I had my battery replaced under Applecare for a similar model iBook and it wasn't in anywhere near as bad of shape as yours. I think it was under an hour. My computer was a year old. I said it was advertised as 5 hours, I normally got 2.5. Now I was getting 1.0. They sent me a replacement free of charge after doing the pram reset test. No hassle. AppleCare is so worth it for Apple laptops.

wunderkind · Jun 25, 2003, 07:30 AM

My battery was replaced under original 12 months warranty 5 months after I bought the iBook.

AppleCare is an extension of the original warranty. Should work the same way.

dampeoples · Jun 25, 2003, 09:03 AM

Just call Applecare
When I got a new one, the guy made me reboot a few times, ran some fsck and something else, and told me to let it charge overnight, and try it in the morning. I called in the morning, he said he'd send a battery. He took my credit card number in case I didn't send the old one back, a new one arrived in a few days.

damosan · Jun 25, 2003, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by DerekJ:
I have a 2001 Dual USB ibook (500Mz) which is having the same battery problems that so many have had after the 10.2.4 upgrade. My battery now lasts for 20 minutes. I do have applecare for this iBook and I called in today to try to get some help. The guy had me reset the pram and a few other things, but said that if these didn't work i'd have to go buy my own battery, as batteries are not covered by AppleCare. The pram reset didn't work so i have one question. Has anyone gotten a new battery from applecare, and if so what did you do to get it?

I got my battery under AppleCare but it was during the original 1 year warrenty...tried reseting pram, all that mess...battery still hosed.

They shipped me a new one.

wapangy · Jun 26, 2003, 11:11 PM

What if you don't have applecare? 10.2.4 broke my battery (20 minutes charge), can i get a new one for free?

mgl · Jun 26, 2003, 11:52 PM

Originally posted by wapangy:
What if you don't have applecare? 10.2.4 broke my battery (20 minutes charge), can i get a new one for free?

Not if you're out of warranty.

tungtied07 · Jun 28, 2003, 09:29 AM

um... I don't think Apple will replace your battery after the 1 year warranty (original), even if you have apple care 3 year plan. I called yesterday because my ibook battery was very short, asked for a new battery and they said 'no'. They said no because its a consumable item and because it past my original 1 year warranty, even though i have 3 years warranty..does this make sense?