[awsutter]

Hi all!

I've got a 1.07 GHz iBook G4 that doesn't want to run off a charged battery. Specifically, I have two known good batteries which are both charged, both show four green LEDs, etc.

I can turn on the iBook with the AC adapter, and the adapter is lit green. However, the battery indicator shows an X through the battery and reports "No batteries available."

I've tried both resetting the pram and the pmu. In those instances, the indicator on the AC adapter turns orange, green while booting, then orange again once I'm logged in. It stays orange for five to ten minutes, while the battery indicator reports 0% and "Battery is not charging." Eventually, the indicator turns green and the X returns to my battery icon. At this point, the profiler reports that no battery is installed.

What's interesting is that these batteries do in fact appear to charge up while in the iBook... it keeps them at 4 LEDs. Again, I can move them to another system... they're known working batteries.

I'll be interested to know if anybody's experienced this issue...

Thanks,
Drew

[osiris24x]

That's a pickle, indeed. My first check would be the battery contacts inside the machine, perhaps you're not getting a good contact?

[dowNNshift]

When you have the iBook connected to a power source and flipped over, do you see the battery LEDs blinking? This signifies that the battery is actively charging.

When did this first happen? Unfortunately, battery charge synchronization issues are always Logic Board related. Basically the DC input board feeds the logic board and a separate circuit feeds the battery. If the DC input board got hit by lightning, shorted from moisture or a foreign object that could be the culprit. That said, if the charge carried into the logic board itself then it'll require replacement by an Apple Service Provider.

Do you have AppleCare and how long do you have left on it? Logic boards usually run in the $850 dollar range and can quickly make the repair what we call in the business "beyond economical repair".

[awsutter]

Thanks for the replies, guys... I came to the conclusion that this was probably a logic board issue and eBay'd the thing for parts, then replaced with a similar machine. Recouped most of the money on the broken iBook, so took a step sideways and I'm not out that much.

As an aside, it's ridiculous how well this old (5+ years!) hardware holds its value.