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l008com · Mar 11, 2010, 02:57 AM

I was given a broken macbook for free. I don't know what the deal was with this machine, only that it was taken to the genius bar, they said it had water damage, and then it was given to me. So after a bunch of poking around, turns out this machine is perfect except for two things, it usually doesn't see it's battery, and the screen has some major palm-rest marks on it.

So I threw a new screen on because I just happened to have one from the LAST black macbook these very same people gave me, that had been dropped down a set of stairs but somehow it didn't effect the screen. So the only problem left on this machine is the battery.

So according to official apple troubleshooting guides, my next step is to replace the logic board. I'm obviously not going to do that, I'll just sell it as-is. But here's what i've done so far. Besides a WHOLE lot of cleaning while the machine was opened up... I tried my other battery (from the other blackbook, which worked fine in other macbooks I've tried it in). I took the battery connector/sleep switch and DC-in board from the old machine and put it in the new one. I reset the SMC.

No effect. It still shows in X in the battery icon almost all the time. On a rare event when it sees the battery, it acts normal. Runs off battery, charges the battery, shows battery detail in System Profiler. When it can't see the battery, it shows no info in System Profiler, but it does imply there is a battery installed. Also, when it doesn't see the battery and you pull the AC plug, the machine does NOT instantly die. It actually goes to sleep. So it is getting some power from the battery.

So besides a logic board problem, the only thing I can think of is the odd logic board connector, where the sleep switch/battery connector slides into the logic board. Those holes that make up the connector did look a little dirty. But they are so small, I can't think of any possible way I could clean them out.

So... Any ideas I haven't thought of?

imitchellg5 · Mar 11, 2010, 03:22 PM

What do these kids do to their MacBooks? Sheesh. Can you test to see if the battery is actually charging when it's plugged into the MacBook? You've pretty much come to this conclusion already, but the only thing that I can think of is that there is something wrong with the logic board. Under what circumstances does it see the battery? Completely random, or is it after the MB heats up? Is held a certain way?

JoshuaZ · Mar 11, 2010, 07:10 PM

I take it that the computer works just fine if it's plugged in? Just that the battery doesn't show up?

Now are you planning on keeping this computer for yourself, or are you planning on selling it?

You could always use it as a desktop, stay in one place, computer. Sure, it's no laptop, but it's free.

l008com · Mar 12, 2010, 01:34 AM

Totally random, and not very often at that. And my plan is to sell it. I already have all the computers I need. Worst case I could sell it as a laptop that won't run on it's battery, but that's not very good.

And about what these kids do to their macbooks... they're rich, so they treat their computers like they know if it breaks, they'll just get another one. But it's been working out well for me

techound1 · Mar 13, 2010, 05:34 PM

If you want to open it up again, you can clean the slots of the dc-in board with a light amount of rubbing alcohol, q-tips, and an old (and clean!) toothbrush. The dc-in boards are notoriously fragile, too.

AKcrab · Mar 13, 2010, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by l008com

But here's what i've done so far. Besides a WHOLE lot of cleaning while the machine was opened up... I tried my other battery (from the other blackbook, which worked fine in other macbooks I've tried it in). I took the battery connector/sleep switch and DC-in board from the old machine and put it in the new one. I reset the SMC.

No effect. It still shows in X in the battery icon almost all the time.

I'm afraid the only thing left is the logic board. For it to be intermittent is quite odd, though.

l008com · Mar 15, 2010, 03:29 PM

I cleaned the connector again, more throughly, but it didn't look any cleaner. Possible it's not dirty at all, just discolored. I used, of all things, carb cleaner. If that can't clean it, nothing can.