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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Notebooks > My MacBook battery is having a growth spurt

My MacBook battery is having a growth spurt
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The Final Dakar
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Apr 9, 2010, 11:21 AM
 
That is to say, what was once flush with case now sticks out. Should I be concerned? (This seems to have coincided with its health slowly starting to drop).
     
Big Mac
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Apr 9, 2010, 11:24 AM
 
That doesn't sound like the best situation. Replacement sounds like a good idea.

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 9, 2010, 11:29 AM
 
Here's the thing -- the only time the battery is in use is when it's traveling to and from work. So I'm not keen to drop the cash on a new battery unless this thing is a serious threat to go KA-BOOM. Is it?

Edit: I purchased the MacBook in July of 2008, FYI
     
Cold Warrior
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Apr 9, 2010, 11:34 AM
 
If you're near a store, you could take it by and show it to them. Might just get lucky and walk away with a fresh battery for free if they think it's a safety concern.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 9, 2010, 11:35 AM
 
Not near a store, unfortunately.
     
amazing
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Apr 9, 2010, 12:11 PM
 
Definitely worth calling Applecare, since you're near a store.
     
JoshuaZ
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Apr 11, 2010, 05:20 PM
 
I called applecare and they were nice enough to replace my battery for free.

Though mine wasn't growing.

Yours is scary.
     
AKcrab
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Apr 11, 2010, 06:36 PM
 
If it grows too much, it can put pressure on the internals and cause damage. I would be concerned.
(And a call to AppleCare will probably result in them sending you a new one. They don't like "exploding" batteries.)
     
Simon
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Apr 12, 2010, 02:22 AM
 
Yep. Battery deformation is not to be taken lightly. You should have them replace it immediately. Ultimately the deformation can cause damage to your MBP or in extreme cases burn down your house.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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Apr 12, 2010, 09:16 AM
 
It should be noted that Applecare for my MacBook ran out long ago...

Anyway, the decision got made for me, because its actually grown more since this thread got created.
     
que_ball
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Apr 14, 2010, 01:50 AM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
It should be noted that Applecare for my MacBook ran out long ago...

Anyway, the decision got made for me, because its actually grown more since this thread got created.
Apple has been known to give battery replacements in the circumstances you describe even out of warranty.

Bad press or lawsuits can result from their batteries causing a fire or explosion. (Tell them you are a frequent flyer with the laptop and you are worried about it exploding on the plane if you need to get their attention)

It's usually best to make an appointment and visit a store to have it looked at, but phoning Apple should be attempted. The worst that can happen is they say no. Unless you have an irrational fear of rejection then calling them would be a good first step.
     
SierraDragon
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Apr 14, 2010, 11:30 PM
 
Remove to a safe place immediately and replace asap.
     
imitchellg5
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Apr 14, 2010, 11:31 PM
 
Originally Posted by que_ball View Post
Apple has been known to give battery replacements in the circumstances you describe even out of warranty.
Heck, I've had them replace batteries months out of warranty just for being unable to hold charge.
     
solofx7
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Apr 14, 2010, 11:56 PM
 
I had the same exact issue. I went to the store. They replaced it, no questions asked. I have a mbp 15 and yes my was growing and then the touchpad stopped working. The battery cover bent out of shape too. I would say, run, don't walk to the apple store, please
iMac 27inch 3.4 i7 16gb ram, MacBook Air 11 inch i5 128gb, iMac 27inch 2.8 i7 8gb ram, MacBook Pro 17 inch 2.66 i7, 4gb ram 500gb HDD Seagate XT,
iPhone 4 - Time Capsule 2tb, Apple TV - iPad 2 64gb
     
   
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