Battery Replacement Becomes a Logic Board Issue. (I'm Suspicious)

Hello all,

I have a MacBook Pro, Mid 2015. Recently I noticed that my battery health dropped down to 70% at only 500 charging cycles. I took it for repair (where it still is) and was told that the battery is swollen and the repair replacement would cost me 369€. Nice!

I had the very same MacBook Pro in repair shortly after I had bought it in 2015. Back then, it would crash randomly and it took me several attempts/visits until the repair company believed me and was actually able to reproduce the issue. Then they replaced the motherboard. And since then it was working perfectly fine.

Now I am being told that not only the battery, but also the motherboard must be replaced (again!) at an additional 579€!!! Because some analysis program indicates that the new battery is still defect .. so the issue must be the mainboard.

I am shocked! This is my work PC that I was perfectly happy with until I got the "Service Battery" message. Now I should suddenly pay almost 1000€ for repair?! For a 3 year old MBP??

I have contacted Apple but they could not care less. They said warranty is over, .. they cannot do anything. Really? Not even for such a case? I am very disappointed by all of this. Apple products should be outstanding in quality and reliability. This is how I knew Apple products for a very long time. After all I am paying a really high amount of money in the first place for these products which I expect to be high quality.

So I have decided to take only the battery replacement. The repair store tells me that the battery gets charged normally and the “Service Battery message is gone. So why should this be an issue with the Mainboard?

I'll pick up the MBP tomorrow and will keep you posted on how it works, etc.

cheers,

-tom

ok - I have the MBP now in use since 5 days. Battery charging, discharging works all normally. Don't see any issues so far.

I trusted Apple and when my battery was not charging, I sent it to Apple Singapore last month. Was told diagnotics is free and will replace the battery if it is not logic board, if it is, will give quote and ask if I wish to repair. I also informed that I will not want to replace the battery nor replace the logic board if the logic board is not functioning well.

Next day, I was informed my Macair 11inch was ready for collection. Was relieved it was not the logic board. Should heed the warning sign when the technician could not power on as the battery was dead and had to use the adapter to power on. When queried, was told it was because they never charge to full. Thus, brought it back to find that battery was draining at 30% a day even when shut down. Alarmed, brought it back to Apple. Service staff upgraded the IOS and said if it’s not software, it will be the logic board and $S700 to replace. After installing the new upgrade, I asked the service staff to shut off after full charge and on again about 15minutes later to see if battery drains. When power on again, the meter was at 98%. Service staff seen it, did not comment, so, I was stupid to think as before that it was normal. I trusted Apple too much then, and brought it home again with the same problem.

Third time (my machine is still at Apple now), was told it’s the logic board that needs replaced. I was frustrated and angry and argued with the service staff who called to tell me the problem. I told him why would I replace a battery on a bad logic board or replace the logic board if the value of the early 2014 Macair is only worth less than $700. I paid S$188 for the battery. I said I reject the battery and wanted them to put in an old battery and want a refund. I got !#^&@@ off when he said that I sent in the machine because of battery and not logic board, two different issues. My Macair was working fine with the old battery on adapter. I am back to square one after all the inconviences of trying to book slots online on days I do not have busy schedules, contacting, going to town finding expensive parking spaces etc. and still have to use adapter. New battery suppose to be on standby as and when I need it.

My case is reverse and worst than yours, new battery on bad logic board. If they had told me logic board initially, definitely, there will be no battery replacement. I Won’t be surprised if after paying for new logic board, they say it’s other hardware problem.

Hey JOHNR

Usually what I look for in these types of repairs (assuming the computer is still running) is unresponsiveness, frequent unexpected shutdowns, confusion on key inputs, etc,. These type of issues are "Logic Board" related. However MacBook's are never wrong when the "Replace Battery" message comes up.

A simple test that will prove it this is a logic board issue is running the Macbook without the battery on the MagSafe charger. If the Mac can successfully run without any issues its a battery NOT YOUR LOGIC BOARD!

Alongside what @brady8812 has suggested on replacing the battery first, is the issue. I wouldn't mess with the Logic Board, as you found out they aren't cheap to replace and install.

Good Luck!