+- MacResource (https://forums.macresource.com)
+-- Forum: My Category (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Tips and Deals (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Thread: Intermittent "Service Battery" message (/showthread.php?tid=296563)
Intermittent "Service Battery" message - PeterB - 06-28-2025
Hi everyone,
On my 2018 MBP Touch Bar running Mojave, I've recently been getting occasional "Service Battery" messages, along with that it is sometimes saying that the battery is not charging... in the latter case, I've found that quitting out of certain webpages in Safari consistently makes the message go away. The "Service Battery" message has not gone away if I've done an SMU/PRAM reset, but it HAS gone away on its own. So I'm wondering if the battery really needs replacement, or if the issue is some sort of software problem. (As I am typing this right now, I'm at 100% charge, no problems charging, and no "Service Battery" message either -- condition is "Normal". Cycle count = 300.)
I haven't yet tried the battery recalibration thing that I see might be a solution, so that's maybe something else to try...
If the battery needs replacement, I see it's NOT cheap from Apple, but maybe still worth doing rather than trying to do it myself? (I'm limited to Mojave because there are certain apps I use that I can't upgrade past Mojave...)
TiA
RE: Intermittent "Service Battery" message - halbert - 06-28-2025
these batteries last 3-10 years, so it's probably dying. I'm guessing that it's down to 80% of new capacity - that's when the system throws up that message assuming there is no hardware failure. cIf that's the case, you can stuill use it - just expect less time on battery power. If it starts to swell or it gives that message while the capacity is still over 80%, replace it.
Run Coconutbattery on it and see what it says
RE: Intermittent "Service Battery" message - Fritz - 06-28-2025
what halbert said.
I just did my MBA '13, but that is a very different beast and quite easy as long as you keep the cats at bay.
I was getting maybe 2 minutes on batt.
there are vids I think on OWC site.
here's another
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Touch+Bar+2018+Battery+Replacement/122269
I'd DIM, but I'm comfortable inside electronics. And an MBP isn't capable of 400vDC like a power supply is. Wish I had the movie.
RE: Intermittent "Service Battery" message - PeterB - 06-28-2025
CoconutBattery -- not exactly sure what I should be looking for, but it seems the "design capacity" varies between 68 and 82%.
Edit: I'm pretty handy with electronics, but yikes ... 66 steps in that iFixit guide?? And if the battery itself costs, say, $100, then I'm inclined to let Apple do it... I just don't know that I can be without use of the machine for the amount of time that it'd likely take Apple to do it.
RE: Intermittent "Service Battery" message - Fritz - 06-28-2025
perhaps the gang at OWC would be faster? dunno if the do, but.
how far is the nearest Think Different?
RE: Intermittent "Service Battery" message - PeterB - 06-29-2025
(Yesterday, 11:45 PM)Fritz Wrote: perhaps the gang at OWC would be faster? dunno if the do, but.
how far is the nearest Think Different?
I can get to an Apple Store, not the most convenient for me, but I can do it... but I would assume that they'd need to send it in to the mothership to do the replacement, since it's such an old machine. So I might be without the machine for an extended period, which would be a bit of a problem.