Battery "service recommended"

[hoody]

Hi all,
I'm in trouble again. Mid 2013 macbook air 6.2. I put in a newertech battery about a year ago and I'm now seeing the above message. I've tried the shift. control, option numerous times but nothing happens. I resorted to turning it off and removing the battery connector, but when I started it the message was still there. Any ideas?

 

[ferrarr]

Are you also holding the power button at the same time?
Do you have Coconut Battery?

coconutBattery 4 - by coconut-flavour.com

With coconutBattery you are always aware of your current battery health. It shows you live information about the battery in your Mac and iOS devices (iPhone, iPad)

www.coconut-flavour.com

It does sound like you may need a new battery.

 

[pigoo3]

Mid 2013 macbook air 6.2. I put in a newertech battery about a year ago and I'm now seeing the above message.

How many charge cycles does this Newertech battery have?

To find this (if not sure how)...go to:

* Apple Drop down menu.
* About this Mac
* System Report
* Click on "Power" from the list in the left column.
* "Cycle Count" can be found in the right info area under "Battery Information".

Nick

 

[hoody]

How many charge cycles does this Newertech battery have?

To find this (if not sure how)...go to:

* Apple Drop down menu.
* About this Mac
* System Report
* Click on "Power" from the list in the left column.
* "Cycle Count" can be found in the right info area under "Battery Information".

Nick

 

[hoody]

Thanks for the replies.
Nick: Charge count is 577
Bob: I have Coconut Battery

 

[RadDave]

Thanks for the replies.
Nick: Charge count is 577
Bob: I have Coconut Battery

Hi Pete - a couple of comments: 1) Coconut Battery is not reporting your 'battery health' correctly, i.e. it's the % ratio of current 'Full Charge Capacity'/'Design Capacity' - the pic on the left below is my MBAir (Early 2015) with correct 96.3% health, while your calculated health is 70.8% but stated to be almost 9 percent points higher; 2) Your 'Cycle Count' is a LOT for one year's use; mine is only 56 because I keep the computer plugged in most of the time.

Now Apple states that the battery up to 1000 cycles should maintain at least 80% health (Source), so if my calculation is the correct one, then that may be an issue; plus, not sure why the app is not reporting the right figure? I suspect that your battery is the issue but let the others 'chime in' w/ their comments. Dave

.

 

[pigoo3]

Thanks Pete for the Battery Cycle info. As RadDave expertly mentioned...Apple says at 1000 cycles the battery should still have 80% capacity left. 577 cycles should be much better than that.

If you've done a PRAM Reset, SMC Reset, and maybe try running Onyx to see if this helps. If this doesn't help...did you get the battery from OWC (macsales.com)? I know OWC usually sells the NewerTech Battery's...maybe they can help...or if lucky...maybe they will replace it.

Nick

 

[MightyGem]

Apple says at 1000 cycles the battery should still have 80% capacity left.

Apple may say that, but it's not necessarily so. My Mid 2012 MBP(bought new in 2015) was down to 72% after only 627 cycles. Apple wouldn't replace for free either.

 

[MacInWin]

@MightyGem, batteries die over time, too, in addition to cycles. The decay starts about 2 years after manufacture (not installation or first use) and is due to the chemistry of the Lithium battery. From your record, you had the battery 4 years, so a falloff to 72% in that time is not startling. Just thought you ought to know.

 

[hoody]

Here's a few more screen shots. I'm sure I haven't had this battery for four years. I'll find the receipt to double check. The battery came from Macfixit Australia.

I've tried the pram and smc reset but nothing happens which is why I resorted to unplugging the battery.

I did hold the power button down at the same time.

I'll run Onyx when I've finished here, but I don't know what to do with it when I get results.

It's beginning to look as though the battery was a few years old when I bought it.

 

[techiesteve]

Thanks Pete for the Battery Cycle info. As RadDave expertly mentioned...Apple says at 1000 cycles the battery should still have 80% capacity left. 577 cycles should be much better than that.

If you've done a PRAM Reset, SMC Reset, and maybe try running Onyx to see if this helps. If this doesn't help...did you get the battery from OWC (macsales.com)? I know OWC usually sells the NewerTech Battery's...maybe they can help...or if lucky...maybe they will replace it.

Nick

When Apple states 1000 FCC this relates to their batteries, and if claiming warranty, within its warranty period. I often see third party batteries advertised with 500 FCC max, and others with no spec. Unfortunately if owning a vintage Mac there is often no possibility of obtaining the better Apple battery. I have seen third party batteries that report normally, then after a macOS upgrade report Service Recommended or Service Now. Last time I saw this it related to a Big Sur upgrade. I can remember checking a batch of 10 MBPr 15" 2013/14 batteries with different macOS versions and taking screenshots of any Service Recommended errors before rejecting them all to the supplier. All batteries are not created equal.

 

[hoody]

When Apple states 1000 FCC this relates to their batteries, and if claiming warranty, within its warranty period. I often see third party batteries advertised with 500 FCC max, and others with no spec. Unfortunately if owning a vintage Mac there is often no possibility of obtaining the better Apple battery. I have seen third party batteries that report normally, then after a macOS upgrade report Service Recommended or Service Now. Last time I saw this it related to a Big Sur upgrade. I can remember checking a batch of 10 MBPr 15" 2013/14 batteries with different macOS versions and taking screenshots of any Service Recommended errors before rejecting them all to the supplier. All batteries are not created equal.

You're not wrong there! I'll have to buy another after market battery (Newertech I suppose) but I'll be wanting one that hasn't sat on the shelf for years.

 

[hoody]

I've just had a look and found a battery for A$105.00 at ifixit Australia. Any advice on these ?

 

[pigoo3]

I often see third party batteries advertised with 500 FCC max, and others with no spec.

Very true. In general...non-Apple batteries are a bit more of a "roll of the dice"/less durable/less reliable.

Nick

 

[pigoo3]

I've just had a look and found a battery for A$105.00 at ifixit Australia. Any advice on these ?

This may or may not help. I recently replaced the battery in two 2011 Apple laptops (2011 13" MacBook Pro and 2011 13" MacBook Air). Both replacement batteries cost around $30US each...and both have been doing pretty well.

I have had some low cost replacement batteries in the past that have not done so well (glitches when running, poor fit, etc)...but these last 2 replacement batteries have been doing ok.

I think I purchased them both via Amazon...usually from sellers that have sold a ton of batteries...and the specific battery I'm purchasing had good/lots of positive reviews (4 stars or more out of 5).

Instead of going for a more expensive battery via iFixit...maybe give something less expensive a try to see how it performs.

Nick

 

[hoody]

This may or may not help. I recently replaced the battery in two 2011 Apple laptops (2011 13" MacBook Pro and 2011 13" MacBook Air). Both replacement batteries cost around $30US each...and both have been doing pretty well.

I have had some low cost replacement batteries in the past that have not done so well (glitches when running, poor fit, etc)...but these last 2 replacement batteries have been doing ok.

I think I purchased them both via Amazon...usually from sellers that have sold a ton of batteries...and the specific battery I'm purchasing had good/lots of positive reviews (4 stars or more out of 5).

Instead of going for a more expensive battery via iFixit...maybe give something less expensive a try to see how it performs.

Nick

Thanks Nick.
There's the rub. I do know that the less expensive items ( being batteries or other products can be better than well known brands) are not necessarily inferior to expensive and well known makes. It's just a bit of a bugger to sort the wheat from the chaff.

 

[pigoo3]

It's just a bit of a bugger to sort the wheat from the chaff.

That's why I mentioned (if purchasing via a site like Amazon or similar site):

* Only purchase from sellers that sell lots of batteries.
* Only purchase specific batteries that have a customer rating (4 stars or greater & have a lot of positive customer reviews)...from a site like Amazon for example. I'm talking hundreds of positive reviews & 4 stars or greater rating (for the specific battery you're interested in).
* Only purchase from sellers who allow you to return the battery if it doesn't perform well...or not fit properly.

If you can get 500 cycles from a $30 battery...and/or 500 cycles from a $100+ battery...of course the $30 battery is the way to go.

Plus it's always a bit painful to invest this sort of money ($100+)...every so often for a replacement battery in an almost 10 year old computer...when the value of the computer is getting less & less each year. Investing $30 "feels better" in an older computer.

HTH,

Nick

 

[MightyGem]

@MightyGem, batteries die over time, too, in addition to cycles. The decay starts about 2 years after manufacture (not installation or first use) and is due to the chemistry of the Lithium battery. From your record, you had the battery 4 years, so a falloff to 72% in that time is not startling. Just thought you ought to know.

Thanks for that.

 

[hoody]

That's why I mentioned (if purchasing via a site like Amazon or similar site):

* Only purchase from sellers that sell lots of batteries.
* Only purchase specific batteries that have a customer rating (4 stars or greater & have a lot of positive customer reviews)...from a site like Amazon for example. I'm talking hundreds of positive reviews & 4 stars or greater rating (for the specific battery you're interested in).
* Only purchase from sellers who allow you to return the battery if it doesn't perform well...or not fit properly.

If you can get 500 cycles from a $30 battery...and/or 500 cycles from a $100+ battery...of course the $30 battery is the way to go.

Plus it's always a bit painful to invest this sort of money ($100+)...every so often for a replacement battery in an almost 10 year old computer...when the value of the computer is getting less & less each year. Investing $30 "feels better" in an older computer.

HTH,

Nick

I think I'll take a bit of time to decide what to do. I've tried the SMC reset twice more, but no change. What I can't understand and should have mentioned before, is that I'm still getting 5 or 6 hours out of a charge. I don't do things like photo editing (just a couple of resizes) or music etc. I might end up waiting until the battery gets close to dying and then look at a couple that I've seen on Amazon AU for around $50.00.
Thanks for the tip about Amazon etc.

 

[MacInWin]

The warning is not based on any performance issue. It's just reporting that the maximum charge has dropped below a certain threshold and therefore you should consider changing the battery. If you are content with the way it's working, just ignore it and move on.