The MagSafe charges, but VERY slowly. It will take 10+ hours to go from 5% to 100%.
This info plus the fact that the MagSafe doesn't light up would seem to indicate that there is something wrong with the MagSafe charger.
I did attempt the SMC reset, it didn't do anything.
Too bad...it would have been nice if it had helped.
Could the MagSafe's issues be causing the "Service Battery" issue?
I would sort of think not...since if the MagSafe is the propblem...and it is unplugged from the computer...then the computer + battery are isolated from the potentially bad MagSafe charger.
Now if the MagSafe charger before now (before this discussion in this thread)...was going "wacky" for a while...maybe it was doing something to the computers charging system (such as over-charging...wrong amps...or something). Then maybe the battery could be involved in the problem...and a reason for the "Service Battery" message.
You can try three things:
1. Find another person with a MacBook/MacBook Pro...and try your MagSafe charger on their computer to see if it operates properly. Or maybe go to an Apple Store...and maybe they will let you test it on one of their computers.
2. You could purchase another charger to test things out.
3. You could replace the battery.
I would suggest #1 first...no expenditure of $$$...and you will know immediately if it's the charger.
I should also mention one other thing. You're really supposed to be using a 60 watt MagSafe adapter with a 13" MacBook Pro (you mentioned 85 watt in post #1). I'm not 100% sure this is "bad"...but it is a discrepancy of sorts.
HTH,
- Nick