85w magsafe charger goes on and off every few seconds?

[zippythecellist]

I have a mid 2010 macbook pro...bought a new authentic charger from amazon since the cord on my old one was starting to tear. When I used it for the first time, the green light stood on and was dim. So I unplugged it and plugged it back in, then it started working as normal.

But today when I went to plug it into a surge protector power strip, it kept going from orange to green over and over. I then unplugged the strip and tried both spots on the outlet the power strip was plugged into, and the same thing happened...any idea how I can fix this? I already tried all the suggestions on apple's website. I know it can't be my battery or a bad outlet since I plugged in my old charger and it works fine.

 

[pigoo3]

I already tried all the suggestions on apple's website.

Not sure what you tried already (specifically)...not mentioned. But the first thing I would try is an SMC Reset:

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

If your old charger is still working (just a bit dodgy)...you could also try it for comparision.

If everything works fine with the old charger...and not with the new charger. Then this would indicate to me that the new charger is faulty in some way.

- Nick

 

[zippythecellist]

I'll try that now then. But another thing I noticed...the box says the model number is a1343. My battery's model is a1309, could that be it?

 

[harryb2448]

Did you unplug the protector and plug directly into the mains? If same problem back to Amazon. Could well be the wrong charger.

 

[zippythecellist]

Resetting the SMC seemed to work. I also noticed that my laptop boots a bit faster and uses less RAM now! Thanks!

 

[pigoo3]

Resetting the SMC seemed to work. I also noticed that my laptop boots a bit faster and uses less RAM now! Thanks!

Excellent. Seems weird that an SMC Reset would be needed just because of a new charger. But whenever power issues crop up...I always do an SMC Reset to kick off the troubleshooting.

- Nick

 

[zippythecellist]

OF COURSE I just had to speak too soon. The same thing started happening again a few hours after I did the SMC reset. I'm just going to return this stupid thing and try another one. Are 3rd party chargers safe to use? If no apple ones work, I'm afraid I may have to go that route...

 

[harryb2448]

Point out the different part numbers also. I would give 3rd party chargers a big miss. Just get the correct one. A1309 does not appear under the list of xompatible models. Go to specifications:-


http://www.macfixit.com.au/apple-magsafe-85w-power-adapter-for-macbook-pro-15-and-17-a1343.html

 

[zippythecellist]

But that is the only charger (other than 3rd party ones) that I am finding. The other version of the mid 2010 macbook pro is listed under there, so shouldn't mine be fine too?

 

[pigoo3]

But that is the only charger (other than 3rd party ones) that I am finding. The other version of the mid 2010 macbook pro is listed under there, so shouldn't mine be fine too?

It was mentioned in the first post that your old chargers cord was "starting to tear". To me…this means that it still works (you would just rather not use it).

What you want to do is…figure out if the source of the problem is the charger or the computer. I suggested earlier…try your old charger for a while to see if the problem you're experiencing occurs when using the old charger.

- If the problem continues to occur with the old charger…then the problem is with the computer.
- If the problem stops when using the old charger…then the new charger is the problem.

As you've already experienced/mentioned…you did get a few hours of what seemed to normal operation (after the SMC Reset) with the new charger. So this problem seems that it can take up to a few hours or more before it shows up.

So even if you test with your old charger…you're going to have to run the "test" at least a few hours before determining if the old charger solved the problem or not.

If you don't figure out whether the charger or the computer is the source of the problem…you could go thru 10 new chargers…and still have the problem. So don't rush out buying another charger…before doing some thorough testing with the old charger.

- Nick

 

[zippythecellist]

I've already done a charge cycle on my old charger, so I'm guessing it is DEFINITELY not my computer. But what am I supposed to do if the newer chargers don't work for me at all? Am I just SOL the day the charger my computer came with breaks?

 

[dtravis7]

I have a feeling your new one is defective. It does happen.

 

[pigoo3]

Am I just SOL the day the charger my computer came with breaks?

Of course not. We have folks on here all the time with bad chargers. The get a new (working) charger...and they're good to go.

- Nick

 

[zippythecellist]

Okay, now I'm wondering if it's either my computer, the new battery or possibly a bad outlet. It started to happen with my old charger too, which I am really confused about since it was working perfectly fine after I replaced my battery. How can I tell which of those 3 things is the culprit here?

edit: Oh ****, it looks like it might be my computer after all. I tested it on another outlet it my room, and one in another room, and the same thing is happening. Will the apple store still service my laptop if I replaced the battery myself?

 

[pigoo3]

edit: Oh ****, it looks like it might be my computer after all. I tested it on another outlet it my room, and one in another room, and the same thing is happening. Will the apple store still service my laptop if I replaced the battery myself?

Sorry to hear that. This is why I wanted you to thoroughly test things before assuming it was the charger & purchasing another one (and still have the problem).

Sure Apple will still service your computer. But of course it will cost money $$$.

I will mention this. Mid-2010 MacBook Pro's have a separate "DC-In Board". This is usually a fairly inexpensive part…and fairy easy to replace. Here's the procedure:

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2010+DC-In+Board+Replacement/4301

If this is the defective part…then this could be a relatively easy & inexpensive fix. If it's not the DC-In board…then it's probably the logic board. This is a MUCH more expensive fix…and in many cases with MacBook Pro's older than 3-4 years old…it may not be worth it. Since the cost of the repair approaches (and sometimes exceeds the total value of the computer)…if it was working 100%.

HTH,

- Nick

p.s. By the way…take a quick look at the mag-safe connector on the computer. If it's dirty…this could be causing the problem too. Probably not the problem…but it doesn't hurt to check.

 

[zippythecellist]

I think I may have found the source of the problem. Could a bad battery cause this problem? My laptop just shut off on its own...I thought that was weird since it still had like 30-40% of the battery left, so I did another smc reset then started up the computer. When I opened up coconut battery, it told me that my brand new battery with only 9 cycles on it was now at 55% of it's design capacity...

 

[chscag]

When I opened up coconut battery, it told me that my brand new battery with only 9 cycles on it was now at 55% of it's design capacity...

Where did you purchase the battery? If it's a battery you purchased from Apple, it's under warranty and can be exchanged for a new one.

 

[zippythecellist]

I didn't buy it from apple. I got this one from amazon.

But now I'm back to square one anyway...I decided to try another smc reset, and now it's back to normal and my laptop is showing the correct amount of charge left, along with showing 99% of the design capacity like it should. How would I tell if I installed it incorrectly? I put the battery connecter into the logic board until it was obviously firmly in there, and I put all the screws back in the right places...but I'm guessing that can't be the case since my computer wouldn't have even turned on after installing it if I did it wrong.

 

[pigoo3]

I think I may have found the source of the problem. Could a bad battery cause this problem?

Do you still have the old battery? If so...reinstall it and see if the problems stop. Even if the old battery is mostly worn out (design capacity)...everything should still work as it should (just reduced runtime when the computer is unplugged).

From what I'm gathering. Everything with this computer was working fine until the battery was replaced & a new charger was purchased.

Logically (as long as nothing was damaged when the battery was replaced)...if you go back to the beginning with the old battery & old charger...everything should be normal (just reduced battery time).

If everything then returns to normal...this would mean (from what was mentioned in this thread)...that the new charger is good...and the new battery is bad.

But...you need to do the testing with the old battery first.

- Nick

 

[pigoo3]

How would I tell if I installed it incorrectly?

Installing a battery is pretty easy (as you've experienced). So your installation was probably fine. To check...install your old battery.

Regardless...we've been down this road before in this thread. When you did the SMC Reset the first time...you thought everything was fine...and then it wasn't. So with things as they are now (after the 2nd SMC Reset)...you're going to have to run an extended test to see if what happened after the first SMC Reset happens again.

I'm suggesting that you install the old battery & use the old charger...so everything is back to where you started when everything was fine. Once you establish that everything is fine with the older parts (hopefully)...then you can do more troubleshooting with the new stuff again.

I'm guessing (from what has been mentioned in this thread) that the new charger is good...and the new battery is bad. Non-Apple battery's have been known to be less than reliable (some folks have had good experiences & some bad).

- Nick