"Service Battery" after recalibration and SMC reset

I purchased a unibody 13'' MacBook Pro 13 months ago (and didn't have the foresight to buy Apple Care, oof) and I've lately been running into some battery issues.
I live overseas and I've been traveling a lot recently. I just moved into a new apartment and finally settled in. Within a few days I noticed that my battery was only lasting about 2 hours. I figured it was because I am forced to use a VPN for most my websites. Anyway. Using an app called Coconut Battery, the capacity of the battery was about 78% of its designed 5450mAh.
I recalibrated my battery last night and woke up to find the battery life had not improved. Following the Apple guide, I rest the the SMC and PRAM.
After it rebooted, it now says "SERVICE BATTERY." The battery got up to 99% charge and stayed there for over an hour before it finally charged. But now, my capacity, after only 70 cycles, is 52%, 2859mAh.
What would cause such a dramatic decrease in battery capacity for my laptop?
What are my options for remedying this issue? Draining the battery and attempting to recalibrate again?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 2859
Fully charged: Yes
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 2859
Health Information:
Cycle count: 70
Condition: Check Battery
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 262
Voltage (mV): 12587

When you get the service battery message the battery needs to be replaced - it is like the service engine warning lamp on a car or the robot waving its arms and yelling "Danger Will Robinson."
If you have Apple's 3 year AppleCare you may be able to get the battery replaced under warranty - Apple says the battery should retain 80% of its charge after 1000 cycles and you didn't even get 1000 cycles out of it. Even if it isn't still under warranty you can at least ask for free replacement or a price break since it failed before reaching 1000 cycles. I know people who have been successful with such an appeal.

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Service battery after upgrading software - not under warranty

Hey guys,
I have a Macbook Pro from early 2009 with the problem in the title. I'm not under warranty anymore, and my battery has 246 cycles. The service battery indicator appeared shortly after updating to 10.6.something - I'm not sure what, I just know it had been a while since updating. If I take this into Apple is there any chance of them covering replacing it or am I SOL on this one?
Thanks!

Yes, that's correct, prepare to pay. For instance, let's say you bought some new Pirellis (those are tires) for your Lamborghini, and the guy at the tire store told you that you would get 15,000 miles on them (these are for your Lamborghini, so they won't last 30,000 miles like some tires do). So you head on out with your Lamborghini, and within 10,000 miles all four tires have lost their tread, three of them having blown at various times on the freeway. But hey, it's your fault, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the tires. Just like with your battery. I don't think you should be thinking your Mac is giving you bad information or charging your battery incorrectly, based solely on the fact that about TEN THOUSAND other Mac users have noticed the same issue. It's undoubtedly that your battery wore out, even though Apple says those batteries last (at a minimum) 300 cycles. Or the fact that users have done a battery reset with PRAM and SMC reset, and had their batteries start to fully recharge again. I wouldn't rely on that. I would instead rely on people who reply with an absolutely worthless comment, as if they actually worked at the Apple Store. But hey, that's just my opinion - I'm sure a lot of people think Snow Leopard has been FLAWLESS, with no issues whatsoever. In fact, I would say that for a BETA release, Snow Leopard hasn't been bad at all (wait, it's not a beta release, you say? Hmmm....).
Lookf for a post that covers PRAM and SMC reset. You could start with this one....https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2139186?start=1530&tstart=0

Service battery after 2 years of 659 cycles???

Hi! My laptop is a 13 inch macbook Air 2011 model and it right now says I need to service battery (after 659 cycles). Why is that? and Should i change my battery? my original battery max was 6700 mAh and now its 4780 mAh.
Battery Information:
Model Information:
Serial Number:          D8614170526DKRNAA
Manufacturer:          SMP
Device Name:          bq20z451
Pack Lot Code:          0
PCB Lot Code:          0
Firmware Version:          406
Hardware Revision:          000a
Cell Revision:          162
Charge Information:
Charge Remaining (mAh):          313
Fully Charged:          No
Charging:          Yes
Full Charge Capacity (mAh):          4780
Health Information:
Cycle Count:          659
Condition:          Service Battery
Battery Installed:          Yes
Amperage (mA):          3287
Voltage (mV):          7815
System Power Settings:
AC Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes):          25
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes):          10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes):          5
Wake on AC Change:          No
Wake on Clamshell Open:          Yes
Wake on LAN:          Yes
Current Power Source:          Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim:          Yes
PrioritizeNetworkReachabilityOverSleep:          0
RestartAfterKernelPanic:          15
Standby Delay:          4200
Standby Enabled:          1
Battery Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes):          60
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes):          10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes):          3
Wake on AC Change:          No
Wake on Clamshell Open:          Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim:          Yes
Reduce Brightness:          Yes
RestartAfterKernelPanic:          15
Standby Delay:          4200
Standby Enabled:          1
Hardware Configuration:
UPS Installed:          No
AC Charger Information:
Connected:          Yes
ID:          0x0100
Wattage (W):          45
Revision:          0x0000
Family:          0x00ba
Serial Number:          0x00718639
Charging:          Yes

When you get the service battery message the battery needs to be replaced - it is like the service engine warning lamp on a car or the robot waving its arms and yelling "Danger Will Robinson."
If you have Apple's 3 year AppleCare you may be able to get the battery replaced under warranty - Apple says the battery should retain 80% of its charge after 1000 cycles and you didn't even get 1000 cycles out of it. Even if it isn't still under warranty you can at least ask for free replacement or a price break since it failed before reaching 1000 cycles. I know people who have been successful with such an appeal.

TS2306 my iMac Fan is running almost not stop from start up at over 3000 RPM and SMC reset has not helped...

I know this in not a new problem but I have tried to follow self help and not having any joy!
very fustrating - I am in Welllingotn NZ and it not hot here! about 12-18 deg C Ambinent, and the fan runs loud!
I have just installed iStat Nano and it says the CPU fan is runnig at arround 4000RPM.
Several shut downs and SMC resets have not worked.....
Runis my fantastic piece of art - but makes a good use for the noise cancelling head phones I bought a couple of years ago....
- Have just read that my 3rd Party RAM may be the culprit - do I have to remove or is there a solution???
PRG

Launch the Activity Monitor application and select the Energy tab to see which process is using the most energy.

Service Battery after 197 Cycles?!?!?!

Why on earth would a battery need replacement after only 197 cycles?

Try resetting your SMC
MacBook and MacBook Pro
Laptops with a battery you can remove
Shut down the computer.
Disconnect the MagSafe power adapter from the computer, if it's connected.
Remove the battery.
Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
Release the power button.
Reconnect the battery and MagSafe power adapter.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.
Newer Mac portables with a battery you don't remove
Shut down the computer.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.
Note: The LED on the MagSafe power adapter may change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.
And calibrating the battery http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490

"service battery" after upgrading to Mountain Lion

I tried restarting the SMC of my laptop and it didnt work. prior to updating to Mountain Lion, my battery life was still okay. but after updating, it drains fast and it says that I need to have my battery replaced. "service battery" How did that happen overnight?? and is there any way for me to fix this problem??

Today it happened to me too. Service battery notice. Current charge 0% (*huh*, how can it still be running...)
This is already my third battery in my early 2008 MacBook Pro. I have the feeling that:
1. OS X upgrades kill my batteries: I had to replace the battery after upgrading from 10.5 to 10.6 and now from
    10.7 to 10.8.
2. The MacBook Pro early 2008 is a very bad series:
     - Display "clamshell" has been replaced due to broken LED issue (only half the LED's lighting up after sleep)
    - Logic board had been replaced (bad NVIDIA GPU)
    -- Both these issues have been solved under Applecare, luckily.
     - Battery has been replaced 3 (THREE!) times in 3 years. The average lifespan of a battery is slightly less
      than ONE year.
For me - personaly - these issues are really the limit. After being a loyal Apple user for more than 6 years I feel quite disappointed.
I will contact a European Apple "Premium" Reseller this week to see what they are prepared to do.
Since I live in the South of the Netherlands I would have to travel about 180 km to the nearest real Apple Store (Amsterdam). The warranty has long expired, so perhaps now is the time to stop wasting money on repairs and buy a cheap € 400 laptop on linux instead of another € 139 battery...
I really, really hope that the Service Battery issue is a (bad) joke and an update of OS X will solve the issue.

"Service Battery" after 106 cycles, 1 year

When I got my MBP, I got an second battery, because I expected to sometimes have long periods without access to AC power. In order to wear the batteries down evenly, I decided to (under normal circumstances) use each battery for a month at a time, calibrating each at the start of its month. Each battery was marked on its bottom (the side you can't see when it's installed) in magic marker, with the one coming with the computer being 1, and the other being 2.
When the computer was a little over a year old (and, unfortunately, I did not extend Apple Care), I began to have problems with the original battery. Specifically, when I swapped it back into the computer after using #2 for a month, and I began to go through the calibration steps, when I got to the step of disconnecting the AC power, the computer only ran for a few minutes then shut off without warning. After that, the computer indicated "Service Battery".
This was a few months ago. I have just been using the second battery alone meanwhile, but would like to try to resolve this situation--hopefully, without having to buy a new battery.
This is what System Profiler says right now about this battery:
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 0
Fully charged: No
Charging: Yes
Full charge capacity (mAh): 221
Health Information:
Cycle count: 106
Condition: Check Battery
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 1580
Voltage (mV): 12515
The menu bar charging indicator says (0:17), and the menu itself says "Service Battery" and "45% full".
Is there anything that either I can do myself, or that a Genius at an Apple Store could do, to save me from the cost of buying a batter to replace this one? I believe Apple feels that their batteries should last at least 300 cycles over three years. Mine only got to one-third of that.

Condition: Check Battery
You need a new battery. Take your computer to an Apple Store. The staff will be able to check to determine if your model MacBook Pro qualifies for a free battery.

"Service Battery" after two years?

I have a 09' Pro and the battery is already saying "Service Battery" and i am getting a max 4 hours out of the battery. I have calibrated and also taken good care of the battery by draining and charging it every week or so. I almost never let it sit on the charger for more than an hour or so after fully charged and have done several calibration methods to reverse this. I have read forums saying that Apple treats batteries as a "consumable item" so after a year they are not under warranty. I have 3 year applecare and am wondering if they would replace it since they brag and boast about having advanced batteries that last up to 5 years and hold their charge for up to 1000 charges.

Manufacturer:          SMP
Device Name:          bq20z451
Pack Lot Code:          0
PCB Lot Code:          0
Firmware Version:          3
Hardware Revision:          2
Cell Revision:          100
Charge Information:
Charge Remaining (mAh):          1480
Fully Charged:          No
Charging:          No
Full Charge Capacity (mAh):          4266
Health Information:
Cycle Count:          853
Condition:          Normal
Battery Installed:          Yes
Amperage (mA):          -1956
Voltage (mV):          11057

Service Battery after charging in Foreign Country

Hello, I am currently visiting Japan and today is my second day here. After coming here for two days, my mac popped up a message saying Service Battery.
Before coming to Japan, I've used my laptop in Malaysia for 6 months and UK for 1 year and nothing happened.
This only happened after charging my macbook in Japan with a converter. Could it really be my macbook battery needs replacement or is it under-powered?

Hello buddy, thanks for your swift reply. I just notice while investigating the plugs and converters, I saw that the plug converter (sorry for the misunderstanding there, its a plug converter) has an output of 250v whereas my macbook charger description only indicates its 100v-240v.
Would that extra 10v cause this to my macbook? The solution that I hope will work is to drain out all the 250v from the battery and recharge it at a 240v outlet.

Service Battery after visiting foreign country.

Hello, I am currently visiting Japan and today is my second day here. After coming here for two days, my mac popped up a message saying Service Battery.
Before coming to Japan, I've used my laptop in Malaysia for 6 months and UK for 1 year and nothing happened.
This only happened after charging my macbook in Japan with a converter. Could it really be my macbook battery needs replacement or is it under-powered?

Post your battery information. To do this, go to the Apple menu, select About this Mac, then click More Info...click on the System Report button. Under Hardware look for Power. Look for your battery information and post it here.
Most likely the battery needs replacing. It is unlikely to be a power adapter issue.

Service Battery after upgrade 10.8, what's wrong???

After upgrading to 10.8 (and now 10.8.2) my battery icon show "SERVICE BATTERY"!!!!
What's wrong????
Just 36 cycles count, and from 5018 to 4860 mAh Full Charge Capacity (after about 2 days)
Please help,
Thank you!!!!!

In all likelihood, you've been bit by a known ML problem. You can read more in this 195 page thread. Bottom line is that with so few cycles, you should take it to an Apple store and have it looked at - and possibly have the battery replaced. Some people have had their logic boards or entire machines replaced. But there doesn't seem to be a consisent theme that anyone can point to as being the cause. In my case, I elected to return to Lion until I have more trust that Apple has solved this problem (which, BTW, not everyone encounters)
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4135250?start=0&tstart=0

My USB ports only work if i unplug them, swap them around and plug them back in. Its driving me crazy! I have done a pram and smc reset, reinstalled lion and spent two hours on the phone to apple. Now what?!!

I have a optical lead coming out of the headphone jack in to a dac that goes in to my amp (which has speakers connected) so i can listen to music. The Dac is powered by usb. Recently the sound stopped working. I called tech support and they suggested the resets (pram and smc) and i reinstalled lion and reinstalled itunes, deleted audio files, blah blah blah.
So now when the computer turns off, or indeed randomly sometimes, I have to uplug the usb cable and put it in a different port, it then works. If I then put it back in to the original port it still works. Totally baffled. Can anyone please help. i have 3 children who are getting very bored at the sight of my growling perplexed face and the sight of my back!

I don't know why that happens, since I don't own products of this type... However, if the sole purpose of the USB connection is to provide power (not a data connection), can you connect it to something that just provides power, such as a USB power adapter (like the one that comes with iPhone)?
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD810LL/A/apple-5w-usb-power-adaptor
Or, if it needs to be connected to a USB port, it might work properly if you get a self-powered USB hub and connect the USB cable to the DAC to the hub. The hub would act like a "buffer" between the DAC and iMac. It needs to be "self-powered" (comes with its own power supply). Here's one such USB hub
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/USB2HB7PRO/
Do you have anything else connected to USB (other than standard keyboard and mouse)? If so, have you tried it with ONLY the DAC connected, to see if the problem recurs? USB devices can interfere with each other.

Battery after update and display

When i use ios first time all perfect but appears a display trouble and battery after update drain faster

What do you mean by "display trouble"?
Yes, the updates seem to make the battery drain faster.

2008 iMac, display not coming back after sleep, requiring SMC reset and more.

I have a 24" 2008 iMac that's recently started giving me migranes starting a couple weeks ago. It's the kids' shared computer in the bonus room, and one of them comes in and tells me it's not working. I go in, and it seems like it's off, but I can hear the fans going. Won't respond to mouse, keyboard, even hitting the power button that usually pops something up warning that I'm about to shut it down with people still logged in. So I hold the power button down to force it off, wait a minute, and turn it back on. I hear the superdrive sounding like it's trying to load a disc, but there's nothing in there . . . keeps making that noise again and again. No startup chime, no display, nothing, just the superdrive sound. Can't get it to boot. I come to the support site and go through resetting the SMC - unplugging it for 15 seconds. That at least takes care of the superdrive sound, and I get the startup chime, but no video.
I go a step further, unplugging it and plugging it back in while holding the power button down for 10 sec. When I hit the power button after that, it comes on, display nice and bright, but the fans are now running full speed. Another article tells me to reset the SMC for that, which I do, and now the fans are working properly and the system is working again.
Problem is, I wind up having to go through this whole thing every other day. If I follow the steps of unplugging it, holding the power button down while I plug it back in, turning it on and booting up, shutting down and resetting the SMC to make the fans slow down, it will work. But it's random as to when it happens, and I'd really like to know why it could be happening and what I can do to fix it for good and not have to go through the whole thing to get it back up and running. Is it simply on its last legs? Do I need to restore the OS (Snow Leopard upgrade)? Do I need to take it to the Genius Bar and pay them to look at it and diagnose it, and God knows how much to fix?
Or, do I recycle it and just bite the bullet and get a new one? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Andy

the first thing to try is resetting the pram/nvram
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
if this doesnt work it could be a loose display cable.

No sleep mode at low battery - data loss and time reset

I'm having this issue for about a year now:
When I run my macbook pros Battery down, there comes the low battery warning. After a while the system just goes down without suspending anything to my harddisk. When I restart my computer it does a normal start and after logging in I'm experiencing a lot messages due to the reset time. I correct my system-time and restart my mac and the system is back to normal.
Usually I'd say: Replace your CMOS-Battery (I know I have an EFI-Firmware), but where is it?. Or in other words: Is there a "System"-Battery, that would prevent my mac from forgetting the time?
Since I'm not running down my battery to 0 very often I only experience this issue from time to time and never took time to do anything about it.
I would also appreciate a workaround so that my mac immediately starts shutting down, after the low battery warning. That would be great.
iStats battery-Status says: Health:83%, Cycles:333, charge 50%...

Well, the problem, seem's to have reoccured: Battery ran out (even the indicator leds on the side didn't show any life), Time reset to 1.1.2001, again some rebooting and setting the time again...
Is this a sign of a degrading battery health status?
It looks like reseting the SMC didn't help after all.

"Service Battery" after recalibration and SMC reset

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