Startup Chime Help; computer eats batteries

Question

When I boot up my Aluminum PB G4 I do not hear a start-up chime. I read somewhere that this means my Mac is malfunctioning in some way, but I keep thinking I once found some way to shut off the start-up chime. What can I do here?
I am planning to reset the NVRAM and PRAM. I have the Open Firmware instructions, which will solve the problem that arises from not being to hear the start-up chime, but now I am wondering whether there might be some other problem that needs addressed. (the computer is having trouble charging a brand new battery after apparently eating the two original batteries within a month of each other)
Any ideas about the battery eating would also be welcome. It just seems like a big coincidence that they would both die at the same time. The computer works like brand new otherwise.
Most humble advance thanks,
Cam

Answer 1

Thanks. The startup chime doesn't really come and go. It was there one day and gone the next and its been gone for almost a year, I think.
I have two original batteries because I have two Powerbooks. They were both preowned, one, 1.5 GHz, in mint condition and the other, 1.25Ghz, I picked up for a song. I believe the batteries have been replaced during the recall, because neither of the serial numbers indicate they weren't. (if only) Yes, they were older batteries, but they were working at full capacity, lasting 2.5 to three hours each, and died really suddenly. Now its looking like neither computer will charge the new one during use.
This is what I am seeing now:
If second computer, (1.25GHz) is asleep without the battery, and I install the battery but don't wake the computer, the power adapter indicates it is charging. If I wake the computer up to check on the progress, then it stops charging. If I don't wake the computer, it will charge for a few minutes, but not fully.
I tried resetting the PMU on both machines, because that can cause strange behavior like this, but it doesn't seem to have worked on the 1.5GHz machine, because the date reset but not the time. (There was a period of time when I didn't have any working batteries and the 1.5GHz did not want to wake up from sleep.) I also tested and charged the backup batteries, too, because this started (with this battery) when my husband ran the battery down to reserve power and then it shut-down almost immediately.
A very ungracious tech at the authorized apple dealer also said that the batteries were just old, there is nothing wrong with the computer, but without giving him the machine and a wad of cash he refused to tell me anything else. Do they work on commission or something?
I can't keep buying new batteries, they are unreasonably expensive.