PowerBook G4 Battery Exchange (RECALL)

Some batteries made by Sony turned out to have contamination problems, which can lead to shorts inside the battery. These shorts can cause over-heating leading to burns or, in some rare cases, fires. The affected batteries were sold worldwide from October 2003 through August 2006 for use with the 12-inch iBook G4, the 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4.

Apple is voluntarily recalling the affected batteries. Details of the “battery exchange” program can be found on Apple’s website at these links:

http://www.apple.com/support/batteryexchange/
http://www.apple.com/support/batteryexchange/faq/

Apple had two different charts on eligible batteries, so this was a bit confusing. On the FAQ page, the batteries listed are:

Computer model_______Battery model number_______Serial # range
12-inch iBook G4_____________A1061____________HQ441 – HQ507
12-inch PowerBook G4________A1079_____________3X446 – 3X510
15-inch PowerBook G4________A1078_____________3X446 – 3X509

While on the main recall page, the following chart was listed:

12-inch iBook G4____________A1061_______________ZZ338 – ZZ427
______________________________________________3K429 – 3K611
______________________________________________6C519 – 6C552

12-inch PowerBook G4________A1079_______________ZZ411 – ZZ427
______________________________________________3K428 – 3K611

15-inch PowerBook G4____A1078 and A1148__________3K425 – 3K601
______________________________________________6N530 – 6N551
______________________________________________6N601

(sorry for the underlines, only way to make the spacing work here)

Should you have one of these, Apple urges you to stop using your battery and order a replacement battery immediately. If you continue to use your battery, do not leave it unattended and check for signs of overheating.

Using your PowerBook on a carpeted surface or on a soft surface like a bed or couch could cause some air vents to be blocked, further causing overheating problems.

Note that if you bought a newer battery for a 12-inch iBook G3, you should also check your battery against the list as these batteries are compatible with the ones listed above for the G4’s, and you could have one of those in your computer.

If your battery is eligible for a recall, see http://www.apple.com/support/batteryexchange for more info on how to get a replacement.