Skip to main content

Released June 2009 / 2.66, 2.8, or 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor

297 Questions View all

Will not charge even after changing MagSafe

Hi, my MacBook Pro 2009 15" just went out of battery power. When I plugged in the power adapter it lights green but it does not charge. I tried with a charged battery from another A1286 and the machine starts up just fine. But it says "Not charging". So I changed the MagSafe card. I know this MagSafe card works because I have it in another A1286. It is till not charging and the machine will not run off the charger, only on battery, which it does not charge of course.

Just to add this. I tried to reset SMC with no luck.

Where can I look now? Are there some other parts that could be damaged? This MBP has not had any liquid spill.

Glad for any advice!

Update: When I plug in the charger the screen lightens and it goes darker when I remove the charger - so it seems it recognizes there is a charger connected?

Interesting is the system profile images I have attached. Look at the power section when I have the charger connected and not connected. As soon as I plug in the charger the battery symbol changes from battery to (Not charging).

Sorry for the Norwegian profile output. Hope you understand it!

Block Image

Block Image

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Score 3
4 Comments

I have the exact same problem but haven't changed the MagSafe board yet. My power adaptor is working fine on other laptops. If I find a solution I will post here.

by

Nicolas, does your charger light green? Mine does. And like you see on the profile report it says it is connected. But if I pull it out the whole machine dies.

by

Thanks Nicolas for checking. I also will have to either get the logic board repaired or buy a new logic. Too bad :-)

by

Just an update on this issue. The problem was a small circuit that needed to be replaced on the logic board. I got an ebay repair service that changed a chip for me. Now it works like a charm.

by

Add a comment

9 Answers

Chosen Solution

The charger (AC MagSafe adapter) appears not to be working correctly. On the left of this Wiki is the pin out for it. The pins may be stuck and not extending correctly or the unit may have failed. Unplug it and use something like a tooth pick to move the pins in and out. If this is working, use a multimeter to test the output. See if you are getting 16.5 volts from pins 2 & 4 : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagSafe

Was this answer helpful?

Score 6

1 Comment:

The 85W charger seems fine. It easily charges all my other MacBooks also. I tried another 85W charger but that also only shows a green light when plugged in. The MBP still will not run off any charger.

by

Add a comment

Brickfence on eBay used to do good work. Must be under new ownership or management lately though. Sent my LB in over a month ago - like closer to two months for a warranty repair. They got ahold of me first saying that they would be replacing the suspect components and returning it to me. Two days later it was "we are doing further in depth testing". Then two days later it was "your GPU is bad; we are crediting you $79 dollars towards that repair and we are replacing the GPU and sending it back to you." Several days after that it was "your logic board is bad and does not work so we are having to order a new LB. Please get back to us and let us know what you want to do." The computer worked fine and only shut down when on the internet when sent to them. Called them on their changing story and the fact that their screwing around most likely damaged the LB beyond hope. They made threats to quit doing business with me, claimed my LB was "out of warranty when they received it" in February even though my three month warranty started after Christmas when it was received in 2017, and were talking only crediting me $64 towards the new LB. Seriously !#^&@@ with these people. Best bet is to get a new or refurb LB from NYC or something and put it in yourself. iFixIt is a great site with lots of DIY vids/pdfs.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 1
Add a comment

Mine lights green and says it is connected but if the battery is flat the machine will not power on even with the charger connected

Here is a link to my problem

Why won't my laptop power on with the charger?

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0

8 Comments:

Nicolas, this seems to be exactly the same problem I have. Read your post and we have to find out how to fix this. Mayer, do you have any input?

by

Hi Nicolas, any news on finding out the problem with the charging?

by

I am dropping my laptop at a place that does component level repairs tommorow. I'll keep you posted on the result. Fingers crossed. Very frustrating when you know that that all the major componentry is A-OK. There must be a solution to this without going to the expense of a new logic board.

by

I have had similar problems and then it was the MagSafe card. Replacing that solved it. I have a defective MagSafe card. I tested on another logic board with a bad backlight problem but this MBP charges the battery without problems. I connected the def. MagSafe board to the logic board. No light. So I connected a working MagSage board. Then the charger lights green. When I connect a battery it turns to red, meaning it is charging. So I guess you don't need to connect anything like fans or cables to test if it is charging. I took out the mentioned logic board and connected the working MagSafe board. The charger then lights green but does not change to red when attaching a battery. I wonder what component maintains the logic to pull power through the logic board. Seems the power just stops at the MagSafe board. I wait eagerly for your response at the repair shop. I can not find any kind of shop here in Norway that repairs components.

by

I dropped the machine off yesterday and they said that they would have an answer for me by tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

by

Show 3 more comments

Add a comment

I've found another repairer that said they might be able to repair the logic board. Dropping it in today.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0
Add a comment

Have you tried installing the latest SMC update for your MacBook? Mine had the same fault and after going to my local Apple Reseller and them temporarily inserting a new battery to download the SMC update I was back in business.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0
Add a comment

Can you give me specific details on what was done? As my laptop is still not working.

Thanks

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0

1 Comment:

Try all the above suggestions, SMC reset, another battery, try another MagSafe card etc. If all that fails it is a circuit on the logic board and needs to be fixed. This should not be expensive. I know brickfence on Ebay does a good and cheap job. You could try them.

by

Add a comment

do you know which circuit? I have tried all the other suggestions and a logic board replacement seemed like the only fix. i cannot find brickfence on ebay either. also i am in australia

thanks

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0

1 Comment:

Have no idea what circuit this is related to but I have tried these repair shops on ebay with success:

http://myworld.ebay.com/brickfence?ssPag...

http://myworld.ebay.com/ionnoi.digital?_...

by

Add a comment

Check R7020, R7021, R7022, R7050, R7051, R7051, and pathways between them.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0
Add a comment

I had a bad experience with Brickfence, too. My 2011 17" Macbook Pro went dark, no video. I found Brickfence on eBay and sent the unit on January 18th. He assured me he could repair my machine without replacing the logic board. I paid $194.95 up front. After two months I still had not heard anything about a repair status and filed an eBay claim after trying in vain to get a response from Brickfence. Then he sent a nasty message that no repairs would be done unless I closed my eBay case, which I did. Then he sent a message saying I needed a new logic board and it would be an additional $250. On April 5th he said he had repaired the computer and shipped it. I didn’t receive the unit back until April 16th. As soon as I unpacked it, I turned it on and it wouldn’t boot at all, black screen, same as it was 3 months before before it was “repaired.” I am in the process of trying to resolve this through Paypal and my credit card company.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0
Add a comment

Add your answer

asle will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 1

Past 7 Days: 2

Past 30 Days: 5

All Time: 7,754