MacBook Battery Faults We Fix for Melville Clients
Melville is approximately 8 km from our Hyde Park workshop. All MacBook models from 2015 onwards are covered — Intel and Apple Silicon. We test actual cell capacity before recommending replacement and provide a written quote before any work proceeds.
Service Battery Warning
macOS shows "Service Recommended" when battery health drops below 80%. This is Apple's signal that the cells are degraded and runtime will continue to decrease. We replace same-day with a genuine-spec battery that restores full macOS health reporting.
Swollen / Expanding Battery
A swollen battery is a safety issue. It pushes against the trackpad causing stiffness or phantom clicks, and can warp the bottom case. Do not charge or use a MacBook with a swollen battery. We handle safe removal and disposal. This is the most urgent battery fault — bring it in immediately.
Rapid Drain (Under 3 Hours)
If your MacBook lasts under 3 hours on light tasks, the battery cells are degraded beyond useful capacity. South African load shedding accelerates this — constant charge-discharge cycling wears cells faster than normal use. We test actual capacity, not just the macOS percentage.
Not Charging
Failure to charge can be a battery fault or a logic board fault. If the MagSafe light does not illuminate or the charging icon does not appear, the issue may be the charge controller on the board rather than the battery itself. Our assessment distinguishes the two before quoting — you pay only for what is actually broken.
Battery Percentage Stuck
The battery indicator stuck at one percentage, or jumping erratically between numbers, indicates a failed battery gauge circuit or degraded cells that cannot hold a consistent voltage. This is a battery replacement, not a software issue.
Shutdown at 20–30%
The MacBook shuts down suddenly at 20% or 30% remaining — the cells can no longer deliver the voltage macOS needs under even light load. The battery is reporting inaccurate capacity. Replacement resolves this completely.
MacBook Battery Replacement Melville — Common Questions
MacBook Battery Failing? From R1,899.
Same-day replacement. Collecting from Melville. Written warranty.