Over 500,000 IBM / Lenovo laptop batteries subject to recall

Hooray, Lenovo has joined the battery recall party! For those of you keeping score at home, that brings the number of manufacturers to five, including Apple, Panasonic, Toshiba and Dell. The recall, anounced today, affects nearly 170,000 batteries in the US, and over 350,000 additionally worldwide, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. The USCPSC also says that the recall was triggered by Lenovo's confirmation of the battery that exploded at LAX a few weeks ago and that this latest battery recall affects the following ThinkPad notebook computers "sold between February 2005 and September 2006: T Series (T43, T43p, T60); R Series (R51e, R52, R60, R60e); and X Series (X60, X60s)." Furthermore, Lenovo has put out a press release stating: "Additionally, since these batteries can also be used with ThinkPad T4x Series or ThinkPad R5x Series systems, customers who ordered an extra battery or received a replacement battery for any ThinkPad T4x or ThinkPad R5x Series notebook PC between February 2005 and September 2006 may also have a battery subject to recall." Now, Alan Cox's exploded ThinkPad 600 isn't part of the list, which leads us to believe that this isn't the last we've heard about Sony's exploding battery fiasco.

Read - Lenovo press release
Read - US Consumer Product Safety Commission

[Thanks, JJL]

[Fred @ May 6th 2008 6:57PM]

I have a Lenovo 3000 N100 and my battery is doing the same thing that matches the recall: Will not run the computer, battery gage says its charged. But Lenovo says my battery serial number is not valid so its not covered. My machine is about 12 months old. So don't look for much help from Lenovo even though they have the recall. IBM has lost a lot of their prestiege when they gave way to Lenovo. Far from being IBM quality.

[cheapbatteries @ Jul 13th 2009 8:52PM]

If the original battery is bad. You can buy replacement battery for your laptop.
http://www.lenovo-batteries.com

[dellgx620 @ Jul 14th 2009 7:06AM]

I have a Dell notebook, and it's lasted for a year and a half so
far with no hardware issues. I've known people who've had Dell
systems that have worked fine for 5-10 years. So, to imply that
Dell sells nothing but crappy computers is pretty unfair. Almost
every company has systems that end up breaking sooner than expected.
That's what warranties are for.
That said, it makes no sense why physical upgrades to a
Mac cost so much. Sure, some of the hardware is different
than what's in a PC, but there shouldn't be enough of a difference
to merit price gouging.

[Tyler @ Mar 31st 2007 1:15PM]

Oh FFS, I just got my brand new T60 yesterday :-/

[RedHatMatt @ Sep 28th 2006 2:55PM]

Alan's battery was an off-brand replacement, not orignial to his Thinkpad.

[Pav @ Sep 28th 2006 3:00PM]

Doesn't affect my 3-month-old T60! Hooray!

Now I have to see if I got my Dad a bomb for his birthday last month...

[Loc @ Sep 28th 2006 3:05PM]

I bought an extended battery for my T40 last spring, i hope i purchased it after feb so i can get a brand new one!!! Glad i kept my receipt :D

[Chris @ Sep 28th 2006 3:06PM]

Good, my X40 is safe (for now at least).

[wvanduser @ Sep 28th 2006 3:14PM]

My T43p looks good, too. But I just ordered a bay battery for it yesterday. I wonder if Lenovo has got enough sense to ship me a GOOD battery.

[kansei @ Sep 28th 2006 7:40PM]

My bay battery was manufactured by Sanyo for IBM, so it probably isn't recalled. That being said, it has shorted out and stopped working.. 14 months after I bought it (just outside the freakin 1 year warranty.. I don't think my extended protection plan covers batteries).

[brudy @ Sep 28th 2006 3:23PM]

I could only wish that my work-delivered T41 would explode. What a POS.

[Mystic @ Sep 28th 2006 3:33PM]

Why isn't this 'Breaking News' on CNN like it was when Apple did the recall?

[BeauCo @ Sep 28th 2006 3:37PM]

Bah, i've got one T43 thats unaffected, but its the most recently ordered one. Theres four others in the office that I need to check including my boss'. Going to keep rolling the dice on these things.

[Binder Hollifield @ Sep 28th 2006 3:45PM]

I don't understand why Engadget insists on including Toshiba in their reports about battery recalls...

http://www.toshibadirect.com/content/pc/b2c/sonyBattery.html

Clearly there doesn't seem to be a problem with the batteries they are using and that's coming straight from the horses mouth.


So Engadget, you tell me what the deal is? Are you blowing it out of your behind or is Toshiba?

[Memo @ Sep 28th 2006 4:08PM]

They include them because there is a recall. It mainly affect laptops overseas. Difference being, there is no risk of injury.

http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.com/cgi-bin/ToshibaCSG/generic_content.jsp?service=UK&ID=TOSHIBA_BATTERY_UK

[km @ Sep 28th 2006 3:45PM]

Make sure to type in the right number. I just tried a bunch of bogus numbers (but with the right number letter format) and they all came up "your battery is not affected by the recall." So the script is only checking to see if the serial number is the correct format and then if it is within the recall range. If you mistype your number, you may get an erroneous all-clear from the script.

[G Money @ Sep 28th 2006 3:55PM]

My T43 that i got from work in June is all clear.

[kansei @ Sep 28th 2006 3:56PM]

ugh crap both of my batteries were purchased in that range. I know my sanyo ultrabay slim battery is dead.. it has a charge and will charge when in the laptop, but the laptop will shut off if I disconnect power with the battery in the system. I'm guessing that battery is toast.

My main system battery (sony) is probably in the recall range though.

Someone please help me though. The laptop (T42 2373-9XU) is sitting right next to me on my desk, but it's doing the battery reconditioning cycle right now so I can't disconnect it... or so they tell me. Would it be damaging to just stop the process? I'll have to stop it at 05:30p so I can leave work anyway.

[Timmah!!! @ Sep 28th 2006 4:39PM]

super, G money, who really cares?

[kansei @ Sep 28th 2006 3:56PM]

Your battery is affected by the recall.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
Contact your local support center for a battery replacement.
Click here for a list of worldwide support center phone numbers.

SCORE!

my battery was replaced last summer under warranty..was 51 watt-hour when I got it, now it's just 22?!!?

[Paul @ Sep 28th 2006 4:00PM]

Why is it that these companies wait until one explodes opening themselves to a lawsuit before they issue a recall, if they know its going to happen, then it seems logical that they would issue a recall

-----

As I Was writing the above I was reminded of Fight Club where he is talking about how the recall process works, they first figure out how many units are affected, then how much they could lose in a lawsuit, then how much a recall would cost, if the recall is more expensive, they dont do it.

So I guess i answered my own question...

But if they end up doing a recall anyway, why not do it before a battery explodes?

[kansei @ Sep 28th 2006 7:40PM]

How many people on here are waiting through the "abnormally high call volume" to get their replacement battery ordered? I cannot be without a battery for very long at all. argh.

why didn't they set up a web form?

[Alex @ Sep 28th 2006 4:24PM]

my R52 is fine....to bad...lol

[Yem @ Sep 28th 2006 5:16PM]

That last bit about AC's notebook NOT being covered by this recall is telling.

Either he used a more recent aftermarket battery, or this Lenovo recall may need to be expanded. Right?

[kansei @ Sep 28th 2006 7:40PM]

he used an aftermarket battery.

... 45 minutes on the phone.. 25 of that was the initial hold time. "unexpected call volume".. how did they NOT expect it? That's the only way to get your replacement battery!

4-6 weeks delivery time for my new battery. *le sigh* My ThinkPad protection plan warranty with it's overnight shipping policy didn't help me at all.

Well at least I have an excuse to buy the 9-cell battery now.. hopefully someone out there will have them in stock when I place my order haha.

[Mihnea Docea @ Sep 29th 2006 4:13AM]

WoW... That's all I can say

[bender @ Sep 28th 2006 6:12PM]

I have a feeling somebody will be pulling money from Sony's wallet fist over hand once all the manufacturers are through with their recalls.
Sony has notoriously bad quality control but this time they've tainted the image of the whole damn laptop market, affecting people's flights etc.
I think they should pay for this big time. Perhaps then they'll start making hardware that last over 2 years (my ps2, tv and every other sony purchase in the last 10 years)

[PasserBy @ Oct 25th 2006 7:21PM]

So are we just waiting for HP to join the party now?

[laptop battery @ Nov 10th 2009 9:36AM]

http://www.laptopbatteriesinc.co.uk laptop battery
http://www.laptopbatteriesinc.co.uk/lenovo-laptop-battery-c-9.html lenovo laptop battery

[J Hayes @ Oct 12th 2006 6:39AM]

I have a IBM thinkpad T42 bought I believe in November 2004, the battery exploded and it appears identical to the picture in on this web page. Does anyone have a detailed picture of an actual failed battery and a good battery? I want to compare. The laptop is damaged to the point where the serial number is unreadable.

[Sapibobo @ Oct 16th 2006 9:51PM]

It is surprising that Z series is not affected by this recall. Are those are different type of battery?

[Supertek @ Apr 27th 2007 12:52PM]

To: Hewlett-Packard & Dell Board Members: Friday, April 20, 2007

The attached information should provide your best engineers with enough information to solve the Laptop Battery Problem, forever. And, this information should be worth at least your best and lightest laptop, yearly; since the attached logical battery software solution is worth much more than any computer, yearly.

However, if you want my total solution, today, it is available for about $64,000, or to the highest bidder. And, it will involve the recall of some laptop batteries, like Compaq Type 2941B, which many people are trying to "dump" on e-Bay.

So, please contact me, immediately; since Dell will be contacted, too.

Sincerely,
James H. Armistead (age 74)

TO:
Hewlett-Packard Board of Directors:

It appears my previous letters had very serious conclusion errors, and I apoligize to Microsoft Corp.. The problem with my battery is the internal fuel gauge circuits on my battery, as follows:

MILLIONS IN LAPTOP BATTERY DAMAGES
ARE CAUSED BY SMART BATTERY PROBLEMS:

My Laptop Battery Problems with Windows 98-SE:
My Compaq Presario 1255 NiMH battery pack would last about two hours, sometimes, and fail to charge more than 20%, at other times, but the charge would increase about 20% after each new “Start-Up”. And, a 100% charged battery would seem to fall to 25% overnight, if Start-UP was under battery power, as if the smart battery forgot that it was full. Even, the special, battery, LED, smart fuel gauge would read 25% Full.

But, nothing seemed to be wrong with the battery pack, except the push-button fuel gauge; since, it measured 9.6 volts; and, it would burn a 1 amp, 12 volt lamp bulb for over 3 hours (3 ampere hours), even after Windows 98-SE claimed it was reading 0% charged. Plus, the Computer battery calibration procedures would fix the fuel gauge reading, but not for very long. So, Windows 98SE software was right, but my “smart battery's ” software was confused, internally, and can be proven.

Original “dumb batteries” were difficult to read by faster computers, since their serial data was asynchronous; therefore, “smarter batteries” were invented with an external clock input to synchronize the transmission of 8-bit serial data messages. Plus, more thinking was added within the “smarter batteries”, and the data input pin was changed. So, Windows may be able to read either type. (See: Smart Batteries on the Internet, and Isidor Bushmann may have the best data.)

And, Windows 98-SE software engineers, many computer designers, and many parts distributors remain confused about which computers need “dumb batteries” and which computers need “smart batteries”; where the data input pins (3 & 4) are different.

My present battery is a Compaq 2941B, which could be the wrong type of battery for my Presario 1255 computer, since it came with my slightly used computer.

In the process of trying to diagnose the battery fuel gauge indicator problem, it is believed that:


1. Any new, $150 battery may appear faulty, if purchased, from the wrong vendor.


2. Charging a “dumb” battery in a sleeping computer, is like leaving a hot iron on an ironing board, overnight, and sooner or later any thermal, safety, circuit breaker will fail.


3. The Screen Saver Timer in the Display Options of the Control Panel Software will override the Power Monitor Settings of the Display Screen in the Control Panel Software. So, who needs this type of redundancy? One variable Monitor Screen Saver is enough, already!


4. The Power Monitor Meter page indicates “charging”, if the AC Power is ON, and if the main charging LED is OFF. So, at least one sub-routine is confused about charging. Or, software messages should say “fast or trickle charging” to be more accurate, whichever is true.


5. The Battery Bar Graph indicates FULL, while claiming the battery condition is “Unknown”, when the main battery is missing, which is confusing and reversed.


6. Most of the time, the Battery would overheat and abort the charging process, since it was already FULL. And, it required 3 hours to charge after being bled to death, and truly dead.

7. Software charges the battery for 20 minutes after any START-UP, even after reading 100% full. Therefore, overheating occurs, repeatedly, which challenges any battery safety circuits in my battery, Compaq type 2941B.


8. So, the Control Panel Alarm Point software appears to be faulty, as well as superfluous, since it allows too many options. One software, “low battery alarm” is enough; since, a 20% warning is sufficient (if accurate), and the real battery power low alarm input from any battery pack will panic the software into “Sleep Mode”, then into “Comatose”, if shaken. But, the “Awake Mode” may be necessary to keep accurate control of the charge, overnight.

9. Bleeding the battery for 4 hours (by using a 10 ohm, 10 watt resistor from Radio Shack or a 12 volt, 1 amp, automotive light bulb) is the fastest way to “clear” any confusion in battery software. But, any calibration procedure is only a temporary fix, since the battery’s confusion will return, internally. WARNING! Do not attempt the above bleeding procedure, unless you are a qualified technician. Use the computer to bleed the battery, as instructed in your laptop manual, since it has been known for over 10 years that Smart Battery software has problems with their fuel gauges.


Diagnosis:
Therefore, Compaq, type 2941B, battery may have software problems and battery, safety, high temperature circuits may prevent charging this battery 100%, on the first cycle, after the software becomes confused. All batteries over-heat as resistance drops to almost zero, if fully charged and still charging. And, uncontrolled charging, by computers, while Comatose, may have caused many Lithium batteries to explode by over-heating, ruined the credibility of several corporations, and has sold millions of $100 batteries, needlessly, Worldwide.

But, another problem seems to be the random, high voltage sparks that are created by any reversal of the 2-prong AC Plug, which may reset timing counters on any internal battery charging circuits (on newer, smarter batteries); thus, providing a false battery reading or interpolation. Therefore, go into the Comatose Mode, before inserting any power cord!

Many engineers may have suspected the capacitive or inductive discharge problem for years, since most new laptops now contain polarized (3-prong) AC Plugs and "Line Chokes", that look, like bubbles in the power cord. And, Windows XP may have the same battery charging problems.

Possible Solutions:
A. Never charge some batteries, overnight, while your software is sleeping.
B. Software should read the battery status data, at least twice, several seconds apart; because, false data may occur since the battery is always connected to the DC Plug in the Laptop, during the process of inserting the AC Plug into an outlet.
C. For reliability reasons, all 2-prong AC Adapters should be recalled or exchanged for polarized AC Power Adapters, which will help protect other computer components, too, from random "AC power transients", from any transformer adapter “static discharges”, and from any stray transients caused by Power ON/OFF relays.
D. Improve the Control Panel, Power Monitor Alarm variable software, or remove it.
E. Double-check to determine which battery type is correct for your computer.
F. Quadruple-check all Window software routines for “smart battery” changes.
G. Check all battery software for “secrets” that could be implanted to sell more batteries.

Recall Solutions:
Since battery problems have cost consumers billions of dollars, already, Battery makers should be sued for product liability damages, or for “industrial sabotage”, if their errors are unique to specific computer manufacturers. Battery signals and Power Monitoring Software may be responsible for all of Windows 98 Start-Up problems, since the software will panic, if it sees any false power low alarm while using battery power, and tries to prevent losing hard drive data. And, if false power low alarms are caused by power plug insertions; then, the software should check them, at least twice!

Open Software should be developed to insure that the correct software logic is being used to estimate battery life, as specified by the computer designers. Lithium, NiMH, Alkaline, NiCd, and Gel-Type Battery Packs can all be recharged, safely, with smarter, open software. But, Secret, Proprietary, Faulty Software has ruined the reputation of several corporations, already.

The high temperature battery alarm input should be used as an upper calibration point, minus 10 or 15 minutes, and used to abort all charging current. The battery hardware, power low alarm input should be used to “panic save” all data, safely; where, the same, variable, Power Monitor Software Alarm would become unnecessary and redundant. New, fully charged or randomly charged batteries could be substituted, without calibration, if the programmers would learn how to use both alarm points as intended by the thinking, older, hardware logic designers.


Logic for: “A Software Battery Fuel Gauge in Minutes:”
1. Preset a battery stopwatch timer to “zero” during any new software configuration.
2. Preset a “Full” battery reference to 360 minutes. (This could be a variable reference.)
3. If Start-UP is on AC Power (Check timer for Full), begin charging if not Full, start the stopwatch timer, and abort all charging on high temperature.
4. If the charge cycle was from zero to full; then, reduce the elapsed time in the stopwatch timer by 15 minutes and save the value as the “Full” reference.
5. If Start-Up is attempted on DC Power (Check the stopwatch timer for battery time), allow the Start-up, if battery has more than 5 minutes, and use the stopwatch timer as a countdown timer. Always Save Data and Shut-Down on the hardware “battery low alarm”, and reset the stop-watch timer to zero for automatic calibration.
6. If running on battery, always announce “Battery needs fuel”, if power is below 10%.
7. The reversible stop-watch counter is only used to estimate the battery time expected, after switching to DC Power, and tells how much time is available in minutes.
8. Display the fuel stopwatch timer in minutes in RED or GREEN digits, every minute.
Red = less than 20 minutes. Green = more than 20 minutes. Yellow could be used.
9. Software could compensate for high Wireless Modem energy demands, also.

All future recharging timing circuits could be contained within each battery pack, and could be better protected from RFI transients. And, all Real Time Clocks should be powered from the main battery pack, when available, which would increase the life of the hidden, internal, back-up, watch battery. Smarter, internal, battery, hardware, charging circuits would allow accurate charging, even when the computer is Comatose; especially, after a spare (randomly charged) battery is substituted. Plus, all future spare battery packs could be easily recharged in any automobile.

To read over 6000 additional consumer battery complaints, use Google and search for: “Dell Laptop Battery Blues” and “Laptop Battery Problems” on the Internet.

To read “The Armistead Family Story”, use a Google Search and discover 280 typo-errors in only 21 of Shakespeare’s perfect Sonnets, that were missed by millions of scholars in the last 400 years. Shakespeare was too busy (like Microsoft) organizing Jamestown to proof read his sonnets; plus, he was shipwrecked on Bermuda for a year.

The Four Computer Modes (or Moods):
Comatose = Fully OFF, or in a coma with a Window open.
Hibernation = Almost OFF, but may remember the last unfinished task.
Sleeping or Standby = Almost ON , bored, and just saving energy.
Awake = Fully ON and thinking, mischievously, in microseconds.

Written by: James H. Armistead, poet
Sacramento , CA. 95822, and is believed to be true and accurate.
(Ex-IBM, Burroughs, RCA, TRW, Varian, & DWR Computer Technician.)