T23 new battery - shows 0% charge, won't recharge

[biglaz]

Hello,

I have a Thinkpad T23 and I've been having some battery issues. The original OEM battery hasn't been charging very well. Its health is listed as green, but the Full Charge Capacity lists 28.71 Wh, and the Design Capacity is 38.88 Wh. However, the laptop will only charge the battery to around 33%, at which point it will remain in Charging status but the battery does not charge any further. If I remove the battery and connect it to an external charger, I can charge it to 100% ~28 Wh.

I thought the battery was on its way out, so I purchased a new non-OEM replacement battery. When this battery is connected, the "charging" light flashes amber for a few seconds (unusual), then changes to solid amber and reports 0% charge. I can fully charge/discharge this new battery on an external charger, however the laptop always reports 0%, in a charging state, but doesn't actually charge the battery.

Here's the info on the new battery:

Status: Charging
Remaining Percentage: 0%
Charge Completion Time: -
Remaining Capacity: 0.00 Wh
Full Charge Capacity: 47.60 Wh
Current: 0.00 A
Voltage: 9.89 V
Wattage: 0.00 W
Temperature: 26 C
Cycle Count: 0
Battery health: Green

Manufacturer Name: SANYO
Manufature Date: 2007-06-10
First Used Date: 2007-06
Batcoding Number: 1Z7FT518YIP
Battery Name: IBM-COMPATIBLE
Design Capacity: 47.60 Wh
Design Voltage: 10.80 V


My questions are why does the new battery not work with the laptop (bad battery, or bad laptop)? And is something wrong with the laptop itself if it won't charge the original OEM battery beyond approximately 33 percent?

Thanks.

[auto_emocion]

The mainboard is faulty.
I've got mine replaced after it refuses to charge.

[tfflivemb2]

Welcome to the forum, neighbor!

Actually, there is an inductor on the topside of the motherboard, just under the keyboard that has a tendancy to work loose, from flexing. It is typically an easy job to perform with a basic soldering iron.

Give me a bit to find a link to the thread that talks about it.

EDIT: OK, I forgot that it is part of the stickied thread in this conference. Read through the entire sticky thread, so that you have a little history on HOW to resolder these inductors, but the issue is covered a few posts down on the second page of the Sticky.

[ArtShapiro]

What's your Bios and Embedded Controller level?

I assert, although some here disagree, that the latest T23 Bios and EC will NOT charge a non-IBM battery. I had to back off on each of them, whereupon I could once again charge the "alien" battery. (I have one IBM and one non-IBM battery for my T23).

Art

[biglaz]

Welcome to the forum, neighbor!

Actually, there is an inductor on the topside of the motherboard, just under the keyboard that has a tendancy to work loose, from flexing. It is typically an easy job to perform with a basic soldering iron.

Give me a bit to find a link to the thread that talks about it.

EDIT: OK, I forgot that it is part of the stickied thread in this conference. Read through the entire sticky thread, so that you have a little history on HOW to resolder these inductors, but the issue is covered a few posts down on the second page of the Sticky.

This was exactly the problem. I finally had the time to take the T23 apart and noticed that one of the connectors on the piece was disconnected. After resoldering, battery charging works again and the non-OEM battery is functioning too!

What's your Bios and Embedded Controller level?

I assert, although some here disagree, that the latest T23 Bios and EC will NOT charge a non-IBM battery. I had to back off on each of them, whereupon I could once again charge the "alien" battery. (I have one IBM and one non-IBM battery for my T23).

Art

BIOS: IBM 1AET52WW (1.09), 2/5/2002
E.C.: 1.03a

Thank you folks.