Just recently, I opened my 17" Macbook Pro laptop to find that the clicker on the track pad was not working. There was no clicking sound and it seemed like it was not going down all the way. I tried cleaning around it to see if maybe something very small had fallen in to the sides, but nothing helped. I then flipped my Macbook over and removed the rechargeable battery that is located in the bottom. What I found was that the slab of metal that covers the top of the battery had come unsealed from the battery itself.
Sadly my Macbook Pro warranty has expired so I have no choice but to purchase a new battery. What I found is that the heat the Macbook puts off causes the glue that seals the casing to melt thus resulting in the top of the casing to rise. This was a result of me rarely closing my Macbook Pro, I normally kept it open and just let the screen saver run. It occurred after about 14 months or so. You may be saying, well that's a long time, but the fact of the matter is that this is actually the second time it has happened, meaning that there is a defect. Search around the Internet and you will find other owners with the same problem.
I have no choice but to purchase a new battery, however I would like to give you some tips to help prevent your battery from having this happen to it. Below is a list of actions you can take to help prevent the battery from swelling and overheating like mine did:
- Close your Macbook when not in use, this will help minimize the heat and hopefully let your laptop cool down.
- Remove the battery entirely and keep your power cord plugged in, that way the battery is not exposed to heat at all
- Purchase a fan to place underneath your laptop so the fans can cool the laptop while it runs.
Something I noticed as a side note, once the seal has broken on the battery, colder temperatures can cause it to warp completely, lifting most of the sealing up around the rest of the battery.