Spicy Pillows

I’ve done a number of these

Discharge the battery as much as possible

Syringe with acetone, have 2-3 ready especially if you have small syringes

Open the macbook, take the bottom off, and place it upside down so it’s it’s in a upside down V shape

Dump a bunch of acetone behind the battery with the syringe so that it pours down toward the bottom, away from keyboard. Let it sit for a minute. Apply gentle heat. Apply more acetone, let it sit.

Start to try to pry it with a spudger (gently) while squirting in acetone around where you pry. If it doesn’t budge repeat the above again. Pry and squirt, pry and squirt. Slow and steady. Keep in mind each cell pack can kind of flex around so when you get past one you kind of start over.

I used both the plastic spudgers and the thin metal kind and always preferred the latter. Plastic works and is safer but the metal kind just work better

Having a contingency plan for if it fails but I never did tbf

Edit: alternatively I remember reading about pulling a thin sharp metal string behind the battery to cut the adhesive. Like a high note piano wire. Never tried it but heard it works. You tuck it behind the battery and slowly drag it down, pulling it left to right so it cuts the adhesive. Seemed sketch to me so I never tried, like it would potentially cut into the battery?

I think I got the same model at work. I didn’t realise because I used an external keyboard and when I checked online, the battery was already replaced once. I work in a lab and was so scared I initially placed it under the chemical hood until it had no battery.

I got to take it home (much later) and ordered a repair kit from iFixit and each step was explained for dummies and it was a blast to replace it. The one downside: my first battery I ordered was also bloated and I only realised once it was glued in. But they sent a new one within days and the second one was perfect.

I’ve done a bunch of these for a repair shop. Lots of different ways suggested on line for how to do it, but what worked best for me was a wide nylon spudger tool wet with high proof alcohol. Slow and steady making sure not to puncture or fold the battery. Have a plan ready to go if it goes up in flames. We had a metal bin full of sand to toss things in to. Good luck!

Ah, a full set of throw pillows! My wife would be thrilled.

Edit: more seriously, is it normal for all the cells to fail together like that? Terrifying. Be safe OP.

Looks so comfy, nice wrist rest you have there.

Ho, ho, hooo-ld up! This might be the spiciest pillow-picture i have ever seen!