Chosen Solution
The computer will boot and run normally off of AC power with the battery disconnected. With both the battery and AC adapter connected, however, the it will shut down halfway through the startup sequence (after the chime, but before the grey Apple logo.) Furthermore, if I reconnect the battery while the machine is up and running, it will shut off immediately.
Plug the original bad battery into the computer again. IF the original one is doing the same, something is wrong with the motherboard or charger. If the original battery lets you start up, then you have a defective new battery.
Don’t know if they’ll still do this, but I took my 15" MacBook Pro to the apple store and they gave me a free replacement for my “Bloated” battery. (this was some time ago, when there was that batch of Sony Li-ion cells that were overheating and burning, so I may have benefitted from a quiet “Capture” order. Also find a battery supplier in your area and give them that bloated battery for recycling. it may still be a fire risk
