Macbook batter not charging. Scared to unplug at 86%

MacBook model A1181, battery A1185.

Plugged in it won't discharge the battery any more, but it won't charge either.

This is new.

And not good.

Research:

macbook battery stops charging at 98%, is it dying already?
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=625583

Not my problem.

Thought maybe related:

Computer hard shut off without going into sleep mode
at about 4%
Andrew says to look into recalibrating the battery.

Mac OS X Leopard recalibration of battery instructions– not something that can actually be followed when it hard cuts out at 4 or 5 percent!

Instructions linked to here for resetting the battery (taking it out and putting it back in)
support.apple.com/kb/HT1119
didn't help this not-charging problem either

general battery troubles, with tons of different symptoms, mostly not mine:
http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/macbook/topic4522.html

In Ebony's case the battery is detected just fine. It says the percentage, now 84%, and it says Power source: Power adapter, and it also says "Battery is not charging." Which is not what I want it to say at 84 percent.

Guess I'm off to the Apple store:

YAY! well apple genius bar confirmed that the battery was dead sooooo i got a new battery on the spot
couldn't be happier
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=285533

MacBook battery firmware fix reveals flaws, recall recollected
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=937

The above is pretty much what Dan suggested, firmware was already up to date, and the whole removing powering (tried plugged and unplugged with battery out) didn't help.

The laptop knows whether the battery is in or not-- an X when it's gone, the percentage when it's in, but it never charges.

Resolution