Battery Leak

[exbanker]

Looked under the car today, 1996 coupe, saw a puddle under the battery. Checked and the positive post is extremely corroded. Looks like it might be leaking from there. I cleaned it up and hosed out the battery bay without removing it. Obvious a new battery is in order, but is it safe to drive for a couple of days without being stranded or worse. Thanks

 

[vigman]

I assume the following

That the "leak" had a trail of white powder.


That's ACID....
Which will be merrily chewing on your frame paint as we are speaking.. and any rubber nearby.

CHANGE IT NOW...

Not to mention the basic points like no fluid, no charge, no turn over... badness!

A leaking battery generates HYDROGEN...

You know..like what was in the HINDENBURG!

BOOM!

And the less water covering the plates.. the hotter the battery.. the faster the generation of gas ... and the bigger the crack.. the quicker the venting.

Oh and you like in Arizona..like it's cool there!

So in a word

NO.



Vig!

 

[geekinavette]

If that sucker's leaking...get rid of it, now! Period.

Vig...funny you should mention the Hindenburg. I did a college paper recently on alternative fuel vehicles (hydrogen), and in my research came across some recent investigations into the Hindenburg accident. It turns out that the hydrogen was not what caused it do go down in flames, it was the extremely flammable powdered-aluminum (used in rocket fuel!) paint in the skin that caught fire from an electrostatic discharge while trying to dock.

Not really relevant, but your comment reminded me of that paper and I thought it was quite interesting.

Bill

 

[exbanker]

Thanks one and all. Only trip out will be for a battery.

 

[geekinavette]

Hmmm...dunno why that reply showed up twice :confused

 

[nucferr]

I had a battery leak on my daily driver (Toy Pickup). The battery is the least of your problems; it's the damage the acid causes if it is blown around. By the time I noticed the leak it cost me a hydraulic clutch line, vacuum control module, and washer pump with hoses. Do yourself a favor and don't drive it. Also do a good visual inspection to be sure the acid did not get somewhere that will cause you a breakdown.

 

[exbanker]

I feel like the village idiot. How do I get the battery out? It's surrounded, what needs to come off so I can get to it?

 

[Rabbit]

I can e-mail you some info if you like. Advise.

or try this-http://corvettemagazine.com/2001/october/battery/bat1.asp

 

[nucferr]

When I changed the battery on my 1989 I removed the lower body panel (where the "air fins" are) and just slid the battery out. A friend of mine removed the cruise control module and support brace and lifted the battery straight up. Either way take your time so as not to spill any acid or short anything out.

 

[Fiddler's Gold]

Yeah

They do tend to make it quite simply one of the most difficult things. I have never imagined that a battery replacement routine would have been so difficult and tedious but then again why not?
This is GM! What do they care, they won't be changing it once it leaves the factory. :L

hehe

Fiddler
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