1sickz51vette

Hey guys my 97' C5 is about as clean as you can get under the hood, except in one area that is really bugging me. I've replaced the AC Delco battery with an Optima Red Top gel cell battery about 6 years ago (still going strong) because I've heard about batteries leaking and destroying the pcm & wiring. I really want to remove the battery, and clean inside this area really well as it has some "dirt" etc on the wiring and plastic down there. I know you are NOT supposed to get this area wet, so what do you guys use to clean the battery compartment area? Thanks!

RonSSNova

4 bolts remove the tray, spray lightly with simple green and wipe it down. That's it. The connectors are all weatherproof.

Ron

NukeC5

I did this awhile ago, pulled out all kinds of leaves and twig garbage!

1sickz51vette

The simple green won't eat away at the plastic wiring harnesses? I have purple power but that stuff is WAY too strong... You dont have to wash off the simple green, you can't get the pcm or wiring correct right? Also random question, but the fuse box panel bolt with plastic head has always been missing, where can I get one? Thanks!

RonSSNova

If your batt wasn't leaking, there won't be much to clean except dust and like Nuke said, leaves. Simple green will not hurt plastic or wiring etc. Just spray it on your rag if worried.

If your batt was leaking, I have no suggestion for you.

1sickz51vette

Battery has never leaked thank god, LOVE my optima gel cell....It is just "dirty".

LoneStarFRC

Connectors and wiring is waterproof.
Remove RF wheel and remove access panel at rear of wheel well. Plastic bowl full of warm water/baking soda mix liberally poured all over everything a couple times, rinse with fresh water, let dry. Sand/wire brush/clean as/if needed the spray paint where needed.

1sickz51vette

Hmmm great info! So it's not a good idea to use a cleaner and hose it down correct? Thanks again everyone.

LoneStarFRC

Using a cleaner such as Simple Green then hosing the area down is fine. I would not spray with SG and let dry. Rinse after.

I removed the inspection panel to have better access and used baking soda/water mix as I found early signs of acid leak. The seepage was from the OE Delco battery back in 2000 or thereabouts.

K-Spaz

I agree with Lonestar on the Baking Soda mix w/warm water. I used a bristle brush (plastic) and scrubbed the area good with that stuff. You'll see foaming, which is telling you the acid it being neutralized. Keep going till you no longer see any foaming near your weld or metal seams.

I then let mine dry a few warm days in summer, and then spray painted. Much of the paint on my frame was gone.

bighank

Remove battery and tray and liberally wash everything under the tray with baking soda and water solution. Will see bubbles as it neutralizes the acid. Also clean the tray, bolts, battery hold down etc. with baking soda solution. Rinse with a garden hose and flush out all the baking soda solution. Let dry and repaint any metal that the acid got to. Then you can replace the battery tray and battery. My vacuum hose was shot too so I had to replace most of it with windshield washer hose.

LoneStarFRC

Battery tray is molded plastic. Acid proof. Just clean and re-install.

The clip-on metal "U-Nuts" used for mounting it however, can be corroded or rusty. They are a larger size IIRC and I didn't want to go on a search to find the "correct" ones, so I just cleaned and hit them with a wire brush them black paint. Same for the mounting bolts.

bighank

While the tray and hold down won't be destroyed by the acid it still gets on them unless you have a truly sealed battery. I soaked them in baking soda solution and watched the bubbles in the areas where the acid had spilled into the plastic. I too painted all metal parts including the hold down bolts with aluminized paint before reattaching them.