Delco Battery leaking
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 0
From: Quincy IL
Delco Battery leaking - More Help please.....
:mad :mad :mad
Went out at lunch today and my '98 wouldn't start! :eek: Well a little investigation found the positive terminal coroded pretty bad. The terminal post area was leaking so bad the screw as 1/2 eaten away :eek:
I'm wondering #1 What else do I need to check for damege? And #2 do I have any recourse to get GM to pay for the damages? I bought the Delco replacement battery 1.5 years ago, and unfortunately didn't research this on the forum at the time...... :cry :cry :cry
[Modified by Jeff Wilson, 2:38 PM 1/19/2004]
[Modified by Jeff Wilson, 9:39 AM 1/20/2004]
Went out at lunch today and my '98 wouldn't start! :eek: Well a little investigation found the positive terminal coroded pretty bad. The terminal post area was leaking so bad the screw as 1/2 eaten away :eek:
I'm wondering #1 What else do I need to check for damege? And #2 do I have any recourse to get GM to pay for the damages? I bought the Delco replacement battery 1.5 years ago, and unfortunately didn't research this on the forum at the time...... :cry :cry :cry
[Modified by Jeff Wilson, 2:38 PM 1/19/2004]
[Modified by Jeff Wilson, 9:39 AM 1/20/2004]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu Hawaii
Re: Delco Battery leaking (Jeff Wilson)
I'd check to make sure none of the computer related components beneath the battery tray got damaged, then I'd remove the old battery & wash the area with baking soda and water. I'd drive to Costco, grab a new Optima, go home, remove the old Delco, install the new optima and call it a day! In that order. I don't think you'll get anything from GM nor would the trouble be worth the time. JMO. :yesnod:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
From: Reston VA
Re: Delco Battery leaking (Jeff Wilson)
Jeff,
If I were you I'd pull the battery and see if the acid leaked out to the tray. My 99 had a slight crack but it only accumulated in the tray so I was able to wash it out with baking soda and water. My better half was not so lucky in her 96 and the acid got on the frame and some wiring but I was anble to flush it without much damage. You should make a stink with Delco but they'll probably only give you pro rating on another one. I went Optima myself. Good luck. - C.
If I were you I'd pull the battery and see if the acid leaked out to the tray. My 99 had a slight crack but it only accumulated in the tray so I was able to wash it out with baking soda and water. My better half was not so lucky in her 96 and the acid got on the frame and some wiring but I was anble to flush it without much damage. You should make a stink with Delco but they'll probably only give you pro rating on another one. I went Optima myself. Good luck. - C.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 0
From: Quincy IL
Re: Delco Battery leaking (EFI-1)
I don't think you'll get anything from GM nor would the trouble be worth the time. JMO. :yesnod:
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 0
From: Quincy IL
Re: Delco Battery leaking (Jeff Wilson)
OK, so I took the battery out last night, and there was enough corrosion to eat the black casing off the red "hot" power cable. Not the red casing, but the black "conduit". The bolt that screws the red cable to the battery is 1/2 eaten away. I don't know if I should get all new cable or if I can just clean up the existing one and get a new bolt.
It looks like the acid spilled down the triangular hole at the bottom of where the battery sits. I cleaned it up as good as I could in 10deg, but I'm thinking I should take the 3 bolts out of the triangular hole and pull the whole battery pedestal out and clean beneath it.
Also, there's 2 wire "trunks" between the battery and the body panel that got corroded. Once again it seems that just the conduit, and not the wire casings themselves are effected.
Any help is MUCH appreciated.
It looks like the acid spilled down the triangular hole at the bottom of where the battery sits. I cleaned it up as good as I could in 10deg, but I'm thinking I should take the 3 bolts out of the triangular hole and pull the whole battery pedestal out and clean beneath it.
Also, there's 2 wire "trunks" between the battery and the body panel that got corroded. Once again it seems that just the conduit, and not the wire casings themselves are effected.
Any help is MUCH appreciated.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 244
Likes: 12
From: IL
Re: Delco Battery leaking - More Help please..... (Jeff Wilson)
Jeff, many of us have expierenced what your going through.
The only way you can truely evaluate the damage is from under
the battery tray. The problem is, the acid will also drip down the battery cable. The PCM and wiring harness is directly under the battery. Remove the
wheel and PCM cover. The cleanup is a pain. Take your time and do it
right to prevent future problems. As mentioned baking soda works fine.
Inspect the wiring harness carefully. There is nothing worse then electrical
gremlins. Search this forum and others. There are many posts about this
problem and should assist in the repair. Hope this helps.
:seeya
The only way you can truely evaluate the damage is from under
the battery tray. The problem is, the acid will also drip down the battery cable. The PCM and wiring harness is directly under the battery. Remove the
wheel and PCM cover. The cleanup is a pain. Take your time and do it
right to prevent future problems. As mentioned baking soda works fine.
Inspect the wiring harness carefully. There is nothing worse then electrical
gremlins. Search this forum and others. There are many posts about this
problem and should assist in the repair. Hope this helps.
:seeya
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