Funny smell / battery juice over the engine ! Battery advice

[sternal]

Next quandary !

Arrived in Matlock this afternoon set tent up etc.

I could smell a funny smell coming from the rear of the van so I opened up the engine and the battery had obviously been spraying battery juice over the engine bay as the little green light bit was raised up (come out if it's hole) now I'm guessing my battery won't last much longer now so I will have to replace whilst I'm away I'm Matlock. Am I right in saying the higher the cca the better Bosch s3 is 680 is this sufficient?

Size wise 278x175x175 can I fit bigger ? Battery in the engine bay.

Any good car spares in Matlock ?

Can the battery juice cause any damage to engine parts etc ?

Thanks in advance reception pants on my phone!

[Ralf85]

What the hell? Something is going badly wrong for that to happen. Sounds like your regulator is allowing too much charge through to your battery. If that is happening, then it will happen to any replacement battery too.
Assuming that it was working in the first place, did your battery/charging warning light flicker on and off as you were driving along?

[Oldiebut goodie]

Check your alternator voltage output - it may have been giving the battery too high a voltage and it has been boiling and gas pressure has blown the green eyed monster's monocle out.
I would chuck/spray a bucket full of water that has a load of bicarbonate of soda in it over everything that has got wetted to neutralize the acid.Stop applying it when nothing fizzes any more on contact.

[sternal]

No battery light flicking whatsoever

As I am away will have to get a local garage to check alternator voltage output as I don't have my volt meter with me.

On another note the battery is fairly old and battery juice was sticky (had gloves on ) wiped most of it off.

Is this the only thing that could cause that to happen or could it be down to old age and shi77y never heard of battery make( in the van when I got it)

Thanks

[nicq]

Not necessarily it could be a cell shorted out internally.
First job is to get rid of all the acid, it will eat through everything including the engine. Ally and acid don't mix.
When you put a new battery in start it up and check the voltage at the battery. With the engine running it should be between 13.8 and 14.2 if it is you have no fault.

You got in first oldybutgoodie

[sternal]

Was on the rubber hoses will get some bicarbonate in the morn and have a wash down !

Let's hope it was a cell is an alternator regulator thingy expensive/hard to fit ?


I have pushed the green eye thing back in hook that's okay.

And thinking about it now I have noticed wet on top of the battery for ages tiny 1p size puddle of water so this is prob related the battery light has never come on not has it hesitated to start.

The perals of ownership !

How quick does acid attack engine components etc? Plastic and rubber should be okay ?

[Ralf85]

Battery acid has already caused damage to hoses etc already as it hasn't been washed off straight away. You may need new ones by tomorrow.
Voltage regulator from Brickwerks costs £10.56 plus delivery charge, but they are readily available. Takes 5 minutes to change.

[sternal]

Well plan of action for tommorow is to scource new battery, clean as much as I can with bicarbonate and get a friendly garage to check alternator when it's running as earlier post said.

And there was me promising the children id take them swimming in the morning !

Thank you for help

[nicq]

Acid attacks most things some plastic copper etc, a lot of rubber parts are a mixture so there is no guarantee against acid.
Lots of water with bicarb as soon as poss.

[sternal]

I don't have any bicarbonate right now is it worth putting water over the hoses now ?

That will please the campers on the campsite !

[Oldiebut goodie]

It will be better than nothing.

[sternal]

I have put at least 20 litres of water over pipes etc hopefully it will prevent some damage. I don't fancy a complete pipe swop etc.

I'll know more in the morning I guess very peed off right now

As long as the battery doesn't explode over night I'll be happy !



Not safe to drive as it is hopefully local car spares do delivery or I'll ask a fellow camper ! About 4miles out of matlock.

Here's to a restless nights sleep !

[lefty67]

could try somewhere like Eurocarparts, order online and get next day delivery to the campsite.

[sternal]

Could I swop leisure battery over to main compartment so at least I can drive to local car spares shop or would this not work ?

Good plan re next day delivery if it's not much difference in price I'll go with local shop that's if all my pipe work hasn't been eaten !

[lefty67]

http://www.eurocarparts.com/096-car-batteries" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and extra £3.95 for next day delivery

Can use the leisure battery as a starter if needed, your leisure battery might be a starter battery anyway.