What happened to this battery?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

It's a year old in my Tundra. Is there a problem in the truck's electrical system or just a cheap battery (Titan) from Home Depot?

[DonDavis]

Looks like overcharging. Don't touch a thing and get the system evaluated.

If that doesn't reveal anything, I'd remove the battery and thoroughly inspect all cable connections upstream and downstream looking for loose or badly corroded locations.
Keep in mind we cannot see inside the cable to determine if corrosion is creeping up the wires.

Do you have any aftermarket electronics? Lights, stereo, alarm?
One year, wow.

Aside from the mess, is everthing working ok?

[ossiblue]

Have you washed the battery top causing the white powder to cover the top and move down to the sides? If not, it looks to me like the battery case is leaking around the top seam, allowing venting of gas when the battery is being charged. The white deposits, which are likely to be lead sulfate, look to be concentrated around parts of that seam.

If you did wash the top, the white deposits look to have come from the negative terminal (which looks a bit corroded), and if that's the case, it is generally due to undercharging rather than an over charge. Vehicles that are not used regularly and are not driven enough to fully charge the battery often have the build up on the negative post. Same with vehicles that have lots of electronics that draw down the battery when there's not enough drive time to fully charge the battery.

[john70t]

Clean all terminals as well as ground ends.
Vaseline will wick into warm cables but the terminal-to-cable connection might already be too corroded. Maybe WD-40 will work.

Check voltage while off, while idling, while at 2500rpm, and 2500rpm with headlights/defrost/fan running.
These might be artificially high from trying to keep the brick alive. IDK.

Case leaking from blown out from inside also sounds like overcharging to me too.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks Don and L.J. There is an aftermarket alarm that I never use and only press a button after the battery has been disconnected for any reason.

I haven't washed anything. I drive the truck maybe 1-2 times every 2 weeks. Got in yesterday just to drive it around for errands so nothing goes stale. Tried to start, then dead, and the pics are what I found.

Two months ago I super cleaned the terminals both with baking soda, clean water and mechanically, final spray with brakekleen, dry, assemble. Battery was fine then.

Will put it out tomorrow and find the receipt and see if I can bring it back, then keep a careful eye on a new one.

More pics once it's out.

[T77911S]

just take it an advance and have them test the charging system properly
its freeeeeeeeeee!

[Scott Douglas]

I'd be real careful lifting that thing out of there.
It looks like it'll just fall apart.

[asphaltgambler]

From the pix - looks like the case is separating where pieces are 'glued' together. FWIW: - battery case ( wall ) thickness increases with price. Cheap batteries have 'thin' cases and are assembled poorly.

[stevej37]

wth is that nylon strap around the battery?

[VincentVega]

handle/carry strap

[Tobra]

Do you park it on a hill or steep driveway?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by stevej37

wth is that nylon strap around the battery?

handle

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

From the pix - looks like the case is separating where pieces are 'glued' together. FWIW: - battery case ( wall ) thickness increases with price. Cheap batteries have 'thin' cases and are assembled poorly.

Thanks, good to know.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I'd be real careful lifting that thing out of there.
It looks like it'll just fall apart.

Yes, I'm wearing a full lexan face mask pulling this thing out and probably fireplace gloves.

[LWJ]

I didn’t want to be the one.

Brakekleen is powerful solvent.

I would guess it dissolves the glue.

I usually look to the last thing I touched to be what caused my most recent issue.

Hope I am wrong.

[Baz]

I didn't know HD sold car batteries.

I got the last one from Walmart - for my Mom's '08 Taurus.

One thing I have learned is to transfer your old carry handle from the old to the new battery because the new ones don't (usually) have them.

Stay safe, Shaun...that sucker looks nasty!!!

[Tobra]

maybe wear an apron too

[rfuerst911sc]

The battery tray looks like it is hurting also . Hit it with a baking powder/water mix to neutralize
the acid . Let dry then prime and paint . I would NEVER use brake cleaner on a battery . Good luck

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Baz

I didn't know HD sold car batteries.

I got the last one from Walmart - for my Mom's '08 Taurus.

One thing I have learned is to transfer your old carry handle from the old to the new battery because the new ones don't (usually) have them.

Stay safe, Shaun...that sucker looks nasty!!!

Homedepot has exide batteries. I use a pair in my hmmwv. Funny the old set were exide brand with a nsn.

[pete3799]

The hold down strap is missing a rod (and nut) on the front side. The back side doesn't look like it's holding very good either. Vibration can cause trouble.