Boiling battery

[Clark Griswald]

My battery took the opportunity this weekend to ooz some excess acid out into the trunk. Apparently it was overcharging and boiling over. I haven't had a chance to pop a meter to check the charge voltage, but I suspect a new v regulator is in my near future.

It was a sight to see. Sealed battery so the pressure could not easily get out. It was puffed out in all direction, looked like a battery on steroids. I thought it might explode. It popped itself out of the hold down clamp.

Anyway, I was out of town so the only thing I could do was replace the battery to get home.

Now to my question - What is the best way to clean the acid out?

I did an initial cleaning, pulled the battery and AC fan to get access. Hosed it all down with water, then threw baking soda everywhere and scrubbed it in with a brush.

My concern is that a couple places probably aren't clean. Getting under the edge of the gas tank was not possible, and I think it has a gasket in there that may absorb some acid. Also the battery itself sits up on metal tray that is welded in place. No way to get under there either.

I'd like to really clean this out right and fix the paint damage that was caused. I will then replace the battery with a dry cell to prevent this from ever happening again.

I am thinking the best way to deal with these non-accesible areas is to use a liquid solution that will neutralize the acid and just pour it into these areas liberally. Don't know what to use. Maybe mix a bunch of baking soda into water? Any good products on the market?

---------------
Chuck Moreland '86 Cab - "Sparky", '77 Targa - "Sweet Pea"

[Planter91C2]

boy clark, you have been having alot of trouble lately.

i'd give it the baking soda and water bath and use a scrub brush. then wipe down with some silicone grease especially in the cracks.

[911pcars]

Clark,
Try a mixture of baking soda and water in a misting device ..... (e.g. garden sprayer.) :-)

Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911cars

[Clark Griswald]

Planter, You're not kidding. Tallying up the damage this past weekend at Buttonwillow -

1) Boiled over the battery
2) Cooked the brakes
3) Dropped dipstick into oil tank
4) Blew out a cam oil line and sprayed oil everywhere

Car made it home, is garaged waiting for the weekend repairs.

Ya gotta love cars.

[Jens Wendorff]

Clark,
Sounds like my first 911 experiences.
Don't worry, it will get better after a couple of years

Jens
'76 2.7 CIS
e.g, Burned away some of the main harness on the journey from the dealer

[Jorgeman]

Clark--doesn't your battery have an overflow nipple with a plastic hose to pass thru the floor area? My only experience was caused by a failed voltage regulator (battery was getting over 17v!) shortly after I got the car. It had an overflow nipple but NO HOSE!!
I used a saturated solution of bicarb and water and flooded the battery area about an inch deep and let it sit awhile! Liberal brushing actually under water finally neutralized everything. New voltage regulator and battery--WITH OVERFLOW HOSE--vented thru the bottom now. The tip off--which I didn't immediately heed--was drastically brighter lights during night driving! Good Luck

George 86T

[Clark Griswald]

George,

It was a sealed battery so had no overflow. The internal pressure grew to a point that the acid seeped out around the terminal posts, it was all puffed out from the pressure.

The new battery does have overflow as you describe, and I will put a hose on it.

Sounds like baking soda dissolved in water is the best bet, and just flood everything. I may jack up the gas tank to get that area well.

Jens, how many years do think it will take? After 16 years of pcars I take it in stride. It's all part of the game

Thanks for the help.

[Mark Howard]

Clark, you might think I'm crazy, but use good ole Coca-cola. Eats the stuff right off and neutralized well (just think of what it does to yor stomach!). I had the exact same problem last October. The Real Thing did the trick for me.

Now how do I get the ants out of my car...?



------------------
Mark Howard
'88 Carrera
'62 356/B
'75 914 1.8 resto

[911]

Chuck,

So you blew a cam oil line, too? You know my '86 Carrera did the same thing at the POC Short Track event at Buttonwillow last year! I missed two sessions because of it.

Weren't you going to go to Buttonwillow to pick up a battery on Saturday? Anyway, I hope you have all of your mechanical problems fixed by the next Short Track event. At least you have until September to fix them.

Rich

[Doug Zielke]

Is this another good reason to install an Optima battery?

------------------
'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website