At around 1,500 miles, my car started running the battery dead. I thought it was because there were spans of 2-3 weeks were I wasn't able to dtive it. So, I jump started it and went on my way.

Then I noticed that the battery was leaking. I removed the battery, cleaned everything off with baking soda and water to neutralize the acid that leaked and inspected the battery tray area.

I noticed that the car's battery cables looked as if they got very hot and sort of turned brown in some spots. I thought it was just from the battery acid leaking, so I took it into the dealership.

They checked things over and replaced the battery. Said there were no problems.

A couple of weeks later, the NEW battery was dead.

I said screw these Delco batteries, and I went out and bought an Optima red top battery and had no problem until last August when I put it into storage.

Today, I finally got to pull it back out of storage, and the battery was dead again. Surely, it had to be because it was sitting for 9 months. That is to be expected.

I bought a good trickle charger and charged thered top battery up, change the oil and go out driving. After about 30 miles and 45 minutes of highway and city driving, I saw a puff of smoke come from under the hood. I thought it might have just been some oil that got on the header. I was only a couple fo miles from home so I got my car back in my garage and pulled the hood.

The red top battery was HOT to the touch, I had to wear gloves to pull it out. It was also smoking a little bit and smelled funny. I think my new Optima Red Top battery is fried.

I looked back on things and realized that this is the 3rd battery problem I had, and since the battery was hot, I think the battery cable that had turned brown wasn't from acid, but from heat.

I think that my car has an electrical problem.

I did have a battery insulator on it for looks, but I don't think that was the reason it was smoking because it looked fine, except for a little bit of white flaky stuff on it.

Has anyone had this happen? Can anyone tell me what is going on? I am sure it is not normal for a battery to get hot when doing normal driving.

This is killing me. The car only has 3,400 miles on it. Without a battery, I can't drive it to the dealership. What should I do??

 

Bitch about it to the dealer.

 

sounds like a overcharging problem

just bitch to the dealer



oh, just have it towed there




warranty is wonderful

 

Check the alt....... Sound s like over-charging....

 

Sounds like you need to start driving your car too! 9 months in storage

 

I have been out of work for quite a while.

Thanks for the advice, guys. Keep it coming.

 

Sorry to hear that Jason, I havent been keeping up with stuff around here lately. Atleast you still have the car

 

Yup - Overcharging.

What sort of voltage were you getting?

 

In the past 9-10 months, the car was on the chopping block several times. It was a real struggle. When I got laid off late last August, I took it off insurance and now that things look to be getting back to normal, I finally got to take it out and play with it. Now this problem happens. :blah:

I will say that it pulled like a raped ape when I was driving it last night.

And I think you guys are right, overcharging. I called up my Dad who I don't get to talk to to often, and who is an electrician and who has been building and racing cars since he was 15. He said the same thing...overcharging and based on the description that I gave him, it is an alternator problem.

*SIGH*

Thanks again, all.

 

If I recall correctly, alternators have a voltage regulator that measures battery voltage, and controls it's charging. If it messes up, it'll use the incorrect charging diode and supply too much current to the battery, and eventually burn it up.

A new alternator should be all you need.

 

That's exactly what my pop said..."diode".



I feel a little bit better.

Thanks again, I knew I could count on your guys.

 

Jason
I am no 'chemistry major' here,but aren't you using an 'acid'[vinegar, acetic acid] to try to neutralize another 'acid'[sulfuric,battery acid]?
I use baking soda [and water] to 'rinse off' battery acid spills..

 

Right...right. That would explain a few things.

See, the other day I burned my hand on my stove while making a turkey pot pie, and so I decided to soothe the burn by grabbing a blow torch and charring the area of the burn.

That didn't seem to work, either.



Seriously, I meant baking soda. I got my extremes mixed up...I think it is vinegar that you need for jelly fish stings. DO NOT ask HOW I got the two mixed up.

I have been working a LOT lately. You can tell.

So anyway...I was going to arrange to have it taken to the dealer but my good buddy Rod (rod442) said that he didn't think it was the alternator but he thought it was the battery. He was so sure of it, he pulled the battery out of his daily driver Saturn and we put it in my car, and drove it to the local Sears to get the car tested.

Sure enough, the electrical system was fine (unless the problem is intermittent). Got a new Optima battery, put it in and drove around for 30 minutes or so. Got home and felt the battery...cold as a brick.

Rod's theory is that since the last Optima battery completely discharged over the last 9 months or so, and it sat discharged in the car through a relatively cold winter, the battery got messed up (loose term, I forgot the exact term Rod used).

In addition, I don't think the voltmeter was pegged when it fried the last one. I didn't notice anyway and I immediately checked the guages when I saw that puff of smoke. That adds to Rod's theory.

So, we'll see what happens when I drive it tomorrow or to work on Monday.

THANKS to all for the suggestions and help offerings.

Oh, and remember the vinegar trick of you ever swim in the ocean. If you don't have vinegar at that time when you need it, urine works.

 

Happened to me once in Australia.
I didn't have to go at the time.
A friend politely offered to help.

I let her.

I was stung on my leg by the way.

Good thing I wasn't stung on the face!


Glad to hear you've worked your problem out Jay.