General Battery corrosion

[Punto1cab]

Looking at a 4 year old Abarth595 from Cazoo. !4000miles in nice condition, BUThttps://www.fiatforum.com/images/smilies/eek.gif
There is a large amount of white corrosion on the bottom right front of the battery. Thick enough to go 15mm up the fabric retaining strap! No corrosion at all around the terminals! It appears mostly contained by the fabric bag rhat goes round the battery (what does THAT do?...insulation)
I guess it could be caused by a cracked & leaking battery case or by an overcharging alternator resulting in acid /fumes coming out of the breather (battery is "sealed" original and settling around the base of the battery & its tray.
What do you think? Is it likely to have done long term damage to the bulkhead/inner wing/tray?
Avoid at all cost?
Get a sizeable reduction?
Speaks volumes for their 300 point inspection..

 

[John202020]

The battery sits in a plastic tray that has a drain tube so its unlikely to cause any problem.
If you go for it, remove the battery and carefully inspect or have the garage replace it before purchase, replace if at all suspect, whilst out remove the plastic tray and wash( just pulls out ) remove the fabric strap and soak in Bicarbonate of soda solution-in the the baking cupboard, rinse and dry.

 

[Troubles with 500c]

I had this in my Porsche. The last owner had not removed the transporting plugs from the battery and it had split as a result.

Hopefully the offending battery has been replaced already.

 

[chris3234]

Definitely probably wants a new battery
But I wouldn't worry about it doing serious damage to the rest of the metal work

 

[Punto1cab]

Thanks for that reassurance! I had a 944 s2 Cabrio that had a rotted battery tray & the cause was no vent pipe to clear the fumes etc away.
I am sure Cazoo will replace the battery , but I want to see the diagnostics to show that the alternator isn't the source. Other than that the car seems a cracker!

 

[Ralf S.]

Are you sure it's battery acid? That dries out as white crystalline deposits, like salt. If it's crystals (and sticking your finger in it makes your finger melt) then it's acid.

The black insulator stuff is for heat protection of the battery... It's supposed to be rot-proof but it still absorbs moisture, so if it's had water dunked on it it can get white marks which is just dirt, salts and grime being pushed along by the dampness as it spreads. If it looks like a tide-mark, it's probably this.

Check the battery to make sure it's immaculate (warped or bulging case, as well as actual splits and cracks...) but a battery case is a moulded box with a glued on lid, so if it's going to burst through internal pressure, it's more likely to lift the lid off). Bottom corners could be damaged if the battery was dropped.. but they're fairly hefty/thick polypropylene, so "indestructible" in normal use.


Ralf S.

 

[Punto1cab]

Are you sure it's battery acid? That dries out as white crystalline deposits, like salt. If it's crystals (and sticking your finger in it makes your finger melt) then it's acid.

The black insulator stuff is for heat protection of the battery... It's supposed to be rot-proof but it still absorbs moisture, so if it's had water dunked on it it can get white marks which is just dirt, salts and grime being pushed along by the dampness as it spreads. If it looks like a tide-mark, it's probably this.

Check the battery to make sure it's immaculate (warped or bulging case, as well as actual splits and cracks...) but a battery case is a moulded box with a glued on lid, so if it's going to burst through internal pressure, it's more likely to lift the lid off). Bottom corners could be damaged if the battery was dropped.. but they're fairly hefty/thick polypropylene, so "indestructible" in normal use.


Ralf S.

Apparently.....the battery had been clamped in incorrectly and had a leak....
Cazoo organised a "German Car specialist RAC approved garage" to investigate & do the work! New battery fitted, all cleaned out and they said they could see no sign of damage etc. now waiting to have misted headlights replaced (Problem area?) and the broken off aux plug cover replaced. They have offered a reasonable (not big!) & acceptable reduction in the car price plus a two year warranty (we'll see what that covers....cynic that I am) and refund of taxi fares(!).

 

[Ralf S.]

Cazoo? That's not bad.


Ralf S.