Battery leaking all over
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Postmaster
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From: Cab of a truck
Battery leaking all over
The battery in my 77 F150 4X4 has been boiling over lately after driving the truck for a while. It spills out the top and runs down the inner fender, and I have white stains all over my fender, underneath of hood, radiator support, and some even ran down and stained my grill insert. What could cause this battery to be spilling over ? It is only a few months old, and I cant take it back because I cant find the recipt. Could it be the voltage regulator not working properly ? Also, is there a trick to cleaning up the battery corrosion stuff ? The white flaky stuff. Thanks,
Trey
Trey
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Lawton, Oklahoma
Most often a boiling over battery is due to overcharging. Put a multimeter to the battery and see what the output of your charging system is with the engine running...test at idle and at 2000 rpm. If you are running well over 14.25 volts you can try replacing your voltage regulator for the alternator.
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From: Cab of a truck
When replacing the voltage regulator, do I get one for the truck with the original motor (400) and 41 amp alternator, or do i get one for the the truck now, with a 460 and 60 amp ?
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Lawton, Oklahoma
Ask the parts counter person to check if they are the same one. My guess is they will be the same. If not then I would get the one for the 460 provided they have the same wiring arrangement.
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To clean things up, sprinkle baking soda on the acid. Make sure the caps on the battery are down tight and if the "white stuff" is kind of dry, pour a bit of water on it. After it gets done foaming, spray it off. This will neutralize the acid. Then just use soap and water for final rinse.
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From: Saratoga, NY
I had the same problem after I replaced my alt. It was reading 17 volts, the battery was boiling! Put in a new regulator and it read 14.5 volts. And yeah grab some baking soda and water and clean up the acid it will eat right thru metal, you ought to do this ASAP, or kiss your battery tray good bye. 
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Postmaster
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From: Cab of a truck
I replaced the voltage regulator the other day, and the battery is still leaking. After driving it for a while and let it warm up, you get out and look at the battery and its squealing, and the caps slowly rise up.
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From: Saratoga, NY
Squeeling? You need to find out what the voltage is while the engine is running, I don't know how it could cause this but maybe you should get your Alt tested. Sometimes a bad diode will cause a sqeeling noise.
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From: Minneapolis, MN
That squealing is probably the gasses building up in the battery venting out the caps.
When the battery is venting gasses like that be very careful. Those gasses are hydrogen and oxygen from the water that's being "boiled" off. Very flammable stuff. As in EXPLOSIVE! And when those gasses explode, the battery tends to throw sulfuric acid with not so pretty results. At the very least, wear goggles around that battery, if not a full face shield.
Check the charging voltage. If there's a problem with a ground to the regulator or any other wiring problem causing the alternator to overcharge, you can replace regulators all day long and not fix the problem. If the charging voltage is OK, the problem could be an internal short in one of the cells of the battery. Does just one cell smoke/lose water?
When the battery is venting gasses like that be very careful.
Those gasses are hydrogen and oxygen from the water that's being "boiled" off. Very flammable stuff. As in EXPLOSIVE! And when those gasses explode, the battery tends to throw sulfuric acid with not so pretty results. At the very least, wear goggles around that battery, if not a full face shield. Check the charging voltage. If there's a problem with a ground to the regulator or any other wiring problem causing the alternator to overcharge, you can replace regulators all day long and not fix the problem. If the charging voltage is OK, the problem could be an internal short in one of the cells of the battery. Does just one cell smoke/lose water?
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From: Cab of a truck
Nothing on the battery smokes, if I saw smoke coming from the battery that would be scary as hell. I have to get a new multimeter, mine grew legs and walked away. Also, the truck starts and shuts off just fine, but sometimes in the morning when I start it, my stereo clock and presets all reset, like the battery was dead or unhooked. I suppose this has something to do with it, as it never did that till I had problems with the battery leaking. I am going to take the battery into the store I bought it from and have them test it and see if I can exchange it, I found the recipt/ warranty.
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