Smell from battery

[Kano]

Hi,
I was driving my patrol today and a smell like rotten egg was coming through the vents. I have a dual battery system. The normal starting battery has white on top of it. (It's also not starting well after a few hours of not driving it.)

I am going to take the battery out to clean it and check the fluid levels. If one cell has dried out does that mean the battery has had it? Or could I fix it my topping it up?

Also the rotten egg smell would be from the battery acid wouldn't it?

Thanks

[growler2058]

Could be A/C?

[Kano]

Oh right I didn't think of the A/C. I'm not sure how to check that.

[threedogs]

If you have one dry cell, I dont think topping it up will help.
Check your charging rate as well could be your alternator over charging the battery.
are they square to look at??.
Either way you're up for a battery I feel

[Kano]

Thanks 3 dogs. I'll check the charge rate now. If the alternator is over charging would I be up for a new alternator?

I only bought the battery a year ago from supercheap so that's a bit disappointing.

[KiwiAngler]

I would suggest that either the battery has boiled or the battery has a crack and it has allowed the sulphuric acid to leak (rotten egg smell)

If it has leaked I would be getting the battery out immediately (stop acid attack on metal) and neutralising the area with a solution of Bicarbonate of Soda and water - if there is battery acid around the sod bicarb solution with fizz/bubble vigorously.

Continue to apply sod bicarb solution until all bubbling ceases and then thoroughly wash down all areas that the sodbicarb/battery acid might have got to.

[threedogs]

If only one year old it would still have warranty wouldnt it?
You'll need to re-co the alternator,

[the evil twin]

What Kiwi said ^^^^^

Won't be the A/C, well, 99% it won't be the A/C unless someone put a egg down your vent.

If you have a real good smart charger you may get the battery back but in this day and age the plates etc are so thin that if you boil a cell it usually warps the bejesus out of them.

Take it out, wash out the tray as suggested, check the cells and top up as req'd and put it on a smart charger in "recondition" mode.
If it comes good awesome but check what the Alternator voltage is when you put a battery back in the Car.
Should be 13.8 min to 14.7 max, usually you will see around 14.0 to 14.5 ish

[Kano]

Thanks KiwiAngler.

I have just had a good look and found the deep cycle battery was making a sizzling noise with some fluid on top. I have now taken it out. I'm hoping this might also be the reason the patrol hasn't been starting well but it's not the main battery.

[threedogs]

make sure you place the battery in a well ventilated area
Petrol or diesel motor?
What dual battery charging system do you have, just thinking its only charging the Aux and not the main

[Kano]

Thanks EvilTwin. I'm only learning still so it's great to have help from people on the forum.

[megatexture]

Sounds like your batteries are boiling over and your smelling the sulferic acid. Check your paintwork when the batteries are out. You may need to do some touch ups if they have leaked

[Kano]

Hi megatexture is funny you say as we were wondering why on that side of the car has spots of missing clear coat on the paint.

[threedogs]

If its at all possible drill a small hole at the end of the crack to prevent it travelling further.
Do you know some one with a mig welder.
IMO its one of two things either your alternator or
whatever dual battery charging system you have is faulty

[growler2058]

What Kiwi said ^^^^^

Won't be the A/C, well, 99% it won't be the A/C unless someone put a egg down your vent.

If you have a real good smart charger you may get the battery back but in this day and age the plates etc are so thin that if you boil a cell it usually warps the bejesus out of them.

Take it out, wash out the tray as suggested, check the cells and top up as req'd and put it on a smart charger in "recondition" mode.
If it comes good awesome but check what the Alternator voltage is when you put a battery back in the Car.
Should be 13.8 min to 14.7 max, usually you will see around 14.0 to 14.5 ish

Ive been in a vehicle that with the aircon on it smelt like dirty arse

[threedogs]

not talking about Agatha are you I hope not,,, its still way to early ATM

[Kano]

I just tested the main battery. I've taken the 2nd battery out.

Battery before start= 13volts

Key turned to access= 12.6volts.

Start =10.5 volts

After start= 14.1 volts, then turning the A/C on it dropped to 13.8 volts.

Do these all seem normal? If so I'm thinking the issue was the 2nd battery

[threedogs]

Thats looks normal so it must be the dual battery system,
what brand is it

[Kano]

Threedogs I'm not sure on the brand as it was on the patrol when I bought it. I've attached a picture of all I can really see that joins the batteries. It might be a little old looking.

53751

[threedogs]

Time to update I feel that solenoid must be failing
Redarc do an affordable system

[the evil twin]

Your battery is screwed, it is shorting out internally and producing gobs of hydrogen gas.

As someone else posted, put it somewhere (very carefully) well ventilated, keep away and just let it die a miserable lonely death.
Don't try and recharge it, just get rid of it.
Try for warranty if it still had some left but they will usually only offer part of replacement if anything.

Your voltage readings are perfectly normal so thats good.

That solenoid linking the Batteries is OK, old school but still OK.
I agree with TD in that if you do want to update to a modern battery parallel management system you are half way there because you can use the existing cables.
You can go Redarc SBI12 for about $100 to $150 depending on what C/B's you choose to protect the battery feeds if you don't have any already.

[Kano]

Thanks very much Threedogs. I'll have a look at that new system. One more question, is it ok to drive around with the 2nd battery removed or do I need to d/c something?

[Kano]

Thanks EvilTwin. That's very helpful. I'll go and look at an updated system as suggested. I've taken the battery out and have it in a safe place till I ditch it.

[the evil twin]

Thanks EvilTwin. That's very helpful. I'll go and look at an updated system as suggested. I've taken the battery out and have it in a safe place till I ditch it.

No worries.

If you want to drive around with no 2nd battery for a while I would disconnect the lead at that solenoid that runs to the 2nd Battery.
You could just insulate the 2nd Battery positive terminal but if you disconnect at the solenoid then it is a better option

[Kano]

Great thanks, I'll disconnect the lead at the solenoid till I get a new system.

[the evil twin]

Great thanks, I'll disconnect the lead at the solenoid till I get a new system.

Cool...

The 'old' solenoid shouldn't be what trashed the battery so you can wack another one in there if you want.

Have you had a lot of K's over corrugations or something?
When I was living up there in the 80's and 90's we would sometimes kill a battery on trips out to Coburg or the Roper but the roads were really shitty.
Even Gunn Point could be a saga sometimes

[Kano]

Oh right. We have only just moved here from Alice Springs and we did do a few trips on corrugated roads down there. We have been planning a few trips for the dry season so it's good to get these things sorted now.