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Monitoring for battery leakage

Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 9:34 pm
by elc32955
OK, I found this over on a LEO-only forum and thought it interesting enough to cross-post.
Just a bit of Officer Safety for those driving a 2013> Chevy Caprice.

I had a strong sulfur smell in my 2012 Caprice the other day. Apparently it's caused from the lead battery in the trunk leaking. It caused a really bad headache, tightness in my lungs, irritated eyes, and my uniform brass tarnished to an orange color.

The health issue is being handled internally and my car was placed out of service. Chevy's solution is to change the battery to a gel filled battery instead of the lead battery.

Probably a good idea to frequently check your batteries or just go ahead and switch them out.
Anyone else seen problems with either of the OEM batteries leaking? Since the trim/beauty covers are over both batteries normally, it would probably be hard to detect a battery leak starting unless it resulted in severe outgassing. If the leak was bad enough to zap out this LEO's collar brass I'm wondering if the battery cracked. Also interesting was the recommendation to go to a gel battery (by person's unknown at Chevrolet). Wonder if there's a form factor fitment for an Optima?

Eric

Re: Monitoring for battery leakage

Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 11:00 pm
by BIG_GREEK
My car came with an AGM battery, maybe it was something that GM did for 2014 and up. But ive never heard of any issues with Lead/acid batteries placed inside of the cabin/trunk. Its probably a bad batch of batteries. If they are tied down correctly and serviced correctly, there shouldnt be any issues.

Re: Monitoring for battery leakage

Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 11:16 pm
by s/c'd cav
never heard any issues from the G8's that i remember , mine had a optima in it

i wonder if the vent line is missing or fallen out of yours , or battery replaced with the wrong type ?

Re: Monitoring for battery leakage

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 8:27 am
by CrashTestDummy
I don't remember seeing any vent hoses on either battery on our '11. I suspect the person who experienced the odors/vapors in the car had a battery that had shorted internally. They'll boil pretty good then, and spew a lot of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which in this case is the interior of the car.

Our '11 came with an AGM battery on the passenger side and a liquid acid battery on the driver's side. I installed a much smaller Odyssey battery on the passenger side and moved that AGM battery to the driver's side.

I HATE liquid acid batteries! All they seem to do well is spill acid all over your metal parts, and down the frame (or in our case, the trunk floor), corroding and rusting everything in it's path. They're cheap, that's why the manufacturers use them.

So, for those asking, there are 94-series AGM batteries available. They're stupid-heavy, but they'll drop right in. I suspect you can make an Optima work, but I haven't tried it. It did take some fitting to get my little Odyssey battery installed, but I think I dropped about 10-15# off the total weight of the car.

Re: Monitoring for battery leakage

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 7:34 pm
by BIG_GREEK
Well all batteries (Lead/Acid) emit hydrogen. Maybe there was such a leak of hydrogen and the acid vaporized from overheating from an internal issue causing a bad air mixture.

And this is why when you connect a battery, (either a charger or jumper cables) not to connect the positive terminal last. The positive post emits the most amount of hydrogen and with the correct concentration, add sparks....battery goes boom.

Re: Monitoring for battery leakage

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 10:05 am
by CrashTestDummy
BIG_GREEK wrote:Well all batteries (Lead/Acid) emit hydrogen. Maybe there was such a leak of hydrogen and the acid vaporized from overheating from an internal issue causing a bad air mixture.

And this is why when you connect a battery, (either a charger or jumper cables) not to connect the positive terminal last. The positive post emits the most amount of hydrogen and with the correct concentration, add sparks....battery goes boom.
The connection shouldn't care what direction you go. Connecting either cable will cause a spark, and if the hydrogen is in the right concentration, >boom!< I usually blow over the top of a battery before hooking it up. That at least dilutes any combustibles in the vicinity of the terminals.

Re: Monitoring for battery leakage

Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 2:24 pm
by ejf2461
I have a horrible Sulfur Smell in my 2013 Caprice! Everyone who gets in my ask if I had a Huge Burrito for Lunch? I took it to my Chevrolet Dealer and they tested the Cat-Converters and complete exhaust and said it not coming from those parts. They thought it was coming from my trunk. Any ideas?

Re: Monitoring for battery leakage

Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 2:41 pm
by s/c'd cav
well it should be pretty obvious if the batteries are being cooked and gassing

Re: Monitoring for battery leakage

Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 3:12 pm
by kevink
My '11 has a vent tube that vents the battery tube out the lower quarter panel behind the rear wheel. Maybe yours came off?

Re: Monitoring for battery leakage

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 10:52 pm
by ejf2461
Dealer replaced both batteries under warranty today and it still smells horrible. A buddy told me it was the heater core. I noticed I only smell it when I have the heat or ac turned on. Could it be the heater core? Fuel Pressure Regulator? Oxygen Sensor? Any ideas?