Battery caps are popping off - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GreenMystChevy · 04-06-2005, 04:25 PM

First off, my truck is an old beater that gets me around from place to place. Well, one day while driving down the freeway I hear this bang against the bottom side of my hood. I pull over and find that one of my battery caps had shot off so hard that it hit my hood and I heard it. Well, not being real smart or much time, I continued to drive it for a week only to realize that my battery had shot both caps off and was spraying battery acid all over the place. I had to get to work so I threw in a brand new Optima and when I got to work it was hissing pretty loud.
What is going on here, is it just a short somewhere, am I going to blow up my battery, etc? I know I need to get this taken care of ASAP because I think I have a potential bomb under my hood.

**CPNE** · 04-06-2005, 04:32 PM

2 words - Voltage Regulator

You are probably getting way more than 14 volts at the battery terminal. This is overcharging your battery resulting in the condition you have

*screamin_c102* · 04-06-2005, 04:43 PM

This could end up with a bang as well.

cableguy0 · 04-06-2005, 04:47 PM

your battery is being overcharged your lucky the battery didnt explode and kill you while u were standing over it.

smokekiki · 04-06-2005, 04:49 PM

If You have ever seen one blow up,You will not forget it!We had one on a charger at the shop.The charger malfunctioned and charged it full blast.And I mean blast,battery casing all over the place.We were lucky that no one was close to it.

Fred T · 04-06-2005, 04:58 PM

Don't drive it until it's fixed. If you stick a voltmeter on it I would bet it's over 16 volts, with the regulator stuck. No fun having a battery explode, it certainly ruins a paint job.

CHEVIBUBBA · 04-06-2005, 05:55 PM

the overcharge you are experiencing probably ruined the optima battery!
fix it then spray all the underhood with a bicarbinate of soda,(baking soda),/water mix.30%b.s. 70% water.let it sit a few minutes then rinse with clean water & repeat.
this will neutralize the acid that is even now eating your truck.
don't use the b.s./water mix on the battery though.have it out of the truck.

GreenMystChevy · 04-06-2005, 06:31 PM

Thanks guys, the voltage regulator will be hooked up before I even leave work. Looking back on it now, I was definitely taking some risks driving that thing around

Hey, thanks for the advice on the baking soda concoction. I couldn't figure out how to get all of that acid out of there.

CHEVIBUBBA · 04-06-2005, 06:45 PM

i'm here to help

Touch_Of_Madness · 04-06-2005, 10:52 PM

Voltage Regulator sounds right on the money.

It would also be a good idea to inspect the main power cables from the battery to the starter. And the wires from the alternator to the regulator. Overcharging can also superheat the cables and they may become brittle.

If they crackle when you bend em? Replace em.

longhorn71 · 04-06-2005, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokekiki

If You have ever seen one blow up,You will not forget it!We had one on a charger at the shop.The charger malfunctioned and charged it full blast.And I mean blast,battery casing all over the place.We were lucky that no one was close to it.

and on that note do not weld or smoke near a chrging battery!!I was grinding on some steal plate and a spark caused the battery to explode.They give of hydrogine will charging and that is HIGHLY explosive!!Kinda like the Hinenburg air ship!!

04-06-2005, 04:25 PM	#1
GreenMystChevy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 513	Battery caps are popping off First off, my truck is an old beater that gets me around from place to place. Well, one day while driving down the freeway I hear this bang against the bottom side of my hood. I pull over and find that one of my battery caps had shot off so hard that it hit my hood and I heard it. Well, not being real smart or much time, I continued to drive it for a week only to realize that my battery had shot both caps off and was spraying battery acid all over the place. I had to get to work so I threw in a brand new Optima and when I got to work it was hissing pretty loud. What is going on here, is it just a short somewhere, am I going to blow up my battery, etc? I know I need to get this taken care of ASAP because I think I have a potential bomb under my hood. __________________ Jeremy '71 C-10 '72 GMC K2500 '72 Nova (Dad's) '70 Chevelle SS '55 Sedan Delivery Attempting to build up this here 4x4...make her real tall and purty...well, maybe just tall

04-06-2005, 04:32 PM	#2
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,662	2 words - Voltage Regulator You are probably getting way more than 14 volts at the battery terminal. This is overcharging your battery resulting in the condition you have __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all

04-06-2005, 04:47 PM	#4
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,948	your battery is being overcharged your lucky the battery didnt explode and kill you while u were standing over it. __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

04-06-2005, 04:49 PM	#5
smokekiki Mike Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: west chester pa Posts: 2,473	If You have ever seen one blow up,You will not forget it!We had one on a charger at the shop.The charger malfunctioned and charged it full blast.And I mean blast,battery casing all over the place.We were lucky that no one was close to it. __________________ 70'c/10, 71 suburban4x4 402bb, 72suburban 4/6 drop, 72k/5 4x4 blazer 4" lift 35 tires

04-06-2005, 04:58 PM	#6
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	Don't drive it until it's fixed. If you stick a voltmeter on it I would bet it's over 16 volts, with the regulator stuck. No fun having a battery explode, it certainly ruins a paint job. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

04-06-2005, 04:43 PM	#3
screamin_c102 Account Suspended Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Yoncalla Oregon Posts: 775	This could end up with a bang as well.

04-06-2005, 05:55 PM	#7
CHEVIBUBBA got boost? Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 123	the overcharge you are experiencing probably ruined the optima battery! fix it then spray all the underhood with a bicarbinate of soda,(baking soda),/water mix.30%b.s. 70% water.let it sit a few minutes then rinse with clean water & repeat. this will neutralize the acid that is even now eating your truck. don't use the b.s./water mix on the battery though.have it out of the truck. __________________ '70 chevy lwb w/'67 hood. 357 s.b.c. built, 4l60 w/vigilante lockup high stall converter, edelbrock pro-flo,brodix heads,comp cams rollerized w/ belt drive, one piece d-shaft, yada, yada, yada..... '82 honda v45 sabre"the black"

04-06-2005, 06:31 PM	#8
GreenMystChevy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 513	Thanks guys, the voltage regulator will be hooked up before I even leave work. Looking back on it now, I was definitely taking some risks driving that thing around Hey, thanks for the advice on the baking soda concoction. I couldn't figure out how to get all of that acid out of there. __________________ Jeremy '71 C-10 '72 GMC K2500 '72 Nova (Dad's) '70 Chevelle SS '55 Sedan Delivery Attempting to build up this here 4x4...make her real tall and purty...well, maybe just tall Last edited by GreenMystChevy; 04-06-2005 at 06:32 PM.

04-06-2005, 06:45 PM	#9
CHEVIBUBBA got boost? Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 123	i'm here to help __________________ '70 chevy lwb w/'67 hood. 357 s.b.c. built, 4l60 w/vigilante lockup high stall converter, edelbrock pro-flo,brodix heads,comp cams rollerized w/ belt drive, one piece d-shaft, yada, yada, yada..... '82 honda v45 sabre"the black"

04-06-2005, 10:52 PM	#10
Touch_Of_Madness FORMER MEMBER Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 34	Voltage Regulator sounds right on the money. It would also be a good idea to inspect the main power cables from the battery to the starter. And the wires from the alternator to the regulator. Overcharging can also superheat the cables and they may become brittle. If they crackle when you bend em? Replace em.



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