robert green Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 My battery has leaked. I need to clean up the mess and assume a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and water is best. Is that correct? Also, why might this have happened? It is a 3 month old battery and seems to not have leaked via the cell caps. The levels look fine. Perhaps 2 cells are a little low but could it be that it was supplied over filled? How could I test the battery to ensure it doesn't do it again. Battery performance excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Does it have a drain tube fitted with screenwash type tube taking excess down under the car ? If not ... it should have. Water and bicarb fine. Suggest you remove battery to clean under it too. Check all cell liquid levels. Top up with distilled water and charge afterwards. May be overcharging if it vomited ..... check voltage across battery with engine running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 The drain tube fits to a push-in spigot that replaces one of the vent plugs you will see each end of the line of screw caps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert green Posted August 22, 2015 Author Share Posted August 22, 2015 Thanks. Drain tube fitted but I will check it is not pinched. What sort of voltage should I see across the battery with the engine running? 14.5 v? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilla Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 @SM25T: Sorry for the hijack but mine has no drain either. Sounds like a good idea. Where can one get the fittings for the battery? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 22, 2015 Member Share Posted August 22, 2015 I need to clean up the mess and assume a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and water is best. Is that correct?I recommend just water, but lots of it. If there's any crud remove it with anything up to the hardness of a soft toothbrush. And look for traps, seams etc and give them a good flooding.What sort of voltage should I see across the battery with the engine running? 14.5 v?Usually quoted as 14.4V, but yes. (De minimis non curant specs.)Have you used an external charger?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert green Posted August 22, 2015 Author Share Posted August 22, 2015 Thanks all. Hopefully will be able to tackle this this afternoon as I don't like to think of things covered in acid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Try a car spares shop ... or a battery supplier ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert green Posted August 22, 2015 Author Share Posted August 22, 2015 Highest reading across the battery when engine running 15.09v. Is this likely to be the cause? I assume this due to a regulator failure on the alternator? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 22, 2015 Member Share Posted August 22, 2015 That is high, but not very high. Most common cause of is regulator failure. And overcharging could have caused the original problem. I think I'd probably get it to somewhere they can test and repair them. What make (although most repair places can do most makes) and where are you?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Try a fish tank shop for a 90* plastic connector, and if you need to replace your battery buy a gel one !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 22, 2015 Member Share Posted August 22, 2015 There's lots on new batteries in the archives.For most uses of most 7s I recommend a Powervamp. Mine's a PVR 25, but I think a PVR 22 is fine and cheaper.Why a gel type, Elie, please?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NedK Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 I bought my vent tube from Tayna batteries. Very helpful and quick, and only £3.83 + P&P. Fits into the battery side perfectly, and I just popped a couple of rivets and tiewrapped the pipe down towards the road under the car.https://www.tayna.co.uk/Banner-Battery-Vent-Tube-P9171.htmlNed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_ASH Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Another thumbs up for Tayna, I bought the vent tube from them with the latest Banner. Reading this thread made me look at my battery after yesterday's trip to Poole and back, no sign of any leakage though or anything having gone out through the vent tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilla Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Thanks. Will order and fit one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 JK, AFAIK a gel battery has glassfibre between the plates rather than paper, the paper will detoriate faster than glassfibre. The position of the battery in a 7 is at the back where it's a lot hotter than on the front or behind the firewall as in a tintop and there is more vibration on the chassis than a tintop that accelerate the breakdown of the paper isolation causing a cell to short. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 23, 2015 Member Share Posted August 23, 2015 Thanks.The Powervamp batteries have the glassfibre mats (AGM = Absorbed Glass Mat) but they aren't gel batteries. Wikipedia article describing the two technologies and the advantages and disadvantages.They are sealed, don't need topping up and can be mounted on their sides.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Thanks for the link Ned. I've been meaning to get a vent pipe for a while, but somehow never got around to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 JK, i've got it wrong with the gel, but the PVR lasts much longer and doesn't drain like the Banner that is why i use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 24, 2015 Member Share Posted August 24, 2015 Me too. :-)Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beverlonian Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Hi Robert.I had a leaking battery on mine not long after the build. I had the overflow tube fitted but there was no sign of moisture in there. The battery tray was covered in the white/green powdery gunk that I managed to clean off with water and bicarb. Reason for the post is that it was the seam on the battery that failed on mine. Double check yours for any sign of failure.Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert green Posted August 25, 2015 Author Share Posted August 25, 2015 Thanks Andy. I am away now so have removed the battery and will see if it happens again, in which case it may be the same issue you have had. It certainly did nt look like it had come from the breather or cell tops.....may have to invest in a PVR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 If it is only 3 months old and leaking from the case ... return it to the supplier for a full refund. Then buy a sealed type battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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