A Casualty of the Heatwave

[Morris Minor]

I remember checking the three-year-old battery in my wife's I30 a month ago, and it looked fine, was cranking OK etc.

Then, the day before yesterday, she complained that the car was having difficulty starting up. I opened the hood & I wish I'd had the presence of mind to snap a photo; the battery was a real mess, corrosion & boiled-over/leaked acid everywhere. It was so bad that it had eaten through most of the negative terminal connector.

I was just able to nurse it to NTB in time before their 8:00 pm close. They cleaned things up, replaced the connector and put in a new battery.  They told me that they have had dozens of people coming in this month with the same issue, a corollary of the record heat which cooks the batteries.

Methinks that, with today's higher engine temperatures, heat blast from a/c units etc, "under the hood" is not a good place to keep a battery.

[giant_mtb]

More companies should locate their batteries in the trunk or under the back seat(s).  I agree.  It would free up engine-compartment space and would probably extend the life of most batteries.  Plus give better weight distribution, so they can brag more.

"Even the battery is strategically located to give near-50/50 weight distribution for your handling pleasure." 

[Rupert]

Like the Miata.

[JWC]

We've been in a heat wave (and extreme drought) for the past two weeks.  Nothing like this has come through the door.  May have more to do with who made the battery than the heat. 

[TBR]

You have to take off one of the rear tires to get the battery in the Intrepid, maybe they could put them in the trunk but definitely not under the backseats, people aren't going to want to have to take their car apart everytime they need a jump start.

[Soup DeVille]

You have to take off one of the rear tires to get the battery in the Intrepid, maybe they could put them in the trunk but definitely not under the backseats, people aren't going to want to have to take their car apart everytime they need a jump start.

Don't most cars with batteries in the rear have jumping posts located somewhere under the hood?

[giant_mtb]

You have to take off one of the rear tires to get the battery in the Intrepid, maybe they could put them in the trunk but definitely not under the backseats, people aren't going to want to have to take their car apart everytime they need a jump start.

My friend's Riviera's battery is under the back seat...it takes 2 seconds to unclip the seat and get to the battery.  It's no harder than opening the hood.

[Eye of the Tiger]

What about those sealed Optima batteries, would those asplode in the heat?

[TBR]

I assumed there would be more to it than that, but I still wouldn't want to take jumper cables into the interior of my car. Of course the problem with both is that people are accustomed to having it under the hood and most people won't see the benefits of putting it elsewhere.

[Soup DeVille]

I assumed there would be more to it than that, but I still wouldn't want to take jumper cables into the interior of my car. Of course the problem with both is that people are accustomed to having it under the hood and most people won't see the benefits of putting it elsewhere.

People are idiots.

[Zcarnut]

AGM is an abbreviation for absorbed glass mat battery. In this battery design, the acid is completely absorbed into glass mat separators which are sandwiched between the lead plates. It's a totally sealed and maintenance free design. There are no discharge tubes or fillers caps, which eliminates the need to maintain water levels and offers no concern about acid leaks on valuable parts and accessories.


AGM batteries offers several advantages over conventional "wet" batteries:

- Sealed maintenance free battery design means you never have to worry about checking water levels.

- AGM battery technology will not leak or corrode on paint and chrome.

- They have less internal resistance which offers more CCA amperage than wet batteries.

- By nature AGM batteries are more heat and vibration resistant than conventional batteries, both which contribute to the large majority of failures in vehicle applications.

- Slower self discharge rate (longer shelf life) means battery can sit for extended periods of time without constant monitoring. A wet battery discharges 15% a month, where our AGM batteries discharge only 2-3% a month.

- Longer service life. The main reason wet batteries fail is due to the fact that water levels are not properly monitored coupled with the fact that they are not very vibration resistant. AGM batteries do not have to be constantly maintained and are much more resistant to both heat and vibration, which is why they offer longer service life.

Miata's use these type of batteries.
I believe Optima batteries are a brand name a type of AGM.Ive got a Miata battery in my dune buggy.

What about those sealed Optima batteries, would those asplode in the heat?

[giant_mtb]

My battery has a water level I'm supposed to be maintaining? 

[S204STi]

You have to take off one of the rear tires to get the battery in the Intrepid, maybe they could put them in the trunk but definitely not under the backseats, people aren't going to want to have to take their car apart everytime they need a jump start.

The way Dodge does it is in fact absurd, but many large GM fwd cars put the battery below the rear seat cushion, like giant_mtb mentioned.

[TheIntrepid]

You have to take off one of the rear tires to get the battery in the Intrepid, maybe they could put them in the trunk but definitely not under the backseats, people aren't going to want to have to take their car apart everytime they need a jump start.

Seriously? I tried to give my friend in her Eagle Vision (essentially a 1st-gen Intrepid) a jump start with our old '94 Camry and I distinctly remember her battery was under the hood.

I wouldn't know given I don't know the next thing about mechanicals, and I've never needed a boost in the Intrepid.

[3.0L V6]

Seriously? I tried to give my friend in her Eagle Vision (essentially a 1st-gen Intrepid) a jump start with our old '94 Camry and I distinctly remember her battery was under the hood.

I wouldn't know given I don't know the next thing about mechanicals, and I've never needed a boost in the Intrepid.

The 2nd gen cars have it mounted weirdly. I think it was due to the larger engines in them. I know cause I've boosted a 2.7L car before.

[TheIntrepid]

Odd. For the record, where the hell IS my battery, and how can I find/access it?

[3.0L V6]

Odd. For the record, where the hell IS my battery, and how can I find/access it?

I think it's mounted near the passenger side front wheel well, and I think you have to remove the wheel to get at it.

There's also a remote battery connection so that you can boost it from under the hood.

[TBR]

Oh, I thought it was in the back. I just remember my assistant manager talking about it costing $200 to change her battery because they had to take off a wheel.

[AutobahnSHO]

Like the Miata.

Or (2002?) 3-series.

That car did have jumping posts under the hood, with instructions.
(I had an Eagle Premier that needed help from the time I bought it until I was able to get rid of it- friend jumped me..)

[heelntoe]

i think my dad's c-class also has the battery in the trunk.

[Rich]

'02-'06 Cooper Ss have their battery in the trunk

[Soup DeVille]

Seriously? I tried to give my friend in her Eagle Vision (essentially a 1st-gen Intrepid) a jump start with our old '94 Camry and I distinctly remember her battery was under the hood.

I wouldn't know given I don't know the next thing about mechanicals, and I've never needed a boost in the Intrepid.

Its behind the front right wheel. There are jumping posts relocated under the hood to where you'd normally find a battery.

[Madman]

Most newer Volvos have the battery located under the trunk/boot floor, too.


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