2012 passat battery leaking. Damage pics enclosed

[Antsrcool]

I had a passat come in today for its 40k service (at 50k) and he mentioned he had a headlamp out as well. So I started with the headlamp. Replaced bulb and it still didn't light. Ok I though I'll look into that after. So I jack car up. Pull off belly pan and notice the paint is burned off the trans pan. Umm uh oh. Also notice the wires are all brittle and some are green where something ate through the harness. So I began trading it and discovered the bottom of the battery is leaking! I have pics that show the damage. So far the starter works but it doesn't look good. I have covered everything in copious amounts of baking soda. And am replacing the battery I will try and repair the harness as best I can. But nms owners check your battery!
http://i.imgur.com/r6WEa3x.png
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http://i.imgur.com/7ZEYXCN.png
http://i.imgur.com/5JRBUIe.png
http://i.imgur.com/ilyY1Th.png
http://i.imgur.com/3TWO6zb.png
http://i.imgur.com/zQgOUkU.png
http://i.imgur.com/YemFnPd.png

 

[pedorro]

Good info and thanks for posting!

Mods - Can you move this thread to the NMS section?

 

[JB05]

This makes me glad I opted for an AGM replacement battery.

 

[tditom]

I hope this is not a new trend!
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=423375&highlight=battery

 

[maybe368]

This makes me glad I opted for an AGM replacement battery.

Agreed! The best thing about them is that they don't off-gas and they don't corrode. I have had real good luck with Optimas, but I put a 1150 CCA diehard in my Cummins...Mark

 

[993er]

I have pics that show the damage.

What about a pic of the battery showing where it was leaking from? A crack should be obvious.

 

[993er]

The best thing about them (AGM battery) is that they don't off-gas...

We had plenty of AGM batteries in our lab that gassed and that was at the correct charging voltage.

If an AGM battery is internally faulty or being overcharged, it will gas.

Too many people think that these are sealed batteries because of inaccurate advertizing. They all have valved caps which is why they fall under the VRLA category of batteries.

 

[JDSwan87]

Get a cheap lawn chemical sprayer and do a mix of baking soda and water in it and spray the whole engine bay real good to neutralize more of the acid.

 

[maybe368]

We had plenty of AGM batteries in our lab that gassed and that was at the correct charging voltage.

If an AGM battery is internally faulty or being overcharged, it will gas.

Too many people think that these are sealed batteries because of inaccurate advertizing. They all have valved caps which is why they fall under the VRLA category of batteries.

That may all be true, but what I know for a fact is that liquid batteries will cause corrosion, I have seen it. I have also seen no damage caused by agm batteries since I started using them in 2003...Mark

 

[993er]

That may all be true, but what I know for a fact is that liquid batteries will cause corrosion, I have seen it. I have also seen no damage caused by agm batteries since I started using them in 2003...Mark

Maybe Mark, but flooded lead acid batteries will only cause corrosion if ruptured or if severely overcharged if the voltage is taken to some ridiculous level due to a faulty charging system and even then, the latter will cause gassing, emptying the battery slowly in the form of vapor...not liquid.

But I have yet to have that happen in 40 years of car ownership.

The advantage to a FLA battery is that it can be maintained which is why I get the incredible years out of my batteries. Of course, you have to check them periodically and I only do so every two years on a car battery and yearly on my motorcycle battery. Charging system is constantly monitored with an on-board voltmeter.

Whatever works for you to a level you are satisfied with.