I've noticed my battery (Has some liquid coming from both of the plastic peices)..Its draining down some. Is it time for a new one, or what

 

Its called gassing. At least, IIRC.

As long as the fluid level is ok it should work for you.

Lead acid battery's get weaker over time due to the lead in the plates falling off into a pile in the bottom of the case. Eventually it will short and the battery will just be a heavy door stop.


So if your into the 5 year or more with it, upgrade. You have some time to wait for a sale. Come winter you may have dead truck.


I myself need a new battery. The wally world cheapy i needed at 2 am is about toast after 3 years.

 

Your entire battery is plastic. Can you be more specific about where this liquid is coming from.

 

Im assuming that he means the two covers on top to check the fluid and what not. But you know what they say when you assume it makes and *** out of you and me

 

The covers, is what i meant...Its only like a 2 year old battery, guess ill check the water level and see...I prob need to wipe it off so it dont corode the brace thats holding it

 

remove the caps and fill all the cells until the grid is completely covered. the top of your battery needs to be thoroughly cleaned. the liquid on top of the battery is conductive. take a voltmeter and put it on DC volts, put one lead on the positive terminal and the other in the liquid residue on the top of your battery case. you will probably get a reading of minimal voltage. that is your battery draining itself. clean the battery top and remove both cables (negative first) and wire brush them or use a battery terminal cleaning tool

 

Nothing should be coming out of those caps on the top. Are you sure it isn't just rain or splash water? Do like Justin said and report back what happens.

 

sometimes the water will evaporate and appear on the top of the battery, it shouldn't happen, but if the battery is jarred around alot, like offroading, or charged at too fast of a rate, either by the alt or a charger it will appear

or, around each of the two posts, there is a seal, if that seal is broke from pounding on the terminals to get the cable ends on, or reefing the connectors down, it will leak right out by the terminals

your voltage reading should be xero on the top of the case, clean til it is.

another trick to see how dirty your battery cables are...

1. Put voltmeter on DC volts
2. place the positive lead on the positive battery terminal and the negative lead on the positive cable end
3. Have someone hold the vehicle at WOT (if it is fuel injected and has a "flood mode") (if not disconnect the coil) and crank it for a few seconds
4. if the battery cable ends or terminals are dirty you will see a voltage drop
5. repeat for negative terminal
6. remove cable ends from battery and clean. recheck again and reading should be zero

 

Ill clean it up first and check the water level, and then report back..i dont have a voltmeter...so

 

clean the top before removing the caps so crap doesnt fall in the holes, also be very careful, battery acid is corrosive on skin and clothing. use distilled water

 

you can get a very basic voltmeter at radio shack.. for cheap. it is a worthwhile tool to have...

 

im still running my stock battery from 98... and it doesn't struggle and my dads running his stock battery in his e150 from 95... warm weather ftw?

 

off topic - i thought you were supposed to be slamming doors right now ?? lol or was that last night..?