Battery Issue

[Drew]

Hi there,

I'm just about to list my girlfriend's Marina on eBay as she never uses it plus we're moving house soon house and will only have space for 2 cars.

It's a good runner, but due to lack of use the battery has died. I was planning on jump starting it, but I read if you can see battery acid it can be dangerous and the battery can explode!



Do you know if that blue stuff on the positive connector is acid? Is this battery safe to jump, or shall I just buy a new one?

Thanks!
Drew

[MarinaCoupe]

Hi Drew

Batteries exploding are rare. I'd suggest that you take the battery off the car, clean up the terminals and those on the cable on the car and give them a good coat of vaseline. The funny blue stuff is crystalline gunk that builds up between the lead terminals and the connectors in the presence of dampness, the vaseline should seal against the damp.

Then either put the battery on charge if you have a charger, or reconnect the battery and jump start her. Once the car is running, either keep her idling on the drive for at least half an hour or take her for a long drive in daylight without turning the engine off, to recharge the battery.

Then stop the engine (best done back at home) and try to restart her. If there's no life in the battery, take it to a garage and ask them to test it, before shelling out for a new battery.

[Drew]

Thanks for the info, Chris! I'll give that a go in the week

[Uncle Frank]

Hi Drew, you can neutralise all that acid with a warm solution of Bicarbonate of soda, (put a couple of teaspoons in a jug of warm water), then tip it over the affected area, then as Chris says, smear vaseline or coppergrease over the terminals once they are dry