MrJeepR44 changed his spark plugs... and found serious battery issues

[MrJeepR44]

Originally Posted by NHPATRIOT

That is one NASTY battery! Definitely looks like it got over heated somehow and boiled over as another member posted above. Either that or maybe there is a crack in the housing or something? I wouldn't even bother cleaning it. I would replace it personally. You are probably covered under warranty so I would try and get the dealer to replace it.

If you can't get it replaced under warranty and you want to replace it maybe I can help you out a bit. If you have any Advance Auto Parts near you( they do have them in TX just not sure how far you would have to go? )I can help you out with a great coupon deal.

You will have to order the battery online and pick it up at the store to use the coupon( can't use it in store as a walk in - online only ). You want to do that anyway so you can bring the core in for the credit while you are there. So here is what you do...

1.) - go to http://www.advanceautoparts.com
2.) - enter your vehicle info in "Add A Vehicle"( you must do this to use their online order system )
3.) - on left menu select Batteries, Electrical & Wiring> Batteries> Automotive Batteries
4.) - after the available battery list comes up, look on the left in the blue box, and select Exact Fit Parts Only
5.) - then pick which battery you want to buy( Gold or Silver - AAP batteries are very good IME and last I knew made by Johnson Controls which are a top battery company - Gold is best deal if warranty is taken into account but Silver are good batteries too )
6.) - check for store inventory and pick a store with the battery in stock so you can go get it( or have it delivered if you prefer - free on $75+ orders but then you have to bring the core back ).
7.) - in the Shopping Cart screen enter the coupon code A124 in the appropriate box to save some big $$$ at checkout.

Hope it helps you out.

Just for FYI so you know going in here are the costs for the 2 batteries...

AutoCraft Gold Battery( 640 CCA )
Part#: 86-2
Warranty: 7 yrs( 3 Free/Final 4 PR )
Retail: $135.99
Core: $15.00
Subtotal: $150.99
Less Coupon A124: -$40.00
Subtotal: $110.99
Return Core: +$15.00
Final Cost: $95.99

AutoCraft Silver Battery( 525 CCA )
Part#: 86-1
Warranty: 2 yrs( Free Replacement )
Retail: $110.99
Core: $15.00
Subtotal: $125.99
Less Coupon A124: -$40.00
Subtotal: $85.99
Return Core: +$15.00
Final Cost: $70.99

They have Optima batteries as well but they start at $200+ and IMO are over priced. I have used their store brand batteries a lot in cars and my boat with excellent results. Hard to beat the coupon deal savings as well.

That is great information and it is appreciated. I don't know much about battery brands or prices, all I know are good ones can be expensive.
I am going to try the warranty route first, as the bumper to bumper has specific exclusion's, and the battery is not one of them

Originally Posted by todde702

The battery corrosion could be caused by a number of things, such as the alternator putting out too much voltage, a parasitic draw across the top of a dirty battery or failed internal seals of the battery posts themselves (the fact that only your positive is corroded makes me think this may be the cause for you). You can check for the parasitic draw before you clean by using a digital volt meter. Put the positive probe on the battery plastic near the positive terminal and the negative on the same way. Don't actually touch the terminals with the probes, just plastic. If you read a voltage, then you have a parasitic draw through the dirt on the top.

In any case the first step is to clean everything up, including the whole top of the battery. Using the baking soda and water does work great, but if any get's into the battery, kiss it goodbye. I've always used plain old water that is very hot, near boiling. Just pour it over the terminal and it will dissolve the corrosion.

Next I would remove both terminals and clean everything, the posts, terminals and the entire top of the battery.

If you suspect a bad internal post seal, put some grease or petroleum jelly around the base of each post. This will slow or prevent the acid from wicking up the post to the terminal connection and corroding in the air.

Using grease/jelly on the terminals will also slow/prevent corrosion. Once cleaned and reconnected, I would now check output voltage from the alternator. Make sure it's not putting out 15 volts or more, if it is, you may need a new alternator.

Last, watch the battery terminals over the next few months to see if the corrosion returns.

EDIT: Oh yea, also once cleaned, pry off the battery caps and make sure the cells are topped up and even. If you need to add fluid, use only distilled water!

You guys are great! This really sucks to be dealing with on a newer car. I appreciate all the advice, and I'll get to the dealer in the next couple of days to see how they handle it, and may be dealing with it on my own after that. I checked the corrosion today, and it didn't look any different, nothing looked wet after driving

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[Murman]

Same age, same mlies...





I topped off a few battery cells that were low in the summer of 2011.

[MrJeepR44]

Hey, now that's what mine looked like in May 2012! I'm not sure what happened in the last 7,000 miles to cause the issue. I've never topped off or otherwise touched the battery

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[MrJeepR44]

Well I took her in to the dealer today, and gave a list with a few things to look at (battery, creaking suspension, hood alignment). They stuck me in a rental (with my MaxCare warranty) and asked to keep it at least until Friday. I'm really starting to like this dealer, and starting to feel like they are going out of their way to make me happy. Either that, or its the best looking Patriot they've ever seen and like to show it off longer (It's Dallas, so it's probably the only lifted Patriot they've ever seen). They usually park it out front

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[MrJeepR44]

I got the Jeep back today from the dealer today. They replaced the battery, positive terminal, alternator, and re-aligned the hood (the last one was unrelated )

[PatriotMB]

Glad they fixed it!

What did they say about the creaking suspension?


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[Scandinative]

Glad the dealership took good care of you. That makes it two in a million

[MrJeepR44]

Originally Posted by PatriotMB

Glad they fixed it!

What did they say about the creaking suspension?


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They couldn't replicate it for some reason They asked me to bring it back when it gets cold outside again (the issue is very apparent in the cold, less when its warm)

Originally Posted by Scandinative

Glad the dealership took good care of you. That makes it two in a million

No joke. I wasn't too sure of the dealership in the beginning, but this new service manager that's been working with me has been great. I call him to schedule appointments ahead of time now to make sure I only deal with him

[Metaxa]

Did they manage a guess as to what went on with the battery?

[MrJeepR44]

Originally Posted by Metaxa

Did they manage a guess as to what went on with the battery?

They didn't say much... just that the battery was covered because it leaked acid and it was still in the bumper to bumper time frame, and that the alternator could have had an effect on it. It could be placebo, but it seems like my headlights are brighter now...

[todde702]

The creaking is likely the sway bar bushings. What ever rubber they make them from does not like the cold. When temps near me started dipping into the low 40's, mine would creak a little now and then. Now that the temps are in the teens, they creak constantly over every little dip and bump in the road, mostly when the entire suspension across one axle flexes (like going through a dip that spans the entire road, or going over a speed bump). It does it less when only one wheel goes over/into something.

Glad they sorted out the battery issue for you. If they replaced the alternator, it probably was putting out too much juice.

[MrJeepR44]

Sway bar bushings eh? I wonder if squirting some fluid film on them will quiet them down. Is there any negative side to doing this?

I notice the noise a LOT when I turn the wheels when going down my steep drive and into the alley

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[480KREEPIN]

glad you got everything squared away! I need to find a different dealership......not satisfied with the one by my house. Thank you also todde! now I know those are sway bar bushings creaking, so just because is squeaks doesn't mean it's defective right.?

[SpaceJeep]

Before I put my winters on I purchased a grease gun with flexible hose and a grease needle which is like a inflation needle but with a sliced sharp end. Because our sway bar bushings are non-greaseable I inserted the needle between the bar and bushings and gave it a couple of shots of grease. I have never had such a quiet ride in the winter. I have greaseable Energy Suspension bushings at the ready when these wear out.

[NHPATRIOT]

Originally Posted by MrJeepR44

They didn't say much... just that the battery was covered because it leaked acid and it was still in the bumper to bumper time frame, and that the alternator could have had an effect on it. It could be placebo, but it seems like my headlights are brighter now...

Not a placebo. All that corrosion can reduce the power making it to the lights( and other electronics )and the battery and/or alternator could have been bad reducing out put as well. New battery, new alternator, and new cables = full power making it to the lights so they are brighter.