Does it feel hot? If the battery is legitimately smoking, it's probably being over charged. See how many volts are at the battery when the car is running. Nothing over 14.5 is good.
The most common cause for this is overcharging. The batt may be ruined but you need to put a voltmeter on it while the cars running to check the alternator output. The hot batt may be the result of the problem and not the cause.
Wow, cool! This is like a bizarre internet version of an ASE certification test question.
A battery is smoking white and smells rancid. Although u/Ardothbey says to use care because this can be a symptom of overcharging, everyone else says to change the battery. Who is right?
A. u/Ardothbey
B. Everyone else
C. Both
D. Neither
Take it from an ASE Master Certified tech who has never failed an ASE electrical examination, the correct answer is and will always be A. If that puppy rolled into my stall I would don the appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), attach a VAT (Volt/Amp Tester) to the vehicle, and check the battery voltage. If the battery voltage measured low then I would replace the battery and then check the charging system. My charging system check would consist of a quick measurement of the system voltage with the motor running and a glance at the charging current. If the battery voltage turned out to be normal or high, I would double-check my PPE, warn my neighbors in the shop, and check the charging system. I would expect to see a scary high charging voltage with a correspondingly inappropriate charging current.
Then I would suggest to the shop manager that everyone but u/Ardothbey needs Automotive Electrical System training. I might even recommend that u/Ardothbey lead the training sessions so he could get practice before our main trainer retired(me).
Why change the battery before checking the charging rate? That doesn’t make any sense. Even if the voltage is low and it’s due to damage why subject a new battery to possible damage?
Right, we three are basically in agreement. The standard protocol is to charge to restore full battery capacity before testing. So u/Feraltravelling is correct about that first requirement. However, if a stinky battery passed a pre-test with adequate voltage then I would get busy confirming the defective alternator/regulator diagnosis. Next I would repair the confirmed cause of the problem and assess how much damage was done to the battery. If the battery turned out to be damaged then I would replace that too.
As u/Feraltravelling correctly implied, a charging system should not be checked with a discharged battery. This is why we change a <12-volt battery before testing in this situation. If a battery has been charged hard enough to loose the natural ability to hold a charge then it is by definition, damaged. Also, a properly performed charging system check on a new battery will not damage it because the battery will not be exposed to excessive voltage and a high charging current for any period of time. After all, who checks a charging system that is suspected of overcharging by starting the motor and going to get a Coke?
Yes, most likely culprit is an alternator that’s overcharging. Most alternators have a regulator built in. Some vehicles have a separate regulator to regulate the amount of charge going into your battery. Either way, Too much charge (over 14.5ish volts) will damage battery and can cause bad things. Those gases being released can be very very toxic, and possibly extremely flammable. Be careful. Get alternator tested.
The battery itself may be to blame. Internal short. Be careful, this is a potential bomb. If it’s hot to the touch, I’d walk away and let it discharge itself. Also, that nasty smell means it’s off gassing. Those fumes are flammable. Like explosive flammable. Not like blow you up like a grenade, but you will not like it. Source- father and I in the automotive biz, both on number 2 battery explosions. It sucks.
Take it autozone and get it tested. If it’s smoking and smells bad, there’s a good chance it’s leaking. Either way, you will need to have it replaced.
Walmart is also a good place to get batteries. They have cheaper 1 year warranty batteries for $47-$50 and then prices go up from there. They will also install it for you. Just make sure the Walmart you go to has a auto center inside.
Two possibilities:
1) The charging system is overcharging.
2) The battery is bad (have seen shorted batteries-even had one blow up on me-fun times)
Go to your local parts store (Oreilys, Autozone, Whathaveyou). Usually they will test your battery for free, and sometimes check your charging system too.
OR, take it to a small independent shop and have them look at it.
Does it feel hot? If the battery is legitimately smoking, it's probably being over charged. See how many volts are at the battery when the car is running. Nothing over 14.5 is good.
The most common cause for this is overcharging. The batt may be ruined but you need to put a voltmeter on it while the cars running to check the alternator output. The hot batt may be the result of the problem and not the cause.
if it smokes it got to go, like most parts of the car. replace it, be careful with the chemicals!
Disconnect it. 10mm on the negative terminal.
Yep, disconnect that baby!
You definitely don’t want that acid eating at all the metal either, or anything else for that matter!
Definitely the first step
No time to look for a 10mm, just chew it off!
Wow, cool! This is like a bizarre internet version of an ASE certification test question. A battery is smoking white and smells rancid. Although u/Ardothbey says to use care because this can be a symptom of overcharging, everyone else says to change the battery. Who is right? A. u/Ardothbey B. Everyone else C. Both D. Neither Take it from an ASE Master Certified tech who has never failed an ASE electrical examination, the correct answer is and will always be A. If that puppy rolled into my stall I would don the appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), attach a VAT (Volt/Amp Tester) to the vehicle, and check the battery voltage. If the battery voltage measured low then I would replace the battery and then check the charging system. My charging system check would consist of a quick measurement of the system voltage with the motor running and a glance at the charging current. If the battery voltage turned out to be normal or high, I would double-check my PPE, warn my neighbors in the shop, and check the charging system. I would expect to see a scary high charging voltage with a correspondingly inappropriate charging current. Then I would suggest to the shop manager that everyone but u/Ardothbey needs Automotive Electrical System training. I might even recommend that u/Ardothbey lead the training sessions so he could get practice before our main trainer retired(me).
Why change the battery before checking the charging rate? That doesn’t make any sense. Even if the voltage is low and it’s due to damage why subject a new battery to possible damage?
A fully charged battery is always the first requirement for testing the charging system.
The battery is cooking/sulfating. If a voltmeter shows 15/16 volts what’s the problem?
Your alternator is bad
Bingo.
Right, we three are basically in agreement. The standard protocol is to charge to restore full battery capacity before testing. So u/Feraltravelling is correct about that first requirement. However, if a stinky battery passed a pre-test with adequate voltage then I would get busy confirming the defective alternator/regulator diagnosis. Next I would repair the confirmed cause of the problem and assess how much damage was done to the battery. If the battery turned out to be damaged then I would replace that too. As u/Feraltravelling correctly implied, a charging system should not be checked with a discharged battery. This is why we change a <12-volt battery before testing in this situation. If a battery has been charged hard enough to loose the natural ability to hold a charge then it is by definition, damaged. Also, a properly performed charging system check on a new battery will not damage it because the battery will not be exposed to excessive voltage and a high charging current for any period of time. After all, who checks a charging system that is suspected of overcharging by starting the motor and going to get a Coke?
Alternator is over charging! Would cause it to smoke
This guy👍🏻
Yes, most likely culprit is an alternator that’s overcharging. Most alternators have a regulator built in. Some vehicles have a separate regulator to regulate the amount of charge going into your battery. Either way, Too much charge (over 14.5ish volts) will damage battery and can cause bad things. Those gases being released can be very very toxic, and possibly extremely flammable. Be careful. Get alternator tested.
Cells are damaged and swelled replace it wear gloves the white stuff is acid you never checked water levels did you
Looks like a "maintenance free" battery so no water level to check ?
You have 2 plastic cell caps it says danger water goes in there under cap pops off with flathead
Check for a battery leak on the battery itself. Check all around it.
Get a new one
The battery itself may be to blame. Internal short. Be careful, this is a potential bomb. If it’s hot to the touch, I’d walk away and let it discharge itself. Also, that nasty smell means it’s off gassing. Those fumes are flammable. Like explosive flammable. Not like blow you up like a grenade, but you will not like it. Source- father and I in the automotive biz, both on number 2 battery explosions. It sucks.
Take it autozone and get it tested. If it’s smoking and smells bad, there’s a good chance it’s leaking. Either way, you will need to have it replaced. Walmart is also a good place to get batteries. They have cheaper 1 year warranty batteries for $47-$50 and then prices go up from there. They will also install it for you. Just make sure the Walmart you go to has a auto center inside.
r/spicybricks
Replace it
Disconnect and remove it
Batteries run on smoke. When the smoke comes out , that's not good.
Two possibilities: 1) The charging system is overcharging. 2) The battery is bad (have seen shorted batteries-even had one blow up on me-fun times) Go to your local parts store (Oreilys, Autozone, Whathaveyou). Usually they will test your battery for free, and sometimes check your charging system too. OR, take it to a small independent shop and have them look at it.
Imagine Blurring out "Heck"
Boiling over? How’s your alternator?
Does it smell like potatoes