ASAP - How Serious is Battery Acid???? - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

The Fixer · 02-21-2009, 06:05 AM

OK, here's the scoop. I had to swap my wife's battery in 20* weather at 6AM this morning and accidentally dropped the old one onto my concrete walkway. Of course, the battery case cracked and the acid started leaking out!! I put baking soda on it to neutralize it, but I got some of the acid on my jeans, and the battery is still leaking outside.

How bad is this acid? How long will it last? How poisonous (if at all) is it?

LTb1ow · 02-21-2009, 06:38 AM

Its not bad, just make sure not to rub your eyes with your hands until you wash them thoroughly. As for the acid, try to soak it up with baking soda and then disttilled or regular water.

BonzoHansen · 02-21-2009, 07:25 AM

Don't drink it.

EchoMirage · 02-21-2009, 07:29 AM

youll get some holes eaten through your jeans. flush everything you can with water

Iroc-z86 · 02-21-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

Don't drink it.

oh but wouldnt it go nice with breakfast?

Its not that bad...after while it might burn if you dont wash it off but nothing serious. When i worked at sears my friend and i had to take out a battery that was being over charged to about 18 volts, it was bubbling and all that good stuff..fun day.

GP99GT · 02-21-2009, 09:33 AM

yeah....your jeans will have holes most likely. poisonous...probably. baking soda was a good idea

The Fixer · 02-21-2009, 11:00 AM

Well, I tossed the jeans already. Fortunately it didn't penetrate through to my skin, and I was wearing heavy leather gloves, so none got on my hands. I was able to clean the concrete with the baking soda, but have contractors here all day and my wife is working so I can't get out there to finish cleaning it up, or seal up the battery. It's leaking on the abandoned house's grass next door.

LTb1ow · 02-21-2009, 11:01 AM

Drain the battery into a 5 gallon bucket and dump baking soda in it until it stops fizzing. Then just dump it.

deadtrend1 · 02-21-2009, 11:22 AM

Real acid?

LTb1ow · 02-21-2009, 11:27 AM

Its bad enough to seriously hurt your eyes.

sweetbmxrider · 02-21-2009, 12:53 PM

you may notice a little irritation on your skin where it was on your jeans. baking soda was the way to go. just drain the battery, throw some baking soda on it, and bring it to the parts store as a core

NJ Torque · 02-21-2009, 12:54 PM

Steve just leave it be out there.

SamhainZ28 · 02-21-2009, 12:59 PM

drain it and take the lead inside to the scrap yard, its worth like 5 bucks, KACHING!

NastyEllEssWon · 02-21-2009, 08:07 PM

core charge is like 9 bucks KACHING

SamhainZ28 · 02-21-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon

core charge is like 9 bucks KACHING

lol whatevs

Saitin · 02-21-2009, 09:12 PM

we charge 10 at sears

The Fixer · 02-22-2009, 06:38 AM

My local auto parts guy gave me $15 for the core. Got a new 700CCA Interstate battery for about $80 and installed it when she got home from work, then put the Optima back in my truck. Nice to have two moving vehicles again!!

Tsar · 02-22-2009, 08:50 AM

Speaking of batteries, I think my parents just got ripped off by the dealer. They needed a new battery and they were told that no one makes that kind so they had to buy from the dealer, 170 bucks later they had a battery. They got hosed right? It seems like a bunch of BS that there would be no other source.... Car is Cadillac SRX.

The Fixer · 02-22-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsar

Speaking of batteries, I think my parents just got ripped off by the dealer. They needed a new battery and they were told that no one makes that kind so they had to buy from the dealer, 170 bucks later they had a battery. They got hosed right? It seems like a bunch of BS that there would be no other source.... Car is Cadillac SRX.

If it's a trunk-mounted battery, it probably needs to be a acid-free battery (acid-batteries vent gases, and that's no good inside the car), hence the higher price tag. Optimas are around the same price-point though, so maybe they didn't get ripped.

TheBandit · 02-22-2009, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsar

Speaking of batteries, I think my parents just got ripped off by the dealer. They needed a new battery and they were told that no one makes that kind so they had to buy from the dealer, 170 bucks later they had a battery. They got hosed right? It seems like a bunch of BS that there would be no other source.... Car is Cadillac SRX.

BS. I can get a Delco battery for that car. It's still about $130 though

BonzoHansen · 02-22-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBandit

BS. I can get a Delco battery for that car. It's still about $130 though

Then taking a car to a dealer and getting the install and troubleshooting for $170 does not seem out of line.

TheBandit · 02-22-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

Then taking a car to a dealer and getting the install and troubleshooting for $170 does not seem out of line.

No not at all.. i was just calling bs on the fact that they couldnt get it anywhere else.

Tsar · 02-22-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TPI Monte SS

If it's a trunk-mounted battery, it probably needs to be a acid-free battery (acid-batteries vent gases, and that's no good inside the car), hence the higher price tag. Optimas are around the same price-point though, so maybe they didn't get ripped.

No its normal inside the engine bay battery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

Then taking a car to a dealer and getting the install and troubleshooting for $170 does not seem out of line.

There was no install, no troubleshooting. There was only "hi can I have the battery for a srx?" "yes, 170 bucks". Install was done at the house.

BigAls87Z28 · 02-22-2009, 11:56 AM

Correct. The CTS and SRX and probably the STS all have an odd job GM Group size 100 battery that no one in the aftermarket seems to make.
The 100 group is as wide and long as a group 75 which is a standard battery for GM cars, but the 100 is shorter so it fits in the space under the cowl. 75 is about 1/2 an inch too tall.
Duh Delco makes one, thats the battery thats coming out of the car. And most likely with the neg terminal coming out of the battery as per usual of all side terminal Delco overpriced garbage.

Trunk or in car mounted batteries have vent tubes to move the gases to the outside.

A lot of the new GM cars have switched to top mounted terminals. Other GM cars that no one makes batteries for would include the Cobalt/Ion/HHR, last gen Grand Prix with top terminal, new GM trucks and SUV's...pretty much every GM car from about 05-06 foward.

BonzoHansen · 02-22-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsar

No its normal inside the engine bay battery.

There was no install, no troubleshooting. There was only "hi can I have the battery for a srx?" "yes, 170 bucks". Install was done at the house.

Was $170 with tax? Even if no, for a dealer part, given we all know the stupid markup, that still seems in line.