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Topic: Chassis battery, isolators and house cutoff switch (Read 8 times) previous topic - next topic
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Chassis battery, isolators and house cutoff switch
Yahoo Message Number: 127030
Hacent had much experience with the symptoms I'm seeing so looking for advice.
06ford e450 engine which looks to have original motor raft battery. Coach starts without issue but the battery has what looks like snow flakes all over it. The posiitive pole has some typical white coorosion around it under the red boot.
 The battery isolator is under the coolant reservoir. There are three wires attached. The connections look good but the top of the isolator has an ugly coating. Almost like moldy battery corrosion.
 The coach has been parked in her new garage for a week or so for the first time with the house battery switch turned off. The chassis battery didn't have the corrosion just before our last trip before we stored it

Any thoughts on whether the isolator is bad? 6 years on a motor craft battery isntt bad so replacing it makes sense. Just don't want to ruin a new one.
Thanks Lydia
Lydia.
Current: 2020 JLUR w 15’ Squaredrop
Former: 2006 30IB Anniversary Edition
Re: Chassis battery, isolators and house cutoff switch
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127033
Quote
Any thoughts on whether the isolator is bad?
The isolator itself would not cause the problem, even if bad. However, the goop on top could be an issue. Brush it all off with a very stiff NON-metallic brush. Battery has been out-gassing and causing the problem. Clean the battery off, check water level if possible, and check its voltage at rest.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Chassis battery, isolators and house cutoff switch
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127037
Steve
 Ok. It's a sealed battery out gassing makes sense because there is no large pan sediment and it looks like a thin film has coated the case creases and seals. As if they too have leaked a little something.
 The weird thing is the isolator is completely on the other side of the compartment under the coolant reservoir.  The gassing would have done more on the way there   So what causes the isolator to get this crud on it?

Thanks Lydia
Lydia.
Current: 2020 JLUR w 15’ Squaredrop
Former: 2006 30IB Anniversary Edition
Re: Chassis battery, isolators and house cutoff switch
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127039
"The gassing would have done more on the way there So what causes the isolator to get this crud on it?"

Lydia
 Hard to say exactly what you are looking at. Find either Steve or me at Live Oak Caravan, this weekend, so we can see it.
 Whatever it is, follow Steve's recommendation and while you are at it, remove the nuts that attach the terminals to the isolator, clean the terminal ends, if necessary, next butter them with dielectric grease and reassemble. This will keep the contacts clean for a long time.

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Chassis battery, isolators and house cutoff switch
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127046
---

Quote
Hard to say exactly what you are looking at. Find either Steve or me at Live Oak Caravan, this weekend, so we can see it.
Larry
 Thanks. I will take you up on that!  Our plans are delayed by bad weather. An Owens Lake Dust event is ongoing  very nasty to drive in See you there Friday morning.
Lydia
Lydia.
Current: 2020 JLUR w 15’ Squaredrop
Former: 2006 30IB Anniversary Edition
Re: Chassis battery, isolators and house cutoff switch
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127048
"An Owens Lake Dust event is ongoing very nasty to drive in

Lydia
 We are very familiar with the Owen's Lake dust and the terrible dust problem. See you when it is safe to drive.
Much of SoCal is being hit by very high winds. The wind noise kept us up last night. The chain saws have been singing all day in our neighborhood and the heaviest winds missed up last night.
The San Gabriel foothills receive the heaviest winds.
It just something that happens here every few years.

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Chassis battery, isolators and house cutoff switch
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127060
The battery case to battery terminal post seals tend to break down over time to allow acid fumes to leak out. This will cause the white corrosion you see on the battery terminals.
 After cleaning off the corrosion with a dry brush, mix up a strong solution of baking soda and water and brush it onto the fittings to neutralize the acid. After bubbling stops, gently rinse with fresh water. Then apply dielectric grease or silicone grease as Steve and Larry suggest. The grease forms an air and liquid tight seal to help prevent further corrosion.
 Although it's a good idea to use a non-metallic dry brush, if the corrosion is stubborn, a stainless steel brush works well. Be sure to clean the brush when done.
 When installing new batteries, or cleaning old ones, I like to soak a couple of felt washers in baking soda solution, let dry, then install on the battery posts next to the case (I punch the felt washers out of sheet felt, but one could cut them out with scissors). This helps neutralize fumes. On flooded batteries, I do the same with folded paper towels, soaked in baking soda, folded into strips, then dried in the microwave. Lay the strips across the battery fillers to neutralize fumes and help prevent corrosion.

bumper

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
bumper
"Yonder" '05 MB
"WLDBLU" glider trailer
 
Re: Chassis battery, isolators and house cutoff switch
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127066
Quote

The battery isolator is under the coolant reservoir. There are three wires attached. The connections look good but the top of the isolator has an ugly coating. Almost like moldy battery corrosion.

Any thoughts on whether the isolator is bad? 6 years on a motor craft battery isntt bad so replacing it makes sense. Just don't want to ruin a new one.
Thanks Lydia
We also have an 06. Recently checked the wiring behind the coolant reservoir and saw the same corrosion on the top of the isolator. Will be interested to see what Larry thinks about that.

Jim C