[Viperjohn]

My car is only two months old and I have had battery problems from the beginning. I decided to take the battery out tonight and take it to the dealer tomorrow for testing/replacement. As I began to remove the battery, I noticed some of the bolts on the rear bumper were rusty. I knew that area was fine before I bought the car, because I laid my ass on the floor in the dealership and looked underneath the entire car. As I continued the removal process I made the determination that the battery had leaked. I have some minor damage to the battery holder tray and underside paint on the bumper. Can you believe this shit!

The battery tray is welded on to the frame, so I am very hesitant to tell the dealer to replace it, they are bound to fuck it up. For now, my plan is to repaint the battery tray with a brush (as to not get overspray everywhere) and to have the dealer order me new retaining clips and bolts to replace the damaged ones.

I have attached some pics below. I am also open to any advise with regards to this situation.

[image]http://www.viperalley.com/gallery/data/500/498IM000124-med.JPG[/image]
[image]http://www.viperalley.com/gallery/data/500/498IM000122-med.JPG[/image]
[image]http://www.viperalley.com/gallery/data/500/498IM000124-med.JPG[/image]
[image]http://www.viperalley.com/gallery/data/500/498IM000119-med.JPG[/image]
[image]http://www.viperalley.com/gallery/data/500/498IM000122-med.JPG[/image]

 

[Motor City MadMan]

Buy an Optima battery like I did and you'll never have to worry about leaks again. My stock battery leaked a little bit and I cleaned up the whole area with some special stuff used specifically to neutralize battery acid and then painted the battery tray again. You can also use baking soda to neutralize the acid I think.

 

[Snake Bitten]

For now, my plan is to repaint the battery tray with a brush (as to not get overspray everywhere) and to have the dealer order me new retaining clips and bolts to replace the damaged ones.

As long as the welds are not corroded, it sounds like you have the best plan for a permenant solution...Use POR-15 (in semi-gloss) to re-coat the battery tray...It's a bad to the bone coating/corrosion inhibitor...[color:"blue"]POR-15[/color]...and can easily be applied with a foam brush...

 

[Viperjohn]

Thanks guys, I will either order the optima battery or get the free new battery and buy a batter blanket.

It is not quite as bad as I initially thought. The welds are perfect. It was not leaking long or enough I guess to spray everywhere, it just dripped down the rear bumper (orange-redish stain) through bumper cover bolts onto ground.

Situation could have been much worst.

 

[Smokin]

Just clean up the bumper, get some new bolts and get an optima battery.

 

[95Viper]

Makesure you get the more powerful Optima battery. They make a few with different amps in the same size case.

 

[2BADD 4U]

Man that sucks big time...I'd be pissed too! :rant: :rant:

 

[HP]

The main thing is to wire brush(dremmel or drill attachment) all the corrosion and rust off.
Normally for an acid spill you would want to neutralize the acid with baking
soda or something basic - but in your case with all the corrosion/rust -
after you wire brush it -Apply navel jelly(acid) - because you have to get all the rust off - before you
prime and paint it.

 

[_Mark_]

Perfectly normal. You should see mine from the g's experienced when tracking the car. You can go with an optima like people suggested, or call Apex - they have a truly sealed battery thats small and kickass, complete with hold down bracket.

 

[Viperjohn]

Well I went to the dealer today, there were fantastic. They gave me a new battery. And ordered all new bolts, nuts and stuff. They even ordered a new battery splash guard for the hell of it.

I will probably prep the area for painting soon. I keep thinking it could have been worse.

At the end of the day.....it's still a dodge.

 

[par]

Get the optima, its awesome -way better than anything else out there!

 

[95Viper]

Put the new battery in something else...go to Optima in the Snake

 

[prodiver]

If you are going to track the car or do any hard driving get the Optima battery. If you go with Optima it has side contacts and top contacts. You will only use the side ones but whatever you do. DON'T CUT THE TOP POSTS OFF. That will void the warranty and destroy the battery in about 3 days. I learned this the hard way.

 

[Confrontational]

If you are going to track the car or do any hard driving get the Optima battery. If you go with Optima it has side contacts and top contacts. You will only use the side ones but whatever you do. DON'T CUT THE TOP POSTS OFF. That will void the warranty and destroy the battery in about 3 days. I learned this the hard way.

Chuck?