Battery Reinstallation and BREATHER PIPE!!??
Discussion
Took my dead battery out last night to trickle charge it (no electrics in garage).
Now its seemingly full again, I need to put it back in.
1) Am I right in thinking if I touch the spanner whilst tightening the positive terminal against anything metal (eg the chassis) it is going to become electrocution/burns day? Is there any way I can reduce the risk of this happening?
2) Other than being ready for the alarm to go haywire when I re-connect it is there anything else I need to be wary of? The battery died whilst the car was sleeping so presumably the ecu reset everything as it should have done when I last switched it off...
3) I found the battery breather pipe underneath the battery and the elbow joint was totally crushed - looks like it has been there for a while. I know it will be best to put it back in as acid and aluminium is probably a very bad combination but I need a new elbow joint - apparently I can pick one of these up from Halfords - do all cars have battery breather pipes? It was news to me...
Any responses by 5pm much appreciated as the sun is shining and I want to get the battery back in and go for a blat tonight! Failing advice, I guess I could wait until Friday...
Now its seemingly full again, I need to put it back in.
1) Am I right in thinking if I touch the spanner whilst tightening the positive terminal against anything metal (eg the chassis) it is going to become electrocution/burns day? Is there any way I can reduce the risk of this happening?
2) Other than being ready for the alarm to go haywire when I re-connect it is there anything else I need to be wary of? The battery died whilst the car was sleeping so presumably the ecu reset everything as it should have done when I last switched it off...
3) I found the battery breather pipe underneath the battery and the elbow joint was totally crushed - looks like it has been there for a while. I know it will be best to put it back in as acid and aluminium is probably a very bad combination but I need a new elbow joint - apparently I can pick one of these up from Halfords - do all cars have battery breather pipes? It was news to me...
Any responses by 5pm much appreciated as the sun is shining and I want to get the battery back in and go for a blat tonight! Failing advice, I guess I could wait until Friday...
1 ) yep - get a spanner with a rubber grip I suppose...
2) your ECU should be fine - worst that it would have to do is 're - learn' your engine, no big deal - its not going to explode.
3) Not all batteries need breathers - just the Lotus OEM - something to do with the battery technology - I've got a 'sealed unit' thingy - Varta Blue - National Tyres - 25 minutes & 40 quid - job done
2) your ECU should be fine - worst that it would have to do is 're - learn' your engine, no big deal - its not going to explode.
3) Not all batteries need breathers - just the Lotus OEM - something to do with the battery technology - I've got a 'sealed unit' thingy - Varta Blue - National Tyres - 25 minutes & 40 quid - job done
zebedee said:
Took my dead battery out last night to trickle charge it (no electrics in garage).
Now its seemingly full again, I need to put it back in.
1) Am I right in thinking if I touch the spanner whilst tightening the positive terminal against anything metal (eg the chassis) it is going to become electrocution/burns day? Is there any way I can reduce the risk of this happening?
Edit>>> From the manual - Disconnect the negative terminal first and re-connect last. If the battery positive terminal is inadvertantly earthed (e.g. using spanner) while the negative terminal is connected the resultant short circuit with heavy current flow and sparking could cause serious burns.
So, attach the positive, tighten it - safe. Attach the negative, tighten it - safe.
zebedee said:
2) Other than being ready for the alarm to go haywire when I re-connect it is there anything else I need to be wary of? The battery died whilst the car was sleeping so presumably the ecu reset everything as it should have done when I last switched it off...
It'll be fine - like you say the alarm may go off but that's it.
zebedee said:
3) I found the battery breather pipe underneath the battery and the elbow joint was totally crushed - looks like it has been there for a while. I know it will be best to put it back in as acid and aluminium is probably a very bad combination but I need a new elbow joint - apparently I can pick one of these up from Halfords - do all cars have battery breather pipes? It was news to me...
The only car I've seen on is my Elise and the new battery I put in didn't have anywhere for a breather pipe anyway - I think most batteries are now sealed for life jobs.
zebedee said:
Any responses by 5pm much appreciated as the sun is shining and I want to get the battery back in and go for a blat tonight! Failing advice, I guess I could wait until Friday...
Of you go then and watch your knuckles :hammer:
>> Edited by cuzza on Thursday 12th August 13:45
>> Edited by cuzza on Thursday 12th August 13:47
zebedee said:
1) Am I right in thinking if I touch the spanner whilst tightening the positive terminal against anything metal (eg the chassis) it is going to become electrocution/burns day? Is there any way I can reduce the risk of this happening?
Yes - disconnect the earth (negative) side first and reconnect it last. There is no voltage difference between the live (positive) side and the car chassis UNLESS the negative is also connected, so if your spanner slips you won't explode.
Pretty tight working in the elise, so you may have to wrap the -ve lead in something or poke it out of the way to stop it accidentally reattaching itself. Also read the instructions for your alarm - if it goes off unexpectedly you can get a nasty shock!
cuzza said:
No - it aluminium which is a crap conductor of electricity
Sorry mate but that's horsedung, aluminium is actually an excellent conductor of electricity, as is any metal.
AdrianR
>> Edited by adrianr on Thursday 12th August 13:38
If I can't tuck the negative side out of the way I will blank it off - had thought about that actually!
I will get the fiancee on hand with the key fob ready to de-activate the alarm before our neighbours think we are up to no good - and I will doubtless be very tense when I go to reconnect the negative side and hear the siren going off right in my lug-hole!
Am stuck with current battery for now so will have a brief forage at Halfords before I start putting it back together - but seeing as the breather has been off for who knows how long if I can't find one I'll make do until I get a replacement.
I will get the fiancee on hand with the key fob ready to de-activate the alarm before our neighbours think we are up to no good - and I will doubtless be very tense when I go to reconnect the negative side and hear the siren going off right in my lug-hole!
Am stuck with current battery for now so will have a brief forage at Halfords before I start putting it back together - but seeing as the breather has been off for who knows how long if I can't find one I'll make do until I get a replacement.
adrianr said:
No - it aluminium which is a crap conductor of electricity
Sorry mate but that's horsedung, aluminium is actually an excellent conductor of electricity, as is any metal.
AdrianR
>> Edited by adrianr on Thursday 12th August 13:38
Thanks for the correction - have removed it from my post - hopefully there's nothing misleading in there now!
Zebedee - wasn't trying to kill you mate! If you're going to Halfords, pick one of these up - £12.99 and ideal for fiddly jobs on Elises
www.halfords.com/opd_product_details.asp?id=16473&type=0&cat=68
dragstar said:
go to the national tyre centre....
Glad you got good service from them - one of their franchises made a right cods of the tracking on my 306 the steering wheel wasn't anywhere near straight (unless it was parked outsside with a quarter turn of lock on it so it looked OK
) 
I was quite happy with the service. He had to talk a few bits and bobs (like part of the radiator shield/rad?) off to fit it perfect. He didnt groan but just got on with it
Before that he washed off all the acid corrosion and then proceeded to tie down every bit of wiring correctly/neatly.
He then gave me a discount
Luck of the draw i guess (i hate that americanism 
)
drag - could you see any acid corrosion?
I couldn't but didn't look to hard...
I may have a good swill around with sponge before putting everything back in - bit worried now I might have dislodged the breather pipe myself but it looks like it was crushed and discarded a while ago...
Can't get a replacement but will improv someting to keep the end of the hose in the battery housing - what does it do anyway? Provide cool air to the battery or expel hot air? Is it really that necessary?
As we now have thunder and lightning I doubt I will be putting battery in tonight, never mind taking it for a drive!
I couldn't but didn't look to hard...
I may have a good swill around with sponge before putting everything back in - bit worried now I might have dislodged the breather pipe myself but it looks like it was crushed and discarded a while ago...
Can't get a replacement but will improv someting to keep the end of the hose in the battery housing - what does it do anyway? Provide cool air to the battery or expel hot air? Is it really that necessary?
As we now have thunder and lightning I doubt I will be putting battery in tonight, never mind taking it for a drive!
Dee:
I could see the corrosion. It was because my breather was being crushed by the battery itself
The corrosion was directly beneath the battery and nowhere else. It seemed quite "harmless" as it washed off with this solution he had. there was no permanent mark or anything.
I think the pipe is for a combination of allowing hot air to escape and to allow cooling. The bloke said it was simply due to its obscure postioning
I could see the corrosion. It was because my breather was being crushed by the battery itself
The corrosion was directly beneath the battery and nowhere else. It seemed quite "harmless" as it washed off with this solution he had. there was no permanent mark or anything.
I think the pipe is for a combination of allowing hot air to escape and to allow cooling. The bloke said it was simply due to its obscure postioning
A non-sealed battery secretes explosive/corrosive gas when it's charging. Most engine bays have enough breathing, so there's no need for a tube, but I'm guessing your S1 is fairly air tight in the battery compartment (it's in the boot in my S2!)... I'd seriously think about fixing it!
>> Edited by jig on Thursday 12th August 16:34
>> Edited by jig on Thursday 12th August 16:34
The good news is the battery is in and I am still alive.
Actually, that is the indifferent news.
The bad news is the car is still totally dead.
I am now figuring the light on the charger went out because it was not able to charge the battery (ie it is old and has been flat for too long and is basically knacked) rather than it had finished charging, which is what I assumed it meant!
So new battery time - does anyone know what model battery I need so I can check for availability before rushing out tonight to get one - think I will get one of these sealed unit ones - sounds a much better idea
Cheers
Actually, that is the indifferent news.
The bad news is the car is still totally dead.
I am now figuring the light on the charger went out because it was not able to charge the battery (ie it is old and has been flat for too long and is basically knacked) rather than it had finished charging, which is what I assumed it meant!
So new battery time - does anyone know what model battery I need so I can check for availability before rushing out tonight to get one - think I will get one of these sealed unit ones - sounds a much better idea
Cheers
I put a Halfords Calcium one in mine and it's excellent - lasts for over three weeks with the alarm on but the internal sensor off and will still start.
The only problem is that it's a slightly different shape so I had to put a bit of wood under the battery bracket to hold it firmly in place.
The other one people use is a Varta Blue
The only problem is that it's a slightly different shape so I had to put a bit of wood under the battery bracket to hold it firmly in place.
The other one people use is a Varta Blue
All you need to worry about is:
1. Will it fit? So make sure you physically measure it and ensure that the new one will go in.
2. Are the connections correct? There are several different kinds of battery terminals in use, so ensure that you buy one with the correct terminals - it'll be obvious, they look very different
3. Does it have enough capacity? The old one will be marked up with a capacity in Amps per hour (A/h), ensure that the new one has an equal or higher number.
Just in case your battery might be saveable. I once had one go dead, when I opened the covers I noticed that one of the cells was dry. This will reduce the output voltage enough to make the battery appear useless. I topped it up to the correct level with distilled water and then recharged it about 3 times (12 hours on, 12 hours off) and the cell finally started to react and it was okay until after I sold the car.
I'm a tiny bit suspicious that the charger gave up - I hope there's nothing else wrong..
1. Will it fit? So make sure you physically measure it and ensure that the new one will go in.
2. Are the connections correct? There are several different kinds of battery terminals in use, so ensure that you buy one with the correct terminals - it'll be obvious, they look very different
3. Does it have enough capacity? The old one will be marked up with a capacity in Amps per hour (A/h), ensure that the new one has an equal or higher number.
Just in case your battery might be saveable. I once had one go dead, when I opened the covers I noticed that one of the cells was dry. This will reduce the output voltage enough to make the battery appear useless. I topped it up to the correct level with distilled water and then recharged it about 3 times (12 hours on, 12 hours off) and the cell finally started to react and it was okay until after I sold the car.
I'm a tiny bit suspicious that the charger gave up - I hope there's nothing else wrong..
took it to national tyres - excellent service - took them about 40 mins to get the old battery out and new one in - and still they found time to take extra measures lotus never did to stop the positive terminal touching the chassis, which they were a little concerned about given how much the battery moves
£49 all in - great to be out in her again!
£49 all in - great to be out in her again!
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff