A3 TDi, earth point under battery keeps getting wet - cure?

[eltax91]

Hi folks

The wife's A3 went in to a specialist last year as the dash was lighting up like a christmas tree. The diagnosis was that the pipe that supplies the rear wash had split under the battery and the earth points had become "green & mouldy". That was in November. Fast forward to this week and the thing is lighting up like a xmas tree again! So, it's been back to the garage, and although the pipe has not split, the earth points are "green & mouldy" again - the "specialist" it went to this time says it's hard to see how to cure it!

So, is this a common problem? Can I "waterproof" these earth points in any way? It seems they cost £50 a time to clean them up and they surely won't just keep cleaning up forever. Any idea's?

[Tame Technician]

Undo the earth, Clean up the earth point and the connection with an abrasive/wire brush, re attach and cover the area with Wax Oil.

[henrycrun]

As a temp fix can you clamp the pipe upstream of the battery ? (but no more rear wash for now - would this mean an MOT fail ?)

Edited by henrycrun on Monday 22 March 22:56

[5harp3y]

As TT said!

or cover it in vaseline if you havent got any waxoil (wont last as long but still works)

[eltax91]

All

Thanks for the responses, i'll get some wax oil and get them protected a bit. It's not the washer pipe this time as it's perfectly in tact, I suspect the garage before saw the pipe and that fooled them into thinking it was te only source of water (it would me). So this time the washer pipe is OK, as they fixed it and taped it last time to be sure it didn't split again, so water must be getting in from elsewhere.

Anybody seen these leak under the battery before, it's quite an isolated and "dry" spot IMHO, so, could a seal be bust or something? Letting the rain in? The underside of the car has all the tray etc in tact so i'm doubtful that it's leaking or letting road-water in.

[Tame Technician]

Its probably the battery venting. Acid and acidic vapour is very corrosive (supprise), will turn unprotected metal green and furry in no time.