Driver side battery venting?

[BrettLisk]

Hi guys, I'm having an issue with my driver side battery venting. The battery isn't hot, I double checked the grounds and found a loose one and after tightening it, it got better but it's still venting. I hate diagnosing electrical issues so I'm thinking it's either the alternator or perhaps a bad crossover cable? Haven't had a chance to get a continuity tester on any of the cables yet. Any info is greatly appreciated

-Brett-

 

[lpennock]

Bad crossover cable would cause issue on passenger battery as truck charges passenger but reads driver. Could be bad battery temperature sensor. Get a volt meter, take measurements and post results. Can't help with a diagnosis with the little information you provided.

 

[BrettLisk]

I'll try to get the volt meter on it this afternoon. Sorry for the lack of information. I was just trying to get a starting point. Thank you for the reply my friend.

 

[seafish]

lpennock is correct in that a bad XO cable would lead to overcharging/boiling of the PS battery.

You very possibly have a bad PS battery, or a bad cell in the PS battery, thus the PS battery can not take a full charge, but ECM keeps trying to charge it, and this causing excess voltage to flow through the XO cable to DS battery leading to overheating.

Voltmeter and a battery hygrometer (if they are not sealed batteries) are your friends here.
Also, always good to TRIPLE check connections for clean and tight!!!

If you do find the PS battery is bad, know that it is ALWAYS best to replace the batteries in pairs when dealing with a dual battery system.

 

[BrettLisk]

lpennock is correct in that a bad XO cable would lead to overcharging/boiling of the PS battery.

You very possibly have a bad PS battery, or a bad cell in the PS battery, thus the PS battery can not take a full charge, but ECM keeps trying to charge it, and this causing excess voltage to flow through the XO cable to DS battery leading to overheating.

Voltmeter and a battery hygrometer (if they are not sealed batteries) are your friends here.
Also, always good to TRIPLE check connections for clean and tight!!!

If you do find the PS battery is bad, know that it is ALWAYS best to replace the batteries in pairs when dealing with a dual battery system.

They are sealed caterpillar batteries I believe they're made by dekka. I wonder if as a test I can swap sides with them and drive home and see if the driver side battery still hisses or not. I'm at work still so I still haven't got a chance to for the voltmeter on the batteries. Thank you for the reply.

 

[seafish]

They are sealed caterpillar batteries I believe they're made by dekka. I wonder if as a test I can swap sides with them and drive home and see if the driver side battery still hisses or not. I'm at work still so I still haven't got a chance to for the voltmeter on the batteries. Thank you for the reply.

Deka makes good batteries, but still possible that one went bad. How old are they??

Use a voltage meter first, then a load test since you can't use a hygrometer to check them.

 

[BrettLisk]

Deka makes good batteries, but still possible that one went bad. How old are they??

Use a voltage meter first, then a load test since you can't use a hygrometer to check them.

I believe the batteries are about 2 years old. I know it's very possible that the batteries could have went bad but I just wanted to double-check before I drop three hundred and something dollars again. I really do appreciate all the replies on my small scraps of information

 

[BrettLisk]

Okay so on the passenger side I'm getting about 12.2 and on the driver side I'm getting about 11.72 volts

 

[DavidC]

For $50.00 this makes life alot easier and you would use it for the rest of your life.

https://www.harborfreight.com/500-amp-carbon-pile-load-tester-91129.html

Dave

 

[seafish]

For $50.00 this makes life alot easier and you would use it for the rest of your life.

I use exactly one of those for load testing and also like to use a battery hygrometer to check each cell when possible.

After breaking several of the cheaper glass, non temp compensating hygrometers, this one is my favorite and is auto temp compensating --

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007CW8Y9S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[DavidC]

Cheap mans load tester. Disconnect both batteries, connect one at a time and turn on lights. Read voltage on meter.

Dave

 

[DavidC]

I use exactly one of those for load testing and also like to use a battery hygrometer to check each cell when possible.

After breaking several of the cheaper glass, non temp compensating hygrometers, this one is my favorite and is auto temp compensating --

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007CW8Y9S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That looks pretty good. I bought the glass tube one from Mcmaster Carr. It is the exact one I used in USAF. If I break it I will pick up the one from Amazon if it or me are still around.

Dave

 

[BrettLisk]

I work at a vocational high school so I'll borrow a load tester from the auto program tomorrow if I can. Thank you guys again, I hope it's something silly.

 

[DavidC]

Just remember to disconnect batteries and test seperately with nothing else connected. You do not need any self inflicted problems.

Dave

 

[BrettLisk]

Just remember to disconnect batteries and test seperately with nothing else connected. You do not need any self inflicted problems.

Dave

Haha, I may be dumb but I'm not stupid! No worries

 

[Wayne M.]

Okay so on the passenger side I'm getting about 12.2 and on the driver side I'm getting about 11.72 volts

Is this with them disconnected?

 

[BrettLisk]

Is this with them disconnected?

Yes, that was disconnected. I'm going to try to load test them today

 

[PWong]

I'm thinking it's either the alternator or perhaps a bad crossover cable?

I'm going to say your crossover cable is GOOD if your driver side battery vents because of overcharge.
A BAD crossover cable will sure leads to a undercharged/dead driver side battery and a overcharged/vented
passenger battery.
But why the passenger side battery is not vented while the driver side battery is vented?
If the charging voltage is too high then the ECM must sees a LOW driver side battery voltage or ECM failed to regulate the alternator output.

So what's the voltage that ECM sees (at OBDII port) when running?

Interesting case to follow!

 

[seafish]

I'm going to say your crossover cable is GOOD if your driver side battery vents because of overcharge.
A BAD crossover cable will sure leads to a undercharged/dead driver side battery and a overcharged/vented
passenger battery.
But why the passenger side battery is not vented while the driver side battery is vented?
If the charging voltage is too high then the ECM must sees a LOW driver side battery voltage or ECM failed to regulate the alternator output.

So what's the voltage that ECM sees (at OBDII port) when running?

Interesting case to follow!

see my first post --

lpennock is correct in that a bad XO cable would lead to overcharging/boiling of the PS battery. You very possibly have a bad PS battery, or a bad cell in the PS battery, thus the PS battery can not take a full charge, but ECM keeps trying to charge it, and this causing excess voltage to flow through the XO cable to DS battery leading to overheating. Voltmeter and a battery hygrometer (if they are not sealed batteries) are your friends here. Also, always good to TRIPLE check connections for clean and tight!!! If you do find the PS battery is bad, know that it is ALWAYS best to replace the batteries in pairs when dealing with a dual battery system.

That being said, 12.2 volts and 11.4 volts is too LOW for EEITEHR battery and 12.2 volts in the PS battery does not necessarily, though still could, indicate a bad cell.

OP, curious you can SEE if either battery case is swollen?? If so, the overcharging has been going for a awhile.

 

[Wayne M.]

Yes, that was disconnected. I'm going to try to load test them today

I think you'll get an answer there.