Hot Battery on RH Side

[mwilson]

Can't remember how this goes, smelled something funny on the way home. Just changed the oil so I thought it was the additive package burning out of the Rotella.

Then it smelled more like hot gear oil so figured "Great, I tore an axle seal installing the front axle shafts!"

Pulled over, no leaks or dripping gear oil....backed truck in driveway and it still reeked....

Went out about 15 minutes later, still reeking. Popped the hood annnnnnd.....

Right Hand battery boiling and hissing. Now I get thinking about it the voltmeter was running a bit high, but first trip this year so didn't catch it right off.

Looks like a pair of batteries are in my future tomorrow. At least it happened close to home.

That means the LH battery crapped out maybe??? I'll change them both regardless....

 

[DavidC]

Does the 06 have the battery sensor under the drivers side battery ?. LH battery maybe ok and pass. shorted is another idea.

 

[mwilson]

Yes, sensor under LH side. That RH battery is still out hissing in the driveway right now....

 

[mwilson]

It had a fit last fall where I had to boost it. But it had set around quite a bit.

Then I put battery maintainers on it when I stored it so never took them out this winter. Maybe it was getting bad then...

 

[DavidC]

Somewhere around here and you can probably find out as good as you are the test procedure ( resistance I believe). When you get new batteries unplug the sensor and make sure it is in specs. Did you disconnect the battery. If it shorted internally it would be a good idea to get a face shield and an old jacket and put that battery far away.

 

[jgillott]

How old are your batteries Mike?

 

[mwilson]

Somewhere around here and you can probably find out as good as you are the test procedure ( resistance I believe). When you get new batteries unplug the sensor and make sure it is in specs. Did you disconnect the battery. If it shorted internally it would be a good idea to get a face shield and an old jacket and put that battery far away.

All unhooked. gloved up standing way back. I've seen truck batteries blow before from a spark and it's not pretty....

How old are your batteries Mike?

November 2015.

 

[jgillott]

Not even 4 years.

Any other odd electrical issues lately that you've noticed?

 

[seafish]

On our trucks, a hot/boiling battery on the PASSENGER side is HIGHLY indicative of a failing/corroding crossover cable between both batteries!!

In our dual battery systems, the ECM regulates charge voltage based on the drivers side battery voltage but the alternator is hooked up to charge the passenger side and then the crossover cable passes on the voltage to the Riverside battery. If the crossover cable connections, or even more likely the cable itself, is failing/corroding,t then the the ECM keeps ramping up voltage to the passenger battery as it senses the drivers side NOT being having a high enough voltage. And soon enough the passenger side battery will start to heat top and boil over!!!

There are MANY threads on TDR,as well as other forums, that detail just these symptoms of the corroding crossover cable.


All that being said, of course you could also have a bad battery (i.e. one or more cells failing)on the drivers side that is not taking enough voltage that would cause the SAME symptoms.

So while you are anyway due for TWO new batteries at this point in time (the passenger side battery as well as another for the drivers side simply to match the new passenger side ) you would also do well to CAREFULLY inspect the XO cable for corrosion UNDERNEATH the insulation. ONLY way to do out right is to slice back the insulation about 4-6 " back from the terminals (parallel to the wire), then peel it back to look at the actual wire strands. Ten dollars says you are GONNA find green corrosion UNDERNEATH the insulation on either or BOTH ends !!! If the cable looks good, you can easily;y lay it back down around the tarns and then tape it up so it stays closed...you can add a small zip tie or two if you don't feel the quality of electrical table is enough top keep the insulation closed back around the wire!!!

 

[DavidC]

 

[DavidC]

Are we having fun yet. There's a little get together in Snowflake Mike. I am sure Nick would welcome you also.

 

[jgillott]

I wonder how many batteries it will take him to get there?

 

[DavidC]

I wonder how many batteries it will take him to get there?

Don't know but I may have 12 stops to blow out fuel lines in the 120 mile trip

 

[mwilson]

LH Battery

 

[mwilson]

RH Battery. Still warm.

I think it’s toast...

 

[DavidC]

That's static right ? No load ?.

 

[DavidC]

11 not good

 

[DavidC]

I would say you have at least one shorted cell

 

[mwilson]

That's static right ? No load ?.

Yes, both batteries disconnected. No Load...

 

[TFucili]

12.2 is by no means fully charged either, probably 50-60%.