Battery acid leak

[Mickha]

Any mechanics in that can help me with this problem?
Today, when I tried to start my car it was dead, I naturally assumed that the battery was dead, which was annoying as I only had it changed a few months ago.
However when I looked at it the metal connection, to the positive battery terminal, was completely eaten away, I assume by battery acid, but I didn't notice any around the battery.
Judging by the state of it this must have been going on since the new battery was installed.
Has anyone heard of this before? And if it wasn't the battery what could have caused this problem, obviously the connection was fine when the new battery was installed.
I had to contact the garage, where the battery was originally fitted, who came out with a starter, and now the car is in the garage, which has meant a lenghty delay in my day and a walk home, at least it was only from the garage.
I just hope they don't try to charge me for this repair as I think it was down to a faulty battery they fitted, unless someone can give me a better explanation for this problem.
Many thanks for any input.

[mark36]

Not a mechanic but have had similar issues.If your talking about the positive connection(poles)its quite possible that the positive lead wasn't connected to yer battery sufficently.This causes arcing which melts the pole away.Bearing in mind the poles are made of lead or a lead substitute.Never seen it on a car before but its happened on our lorry batteries a couple of times and each time its been down to loose or incorrectly fitted terminals although i wouldn't expect a garage to agree with that.
Just to add yer battery should have at least a years warranty so regardless of what they say has happened, its failed so they should replace the battery F.O.C.

[Mickha]

Thanks for the input mark36.
I'm picking the car up later this morning, so I'll let you know if they charge me for the repair, and if they do I will ensure I get a full written explanation of what they consider caused it and inform them that I will be contacting any regulatory body to see if I can do anything regarding this problem.
If this problem was caused by their incompetence then why should they charge the customer?
The same garage not only fitted the new battery but also did the M.O.T.

[Robbo]

Yes, not a tight enough connection to the battery causes that. A lot of current has to pass through there when starting the vehicle.

[Mickha]

Just been to pick it up, they were late fixing it, and they wanted to charge me £25, when I questioned this and dared to mention that the fault was due to them, he became defensive and told me to forget the bill, leave and not come back.
I told him that I'd be happy to pay the bill if he was prepared to give me a detailed report of the problem and his opinion of what caused it, he didn't like this idea.
I told him that I will be writing to whichever body governs the trade questioning his attitude and the practice of his garage.
I now have to get back to work and try to catch up with the work I have missed due to this problem.

[mark36]

Glad your sorted mate and pleased to hear you didn't have to cough up for their incompetence.Just a shame that firms can't just hold there hands up from time to time.Crikey we all make mistakes.Hope you dont have to work to hard to catch up

[Mickha]

Luckilly it was a quiet day today so I caught up quite quickly.
I was about to get my brakes replaced at the same place, so a close call, if they can't even get a battery connection right then I'd be worried.
I still would have used them, if they had told me the truth, instead of trying to con me, after all it was probably left to an apprentice/trainee to do a simple job like replacing a battery, and we all make mistakes, it's just the annoying attitude that got me and the attempt to charge me and deny responsibility.

[fj1200]

You can use battery terminal grease or good old Vaseline to stop this happening.

[g80878]

Originally Posted by Mickha

I still would have used them, if they had told me the truth, instead of trying to con me, after all it was probably left to an apprentice/trainee to do a simple job like replacing a battery, and we all make mistakes.

Don't go back mate , I worked in the garage inviroment for several years and any complaining customers who returned with their cars were subject to things you woudn't think of from rimming steering wheels , gear sticks to milking carpets and more that i wouldn't like to say but i have seen some horrible stuff done to customers cars....! Should you wish to do you brakes yourself and save some money i and other forum members would gladly tell you how to do it , it's a simple sunday afternoon task