Dead battery and an interesting discovery - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

key_on · 03-06-2007

Well, the weather here in Missouri has finally gotten nice, so I decided to take the Z out for a spin tonight. As soon as I opened the door, I knew it wasn't going to happen ... no interior lights. Sure enough, dead battery (my own fault ... I let it sit waaaay too much this winter). Anyway, when I pulled the battery out, I noticed the side was wet from venting. I happened to touch the wire bundle that ran behind the battery and noticed that the flexible plastic shielding that wraps around the wire bundles had disintigrated from the battery acid and the wires were rubbing up against the battery. Fortunately, none of the wire insulation had been damaged yet. It wouldn't have been long, though.
So the take away is this: Next time you have your battery out of the car, check the wire bundles that run next to the it. Make sure the flexible wire shielding is in place and in good condition. One of the wires is a large red positive cable. Damaged insulation on that one could spell disaster.

tomtom72 · 03-07-2007

I think the original owner of my car had that situation. My wiring back there is missing sections of the plastic tubing that it ran thru, there is even evidence that acid somehow made it over to the back of the gill panel and left pit marks.

I had to do a bunch of house keeping in there. I'm glad that the acid didn't get to the wiring also...but it sure left a good amount of damage in it's wake just the same. Good catch on your part!

We Gone · 03-07-2007

Be sure to pull the battery tray and check the frame under the tray...if it leaked it will take the paint off and rust. Wife's 95 did the same thing.

03-06-2007	#1
key_on Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lees Summit, MO Posts: 102	Dead battery and an interesting discovery Well, the weather here in Missouri has finally gotten nice, so I decided to take the Z out for a spin tonight. As soon as I opened the door, I knew it wasn't going to happen ... no interior lights. Sure enough, dead battery (my own fault ... I let it sit waaaay too much this winter). Anyway, when I pulled the battery out, I noticed the side was wet from venting. I happened to touch the wire bundle that ran behind the battery and noticed that the flexible plastic shielding that wraps around the wire bundles had disintigrated from the battery acid and the wires were rubbing up against the battery. Fortunately, none of the wire insulation had been damaged yet. It wouldn't have been long, though. So the take away is this: Next time you have your battery out of the car, check the wire bundles that run next to the it. Make sure the flexible wire shielding is in place and in good condition. One of the wires is a large red positive cable. Damaged insulation on that one could spell disaster.

03-07-2007	#2
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: Dead battery and an interesting discovery I think the original owner of my car had that situation. My wiring back there is missing sections of the plastic tubing that it ran thru, there is even evidence that acid somehow made it over to the back of the gill panel and left pit marks. I had to do a bunch of house keeping in there. I'm glad that the acid didn't get to the wiring also...but it sure left a good amount of damage in it's wake just the same. Good catch on your part! __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member

03-07-2007	#3
We Gone Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: ATL. GA. Posts: 2,170	Re: Dead battery and an interesting discovery Be sure to pull the battery tray and check the frame under the tray...if it leaked it will take the paint off and rust. Wife's 95 did the same thing. __________________ Steve 1990 Steel Blue/Black #2355 1990 Red/Red #1473 1991 Quasar /Black #118 Sold 1991 Turquoise/Black #766 Parted Out 1993 Yellow/White #179 Sold 1990 Black/Gray #1361 Headers/4:10s Sold