2001 Acura EL Battery overcharging

DIVITO

MEMBER
2001 ACURA EL
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
94,000 MILES

Hi,

I recently noticed a bad smell while driving. When I got home the smell remained. When I opened the hood, my battery was hissing and smoking and was extremely hot to touch. I thought I had a bad battery. So I bought a new one.

Everything was fine for a month and now the smell, hissing, smoking and heat has returned.

Someone told me it could be the alternator overcharging the battery, or some regulator thats dead.

If it is this, how do I fix it, can I do it myself?

Thanks for any information you can offer

2 Replies

KHOOPER

MEMBER
22 POSTS

Sounds like it needs a top up with distilled water, the plates are drying out. If it's very low it may need an acid top up. The other cause could be your charging rate is too high or not cutting off when fully charged.

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Thursday, August 7th, 2008 AT 11:41 PM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi divito,

To test the charging rate, attach a voltmeter between battery terminals and start engine.

Should be between 13.5 to 14.5 volts at all times even when revving the engine.

If it is the alternator overcharging, only thing you can do is get a replacement.

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Friday, August 8th, 2008 AT 7:41 AM