Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Electrical Issues.

Ok, where do I start...

I'll start positive, I love my SVT.

There, now I won't feel so bad when I get pissed off while I'm typing this post.

A few days ago I went to make a left turn, flipped my blinker on and I got the "crack-mode" speed blinker, turns out, my rear signal was out. I figure, ok, bulbs blown, I'll replace it this afternoon. Only, that afternoon, the blinker works.

Then the next day, my sunroof can't seem to get the juice to open upward. Slides back fine, so the motor seems to be fine.

Same day...car idles rough, stalling 3 times while at a stop various times throughout the day.

Today...I'm sick of it, pop the hood to see if the stereo is causing a problem, nope.

The (+) battery terminal is completely covered with blue-green corrosion, which I can understand. What got me, was the brace that goes over the battery. The bolt on the front side of it holding it down, was also corroded, as was part of the actual brace itself. Pulled back the vinyl battery sleeve/holder, and there is fluid in there. Oh great a leak.

I quickly drive to the part store where I got the battery about 3 months ago, he looks at it, grabs his tester, and tests the charge/hold of the battery. Absolutely perfect, took it to my father/mechanic, put his tester on it, same results.

My question is...

What the hell is going on?

Onboard computer?
Alternator?
...
Gremlins!?

Please help

first, make sure the battery cell caps are snug, they may have come loose. Generally, a spitting battery is a sign that it is discharging and charging more than normal, or it just got hot, the electrolyte expanded, and had no room to expand so it just leaked out.

If the battery continues to leak, the battery may have a defective cell cap.

neutralize the acid on and around the battery with a mixture of 10% baking soda and 90% water. Keep pouring the solution on until the fizzing stops. After that, flush the area with a good flow of fresh water. Pull off the battery terminals and clean both the positive and negative battery posts and the inside of the terminals and re-install the battery cables and coat them with battery terminal protectant, if you don't have that, white lithium grease from an aerosol can will work just as good.

Then check the battery electrolyte level.

the battery brace and the stud, using a wire brush clean off all the corrosion, then clean the brace and apply some paint to the bare spots. Battery acid is super corrosive and will eat through the brace in no time. Then when you put the brace back on, coat the threads of the studs with some grease before you put the nuts on, this will help protect them from corrosion.

Just to be on the safe side have your dad run a charging system test. This will make sure your altenator and or voltage regualtor are working properly.

For the tail light flasher intermittently failing, check the connector that goes to the bulb, also check the ground wire for the taillight.