possibly a deadly situation with a corroded battery terminal

[Jerry_B]

While driving my 1998 Chevy Dually yesterday, the engine died. I wqas left with no brakes and steering was next to nothing. Got it off the road and found that the positive side terminal on the battery was corroded inside the cable boot so there was no power at all in the truck. Now, if I had been towing my 18K 5th wheel down hill when this happened I would have been toast since the brake pedal could not have sent a braking command to the 5th. This has me concerned that a simple thing like a corroded battery terminal can about do me in. I will definitely make sure my serpentine belt is like new, battery terminals are clean and all power cables and grounds are good.

[B_O__Plenty]

scrubjaysnest wrote:
Not to mention the possible fire hazard.

Fire hazard from what? There was no power coming out of the battery, what could start on fire??

B.O.

[John_Joey]

What an odd coincidence. My Chevy (that is a great starter) did not want to go yesterday. Put my meter on the battery bolts to check the battery charge, and couldn't even get a reading. Turns out the ground bolt on mine was corroded and not making contact. For me, that was the first time I've ever seen that.

[Jerry_B]

RoyB wrote:
A little maintenance will go along way... We learned along time ago there is more to it then just jumping in behind the wheel and drive...

Roy Ken

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that Roy.

[Jerry_B]

Charging voltage is about 13.2 volts. This truck flat stopped running when the battery terminal circuit opened up due to the resistive corrosion. In the old days, I too have pulled a battery out while the motor was running. Perhaps with the newer alternators, field excitation current is required from the battery. Regardless, the truck quit. I cleaned the terminals, and everything is now fine. The accumulator in the Hydraboost provided about two pumps then the pedal went to the floor. This is a single point failure that can possibly do one in.

[rattleNsmoke]

When you run the truck, disconnect the battery cable. See if it continues to run. Or, take the truck to a parts store and have them check the charging voltage.

[Tango__AE7UI]

Perhaps the alt quit and with no voltage going to the battery it (the battery) was consumed trying to provide voltage for the spark plugs.
Just guess,

[kaydeejay]

Back to the original post - even with a dead engine you should have 5 to 7 power assisted brake applications in reserve. "No brakes" suggests you pumped them and exhausted that reserve.
Steering - yup, it would be VERY heavy!
But I still don't understand why the engine died in the first place.

[cummins2014]

2oldman wrote:
I'd pull that acid tub out of there and replace with AGM.

After having an AGM marine battery for running a electric motor for inflatable fishing pontoon I am impressed with them. I like the sealed part of them for all the handling I have to do with them, no worry about acid . As far as a permanent battery not sure they are worth the extra cost.Other then being sealed do they last that much longer then a good quality standard battery.

[2oldman]

I'd pull that acid tub out of there and replace with AGM.

[cummins2014]

Jerry B wrote:
While driving my 1998 Chevy Dually yesterday, the engine died. I wqas left with no brakes and steering was next to nothing. Got it off the road and found that the positive side terminal on the battery was corroded inside the cable boot so there was no power at all in the truck. Now, if I had been towing my 18K 5th wheel down hill when this happened I would have been toast since the brake pedal could not have sent a braking command to the 5th. This has me concerned that a simple thing like a corroded battery terminal can about do me in. I will definitely make sure my serpentine belt is like new, battery terminals are clean and all power cables and grounds are good.

You were running off the battery until it died, apparently you don't have an alternator light or gauge that is working. Sounds like an alternator or relay went out, and you were running on the battery until it went dead. Corroded battery terminal did not do you in, it could of prevented the battery from getting a charge, but then the truck would eventually not start.

[45Ricochet]

kaydeejay wrote:
Something else going on here - your alternator should have continued to power the truck unless it too shut down.

That is what I thought also.

[scrubjaysnest]

Not to mention the possible fire hazard.

[RoyB]

A little maintenance will go along way... We learned along time ago there is more to it then just jumping in behind the wheel and drive...

Roy Ken

[kaydeejay]

Something else going on here - your alternator should have continued to power the truck unless it too shut down.