What happens when Suzuki over fill your battery cells?

murcod · Fri Sep 20, 2013 2:20 pm

This!

(Plus other cosmetic damage)

Fri Sep 20, 2013 10:42 pm

You're not having much luck with them lately are you.

murcod · Sat Sep 21, 2013 2:42 am

I pulled it apart myself because at the last service I told them about it and all they ordered was the ECU bracket. Plus they soaked everything in WD40 (?) Sure enough, there's a lot more damage- which they obviously didn't check for.

I'll go visit them with some with the pictures and see what the response is.

That battery is not going back in there, that's for sure.

It's been leaking/ venting more acid since I first noticed and carefully siphoned the cell level down.

Last time I was their parts department they had the ECU bracket in. I said I'd be happy to fit it myself, but they refused to give it to me (because it's a warranty item and is required to be fitted by their techs!)

.

murcod · Sun Sep 22, 2013 8:21 am

No more leaks from dodgy old tech flooded cell batteries (they have their place, but not in a brand new vehicle's engine bay!)

I've fitted an Optima Red Top 35 AGM battery. So, a "sealed" battery no liquid acid to ever spill/ leak. It has some grunt as well - I've never heard an engine crank over so quickly!

I'll be off to the dealer (armed with some photos) this week.

Grandpa1951 · Mon Sep 23, 2013 5:21 am

Very nice.... what was the damage ( ie. $$ I mean ) and where did you get it?

Mon Sep 23, 2013 5:44 am

Optimas are said to be the best. Very expensive, but heck, it's what is in the US president's limo/armored fortress on wheels.

n8dogg · Mon Sep 23, 2013 6:49 am

"it's what is in the US president's limo/armored fortress on wheels"

It's funny that you know that...

murcod · Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:05 am

They're actually not that expensive compared to decent quality normal flooded cell batteries. On Ebay Australia you can get them from AUS$249 delivered http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/150884806599?lpid=87 ; I picked mine up for $240 (after some haggling, knowing the right people etc.) from a local store.

I would love to have put in a LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery - they're unbelievably light (like under 2kg), compact in size but can output some huge cranking current. Back to reality.... my Kizashi can sit for days without being driven, so I needed something that can handle the long term low current drain. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lithiumax-Ca ... 35cc129c8b

Mon Sep 23, 2013 6:06 pm

n8dogg wrote:"it's what is in the US president's limo/armored fortress on wheels"

It's funny that you know that...

I read it somewhere like in a Popular Mechanics or maybe even in an Optima ad.
Regardless, working in DC, I've seen the "Beast" (what they call that limo) a number of times and have even seen Obama in person without even trying. It's just life in DC.

Mon Sep 23, 2013 6:08 pm

murcod wrote:They're actually not that expensive compared to decent quality normal flooded cell batteries. On Ebay Australia you can get them from AUS$249 delivered http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/150884806599?lpid=87 ; I picked mine up for $240 (after some haggling, knowing the right people etc.) from a local store.

I would love to have put in a LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery - they're unbelievably light (like under 2kg), compact in size but can output some huge cranking current. Back to reality.... my Kizashi can sit for days without being driven, so I needed something that can handle the long term low current drain. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lithiumax-Ca ... 35cc129c8b

Oh, that's quite expensive. Americans can pick them up for about $160. Not sure how the exchange rate works, but I am sure you Aussie still pay a lot more for them.