Community Forums

Calpop45 · 11-24-2020, 11:56 AM

I’ve noticed some evidence of battery water escaping from one of the two chassis batteries. There is also some minor corrosion on the positive terminal of that battery.
The batteries seem to be sealed and I can’t find a place to open and check water level. How is that done?
Why only one battery? Is this a problem with the charging system?
Do I need to remove the batteries to somehow check the water level?

Old-Biscuit · 11-24-2020, 01:18 PM

Sealed/Maintenance Free Batteries.....no checking water levels except by shining a light thru casing and trying to judge water height (unless case is BLACK)

'Some ' Maintenance Free/Sealed batteries do have 'vent' covers that can be taken off exposing the individual cells. *Warranty could be voided if removed

Water leaking out/corrosion on POS post...could be due to shorted/failing cell in that battery
Load Testing will let you know if good or bad
*Free at most ALL Auto Parts Stores...just take battery in for check

Arch Hoagland · 11-24-2020, 02:31 PM

How old are the batteries?

twinboat · 11-24-2020, 02:58 PM

Your terminals may need to be removed and cleaned. If one is dirty, you may be working off only one of the pair.

Hose them off, remove the negetive terminals then positive terminals ( pull shore power first ), clean them with baking soda, water mix and a stiff brush.

Reinstall and monitor them for more corrosion.

Winemaker2 · 11-24-2020, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

Your terminals may need to be removed and cleaned. If one is dirty, you may be working off only one of the pair.

Hose them off, remove the negetive terminals then positive terminals ( pull shore power first ), clean them with baking soda, water mix and a stiff brush.

Reinstall and monitor them for more corrosion.

Many folks worry about how the connection looks and only clean the outside.
As twinboat advised take the connection apart and clean thoroughly and replace the lugs... then add some protection to outside- grease, Vaseline, batty terminal spray.

Calpop45 · 11-24-2020, 06:43 PM

Thanks all!
Batteries are 2 1/2 years old, and on a 2018 DS on a Spartan chassis, so the batteries are a bit of a bother to remove. Usually corrosion indicates a charging issue, so that’s my concern. If there’s no way to check the water level, how do I replace the escaped water?
The motorhome is plugged into full 50 amp power 99.5% of the time.

Dutch Star Don · 11-24-2020, 10:32 PM

"Calpop45".....Because of the relationship of the starting batteries to the exhaust system, I believe some of the water gets cooked off. StuartW, a poster on here, had his starting batteries on his 2018 DS go dry after two years.

Consequently, I took the time to remove both batteries, slit open the labels, removed the caps and filled both with water, actually quite a bit. For me, the half hour job was well worth extending the life of the batteries.

Here is a post I made on the service of the batteries.

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/eng...ml#post5286808

Calpop45 · 11-24-2020, 11:33 PM

Ok. Got it. The Spartan disconnect procedure scares me, but I’ll have a go at it! There isn’t much room above the batteries, only 2” or so.
How about removing only one battery at a time to maintain 12 volts in the system?
This seems to be yet another reason I should have stayed with a Freightliner chassis!

Calpop45 · 12-13-2020, 03:45 PM

Ok, I need new batteries, but I’m having a hard time determining the size/group number. For a 2018 DS on a Spartan K2 chassis, are they Group 31 batteries?