2003 IQ frame overed in calcium?

[tim_aka_tim]

.....Or something that looks like calcium.

My mother in law asked me to check the levels on her 2003 IQ. Not only did I
find that several of the cells had plates exposed (which I filled and hopefully not too much damage has been done), but on the frame beneath all of the batteries are huge masses of what looks like calcium. 12" - 14" wide, 3" - 4" diameter.

It's obviously been boiling over and spilling on the frame (and garage floor), but what is the substance, and has it damaged the frame?
Was the boiling over due to overfilling with water or overcharging?

Thanks for you help guys.

[dougmcp]

Originally Posted by tim_aka_tim

Was the boiling over due to overfilling with water or overcharging?

Could be both.
Spray the battery compartment down with baking soda and water mix to neutralize the acid then rinse with water.
Only put enough water in the batteries to cover the plates, charge then fill to 1/4" above the plates. Make sure the caps are on tight. You will be able to tell if the charger is boiling the batteries by checking the battery tops after charging.
If the batteries are old they will use more water than new ones.
If at least one battery is bad it will cause the charger to boil the batteries.

[tonyton]

Club cars have an aluminum frame. Sulfuric acid and al. make aluminum sulfate and hydrogen. Hydrogen gas goes to atmosphere. FYI

[oxfordlawn]

Originally Posted by tonyton

Club cars have an aluminum frame. Sulfuric acid and al. make aluminum sulfate and hydrogen. Hydrogen gas goes to atmosphere. FYI

And all this time I thought it was just corrosion

an afterthought...so wait, these hydrogen cars could run on a sulfuric acid and aluminum concoction...sounds like a great idea doesn't it??

[GLEEMO]

OK Ox stop it U'r thinking again !!

Good answer tony

[scottyb]

All CC battery frames corrode... these pics are of a 2000 cart.

[oxfordlawn]

Originally Posted by gmorrison

OK Ox stop it U'r thinking again !!

Good answer tony

woops--sorry, it happened again

[carguy]

I had the same problem with our '05 Precedent. The corrision was around the forward spring mount of the rear spring. I took the batteries and the battery "tub" out, scrapped, neutralized, sanded and epoxy painted that area of the frame. Even with the drain holes the acid had eaten away the back two bolts that hold the tub. There was a coin laying in the tub that I thought was a penny because of the copper color, but it was a dime that had been eaten away.

Have fun! Dave

[tim_aka_tim]

Thanks for the help guys. Sounds like I'd better get them batteries out asap and assess the damage to the frame.