Water was spilled in the trunk which soaked the car battery. Car won’t start now. Does water destroy a car battery?
I was on a road trip with some friends and bought a bottle of water and put it in the trunk. I forgot about that bottle of water and a few days later I got a call from a friend that the cap came off the water bottle while it was in the trunk and now the car won't start. Because the battery is in the trunk, the theory is that the water destroyed the battery, which is why the car won't start. Now I'm being asked to buy a new battery. I'd love to know if water can destroy a car battery or what other possibilities might be.
My car's transmission is unknown to me.
My car's transmission is unknown to me.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi, thanks for writing in about the concern with the BMW 320i. If the battery was submerged in water then it’s completely possible for the battery to short out and die. Your friend will need to have the battery replaced. Also be sure to get all of the water out of the trunk. Have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, help you guys out if you need assistance with replacing the battery. Good luck.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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If the battery is wet, it`s likely damaged and no longer safe to use. You should replace it immediately.
Floods can be a nuisance, but driving through water shouldn`t damage your battery. Most car batteries are designed to keep water out. Batteries are intentionally sealed—keeping water away from the important parts. So if standing water is low, it`s unlikely that a flood will affect your vehicle`s battery.
Does Rain Harm a Car Battery? A little rain on your car battery will not detrimentally affect it, but leaving a battery exposed to the elements for a while can be harmful. Over time, the battery can begin to lose charge due to the corrosion on the terminals, detrimentally affecting the quality of the battery.
Is it safe to jump-start a wet car battery? Yes, it is safe. However, you must drain any extra water from the battery before connecting the jumper cables. Also, when attempting to jump the battery, keep it as dry as possible.
Battery leakage (commonly known as battery acid) is nasty, corrosive stuff – it can burn your skin, contaminate soil, and of course ruin whatever device it has leaked into. For household batteries, this “acid” is actually alkaline – thanks to the potassium hydroxide chemical make-up.
According to OSHA, battery acid can be safely neutralized with a dilution of baking soda or soda ash (one pound per gallon of water). For smaller spills, baking soda is sufficient. However, in warehouses and storage facilities, dedicated sorbents are a much better option.
We understand the importance of proper maintenance and recycling, so we recommend replacing your dry-cell batteries every 3-5 years and your wet-cell batteries every 15-50 years, depending on the configuration and application to ensure maximum production time in between replacements.
If the alternator gets submerged in excess water, it can stop functioning properly. If your alternator gets wet, it can experience the following issues: The brass or bronze brushes can get ruined, leading to the corrosion of your car`s electrical components.
People are always confused about “Can Water Damage An Alternator?” The alternator is not waterproof, therefore you should have it checked out if it gets wet. Your car will require repairs in order to function properly. Your alternator of a car may not be watertight, but that doesn`t imply it isn`t water-resistant.
Sprinkle some baking soda over the corrosion to neutralize the battery acid. Dip an old toothbrush or cotton swab in vinegar or lemon juice so it`s soaking wet, and dab it on over the baking soda. Let it fizz for a couple of minutes, then scrub the corrosion away and rinse with clean, water-soaked cotton swabs.
Over time, batteries can age and corrode, which can ultimately damage these devices` interiors, rendering them unusable.
Flooded Vehicle Repair Recommendations. If there is ANY possibility that there could be water in the engine oil or transmission fluid DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START YOUR ENGINE.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Water was spilled in the trunk which soaked the car battery. Car won’t start now. Does water destroy a car battery?
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in about the concern with the BMW 320i. If the battery was submerged in water then it’s completely possible for the battery to short out and die. Your friend will need to have the battery replaced. Also be sure to get all of the water out of the trunk. Have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, help you guys out if you need assistance with replacing the battery. Good luck.
My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
2005 Chrysler 300C changed battery and alternator. Car started, ran, and then battery light came on. Shut car off and wouldn’t start.
ANSWER : Hi. There is a couple of things that could be wrong here. The battery or alternator that was just installed could be defective. Theses parts need to be tested for proper operation. There also could be a fuse, fusible link, or wiring for the battery or charging system that is blown or broken causing the battery light to come on.
The codes that you have will cause the car to shut down, run rough, or not start at all. The crankshaft sensor and camshaft sensor should be replaced. I suggest having a certified technician from YourMechanic come diagnose the charging system and check engine codes to help you proceed with correct repairs.
Car won’t start. The check engine light, battery light, and oil change light are coming on. I tried jumping the car and nothing happened. Why won’t my car start?
ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting Your Mechanic. If sometimes your vehicle will start with the new alternator and sometimes it won’t, then there is a loose connection in your charging system. Check all of the wires to the alternator and to the battery. Make sure that the battery cables are clean and tight. Make sure that the wires to the starter are clean and tight. A loose ground to the ignition system will cause the vehicle to not crank over. Check all of the ground wires from the battery to the starter. Make sure that they are clean and tight. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your no start situation, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you.
New battery & fuel pump. Hours later car starts and shuts down 3X in a row. Finally it starts, 48 hours later, won’t start at all
ANSWER : Checking all the fuses was a good move. I would also want to put a scan tool on it and check for diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) as well as seeing the data that the computer is seeing.
A fuel pressure test would be a good idea to verify correct pressure and so that you’d be able to eliminate that possibility. It should be 58psi on your Magnum.
I also recommend getting your battery tested (I know, it’s new, have it tested anyway) and be sure it’s charged to at least 75%. And yes, loose battery cable connections can result in electrical problems.
If you need some assistance with this, consider enlisting a certified mechanic who can perform the checks I’ve mentioned and diagnose your starting issue firsthand. The mechanic can then perform the necessary repairs once the problem has been isolated. Good luck.
Map sensor car won’t start up good ?
ANSWER : Your MAP sensor is an important input for your computer. It helps determine the load on the engine to calculate the correct amount of fuel to inject. It sometimes takes a few seconds for the vehicle to realize that the sensor is not producing a good signal.
At that point, it will use other methods to determine the fuel rate, such as pre-programmed fuel maps, throttle position, etc. I would suggest replacing the MAP sensor and retesting. If you would like to have it checked first, a certified technician from YourMechanic will be able to scan your vehicle and test components to determine the root cause of your starting issue before making a repair.
The car crank but won’t start
ANSWER : Hi there. This does sound like an issue with the wiring. If the check engine light is coming on every now and then this means that when it does not come on there is no power to the computer. This can be the wiring harness issue or an ignition switch problem. I would have to test for voltage to the computer when the problem is occurring to be able to find where the issue lies. If you need assistance, a certified YourMechanic technician can be dispatched to your location to inspect your vehicle’s non-start issue and suggest any necessary repairs.
Car left two days didn’t start third day, lights go on, no start up. AAA battery charger started car.
ANSWER : Hello. It sounds like you have a battery issue. If the jump starting got the vehicle going then that means that the battery alone could not produce enough power to start the vehicle. If the battery is low enough it can power some of the lights and other electrical circuits in the vehicle and just not crank it. If you want to have your battery checked, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to you to [diagnose why the car does not start] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-not-starting-inspection
