After the update - Visually Check your new battery

[Commander Cody]

I started the usual digging one must do to get to the new battery that was installed during the update and found one problem. This batt has a drainage tube (overflow of some sort) sticking out of the side and near the top of the battery. It was broken on installation and I've got to figure a way to secure it again.

You'll never know if you don't inspect what you've got.

[Duckhunter]

Vent tube, That is why I went with sealed battery.

[sato7]

is that not the A/C drain tube?

[Karl Roth]

The black tube is the AC condensate drain the clear thin tube is the gas vent.
Sealed battery to me means you don't need to service the electrolyte. Most of these still produce gas especially if overcharged.
I survived riding on top of a pair of six volt lead acid batteries under the seats in an old car, the side curtains always seemed to ventilate the car pretty well.
As tight as the smart is the battery in mine will always be vented.
karl

[mendo]

Originally Posted by Commander Cody

I started the usual digging one must do to get to the new battery that was installed during the update and found one problem. This batt has a drainage tube (overflow of some sort) sticking out of the side and near the top of the battery. It was broken on installation and I've got to figure a way to secure it again.

You'll never know if you don't inspect what you've got.

Even if you do fix it yourself, I would contact the dealer and let him know.

one of his guys was paid to install it, it should be done correctly. That business does not need poor workmanship and the damage to the reputation. It is good that you found it, if it gasses out into the tray it could corrode it.

[jsenka]

Originally Posted by mendo

It is good that you found it, if it gasses out into the tray it could corrode it.

More importantly is that hydrogen gas is what vents from a lead-acid battery while charging. Hydrogen is not just combustible, it's explosive.
The true purpose of the overboard vent is to prevent the buildup of the explosive hydrogen gas in the cabin.
That can be very undesirable since cars in general are full of things that cause sparks, like relays and switches.
That's not to mention that it can be especially bad for smokers.

[Commander Cody]

Honestly - I could have broken it when I bent back the carpeting to get to the damn thing. The bend of the carpeting and the batt are in close proximity to each other. I may just put some rubberized caulking around it where the breakage is. It is literally right at the battery where the tube connects to a very small connection. The tube exits out through a hole in the floor pan.
If you don't hear from me in a while check the obits.

[Carlarm]

In addition to venting hydrogen, it also vents acidic vapor. If not vented properly the battery bracket and/or floor will rust through.

[NCC1701]

A little tangent here, if I may? I've got an Optima dry cell battery. Not yet installed.
Am I right to assume this venting tube is unnecessary with the dry cell battery? I haven't visually inspected the battery compartment, and was not aware of this venting tube before I read this thread. How to install the dry cell, just tie the tube aside?

[/hijack]

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by NCC1701

A little tangent here, if I may? I've got an Optima dry cell battery. Not yet installed.
Am I right to assume this venting tube is unnecessary with the dry cell battery? I haven't visually inspected the battery compartment, and was not aware of this venting tube before I read this thread. How to install the dry cell, just tie the tube aside?

[/hijack]

And no vent or venting is necessary. Yep...just tie the vent tube aside or remove it. That Optima will be in there for a long time....it might even outlive the car.....
Send some of that heat up to Upstate NY, will ya! But not all of it....around 72 degrees of it would be nice right about now....