Car trouble, need advice

[UT4EVER]

Ok, so my car wouldn't start today and needed a jump. I took it to pepboys right away, since I got my battery from then and it's still under warranty. After 1.5 hours of wait, they finally took a look at my car. The mechanic came out and wanted to show me something...so I followed him. He showed me that there's a lot of corrosion around the contacts to the battery. He said, he's not going to do anything to it now because of the possibility that the corrosion could be in the cable that connects to the battery and to leave my car there overnight. I asked him why he can't just replace the battery and he said because the cable might break, and he'll need to call nissan to get an estimate on the cable. I said, that makes sense...however, why can't you at least take a look at it and see if the cable is actually corroded. He wouldn't even touch it. Here's what I'm thinking....

If the cable is actually corroded, then if he tries to replace the battery, and it break off..then I have no problem. Why won't he just see if he can replace the battery?

I told him I'm going to take my car home and bring it back tomorrow. So, what do you think.

I an idiot when it comes to cars...so I need to know about corrosions to battery contacts. Do they really spread into the cables and can actually make then break off?

Appreciate the help

 

[snakesnfrogs]

yes it can happen----I just don't understand why he would have to call theNissan dealer for a battery cable--Pep Boys should sell those.

 

[Colt45]

well a battery cable is pretty damn thick, so it would take several years of harsh conditions.. it could be a problem with your altenator as well (altenator charges the battery while it is running)if it is an altenator problem, the battery will die very quick even if its brand new..

 

[UT4EVER]

Is the alternator part of the battery or car? And, what causes it to go bad? Anything I can do to prevent it from going bad?

and yes, I dunno why he needed to call Nissan if they are pepboys...they should have a simple part like a battery cable..

I've had the battery for 2 years, it's warranty is for 86 months.

 

[snakesnfrogs]

The alternator is part of teh car and there isn't much you can do to prevent it going bad(other than not installing a bunch of additional electronics)---if it's just corrosion, chances are the battery won't need to be replaced. Just clean the corrosion off.

 

[frizzlefry]

Its probably not the battery. It's a common problem for alternators to die. How old is the car? Yes corrosion is bad bad bad. It CAN cause problem with the cable.

he probably didn't wnat to swap the battery because he probably knows that isn't the problem. pep boys can check your alternator for free. just ask them to do it when you take it back. that way you can know for sure what the problem is. any heavy corrosion on the battery should be cleaned off. if it's bad, then I wouldn't take the risk. I would just swap cables. it's not expensive.

 

[Emulex]

corrosion or a bad ground/power wire will not cause a battery to drain..

Anyways, dude. Do some homework, find a local reputable nissan shop. Don't ever take your car to pep boys for ANY service. They are morons. You'll pay too much as well. If you don't know how to find a nissan local shop. I suggest going to a nissan forum and asking.

 

[Viperoni]

Corroded battery terminals are easily cleaned off with something like a metal bristle barbeque brush and baking soda.......just dont use it after you clean the battery
If the cable's corroded, it shouldn't be to the point that it's gonna break off....the battery cable in my 1986 Parisienne has been there for 16 years and they're not "rusting"

 

[wiggyryder]

This guy is obviously taking u for a ride. If it's just cable corrosion, there is absolutely no need to call nissan (and it does not cause your battery to drain).. he can just replace it with pep boy's stock cables. To clean the corrosion off the battery contacts, metal brush, baking soda, and a little petroleum jelly to finish it off. Your battery is not necessarily the culprit of your car problem... did he take your battery out and put it on a machine to test the functionality? Causes of battery drainage could be a bad alternator (not charging battery) and a open relay sucking all the juice while car is off.

 

[Zach]

A cell in the battery might have died. Some places will test the battery for free.. Les Schwab tire places around my area will.

 

[UT4EVER]

heh, yeah, he wouldn't even test the battery....I was like..um, if you check then we would know for sure if the cable is bad

all he said was no, I dun wanna break the cable..I was like yeah, what ever...anyways, I took it to my Nissan dealer today instead of pepboys...nissan fixed it right up