I have been having battery problems (starting the car) lately. I checked it out this morning, and my battery is leaking water.

How do I need to clean this corroded area properly so it doesn't continue to deteriorate.

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My Primary Driver - '85 300CD - 4-speed conversion, 2.47 rear, lowered, euro headlights, rebuilding (not restoring so much)

Wife's - '08 Saab Sportcombi Aero

Riding a '03 Yamaha Warrior

Wire brush to clean metal, clean and POR-15.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

You would have to check but if I remember correctly vinegar will neutralize acid so I would wash it with that and then wire brush it as clean as you can get it then coat it.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

Baking soda and water to neutralize it. Rinse and clean/POR. Golden.

Thanks, I stand corrected.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

It's more likely that your battery is boiling out fluid, rather than leaking it. If so, it indicates an overcharging condition.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Keep that battery drain tube connected and fed through your fender drain hole.
You might also want to get a rattle can from paintscratch.com to finish things up.

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1982 300CD Petrol/Black Leather

What causes the overcharging?

When it's hot outside, the battery hasn't been able to start the car, even with a standard jump pack. I am also in the process of putting in the AL129x alternator for my stereo (not installed yet). I had a multimeter hooked up for a week and with the AC on, as well as lights, radio, etc, it wouldn't read more than 12ish volts. The car would start fine if it was under 90 degrees, but when it gets hot, it won't even try to turn over.

With a jump, or a push start it'll start fine.

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My Primary Driver - '85 300CD - 4-speed conversion, 2.47 rear, lowered, euro headlights, rebuilding (not restoring so much)

Wife's - '08 Saab Sportcombi Aero

Riding a '03 Yamaha Warrior

Overcharging is usually caused by a bad voltage regulator. It sounds like either your voltage regulator has failed or alternator is bad. You should be reading about 13 volts, something like 13.8 at the battery with about 1500 rpms. The reason it's having a hard time starting is that your drawing a lot of electrical current in hot weather and the system is not keeping up with the required charge.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

1984 300d turbo 147k
replace the battery autozone. Replace the alternator, battery tray, clean with baking soda, and paint, use the battery post cleaning tool,

whoa whoa whoa.. you're talking like $300 worth of parts to fix some battery tray rust...



you can buy a new battery tray by itself for like $40 and then buy some POR-15 to make it acid proof for life...

don't forget to replace the motor and tranny Just kidding.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

As this was starting to become a problem, I decided to put a stereo system in the car, so I was about to change the alternator anyways. I already have an AL129x alternator and wiring that I was planning on putting in tomorrow morning. I went today and got my battery exchanged under warranty, so I already have that too. I got the cleaning stuff and paint. It's all getting done in the morning when it's a little cooler.

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My Primary Driver - '85 300CD - 4-speed conversion, 2.47 rear, lowered, euro headlights, rebuilding (not restoring so much)

Wife's - '08 Saab Sportcombi Aero

Riding a '03 Yamaha Warrior

Here's how I like to deal with rust.... http://www.rowand.net/Shop/Tools/Electrolysis.htm

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1999 E300DT (131,800) 154,000 Black on Black SOLD

2006 CLK 500 coupe Capri Blue on Grey (zoom,zoom)
47,000mi

04 VW TDI Passat 80,000mi
(Techno)

How to eliminate oil dependency through market-driven approaches.
“We could cut oil use in half by 2025, and by 2040, oil use could be zero,”
The Sound of Diesel Speed
Ode to MB

pmari, will this rebuild pits and such? or just kill rust and fill it back with clean iron?

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
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My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!