Battery ventilation
Senior Member
Joined: 03-22-2010
Posts: 2,108
From: Russia Ekaterinburg
I read it and run away to watch my battery.
I do not know what you say about ventilation tube. My battery (ac Delco), came to me from the U.S., along with the car. I am pleased with it work, but it has no tubes - ordinary maintenance-free battery. Neither I nor my friends have never heard of batteries with tubes. I asked the major artists who specialize in Audi (Audi all have the battery in the trunk) - the first time they hear about the battery with the vent tube.
Yes, I remember - in the old days were served by batteries. You can unscrew the lid with a coin and look inside. Possibly, the battery of this type needs some ventilation. But is that still produce? I have not seen it for sale.
Now I have doubts. In order my battery?
I do not know what you say about ventilation tube. My battery (ac Delco), came to me from the U.S., along with the car. I am pleased with it work, but it has no tubes - ordinary maintenance-free battery. Neither I nor my friends have never heard of batteries with tubes. I asked the major artists who specialize in Audi (Audi all have the battery in the trunk) - the first time they hear about the battery with the vent tube.
Yes, I remember - in the old days were served by batteries. You can unscrew the lid with a coin and look inside. Possibly, the battery of this type needs some ventilation. But is that still produce? I have not seen it for sale.
Now I have doubts. In order my battery?
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
Yes the battery should be vented as over time it can be a probklem. Even in a case where you charging system over charges you will get that rotton egg smell in side the car as it could ignite.
Also the commnet on the Optima battery here is incorrect too based on what Optima recomends. They do not recomend their battery for any vented application. They have no listing for the HHR. While they do offer what is termed a sealed battery it still has two black circles at the top of the case and if pressure builds it can pop the vents to release the gases. These seal can then reseal after expelling the gas. I spoke to the sales manager for Optima and he would not recomend it for the HHR. He did note they were going to offer a vent kit that could be fitted to the seals. I am not sure if it is out yet or not.
I am sure there are many people using normal batteries in these cars with no issues and then there are some of them that have no idea that they have a problem yet but will with corrosion later on.
Just best to play by the rules and use the battery intended for the vehice. The AC Declo is not any more expensive than any other good battery. I just replaced mine and it was just a straight swap.
Also the commnet on the Optima battery here is incorrect too based on what Optima recomends. They do not recomend their battery for any vented application. They have no listing for the HHR. While they do offer what is termed a sealed battery it still has two black circles at the top of the case and if pressure builds it can pop the vents to release the gases. These seal can then reseal after expelling the gas. I spoke to the sales manager for Optima and he would not recomend it for the HHR. He did note they were going to offer a vent kit that could be fitted to the seals. I am not sure if it is out yet or not.
I am sure there are many people using normal batteries in these cars with no issues and then there are some of them that have no idea that they have a problem yet but will with corrosion later on.
Just best to play by the rules and use the battery intended for the vehice. The AC Declo is not any more expensive than any other good battery. I just replaced mine and it was just a straight swap.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
You mean I've been pointing out my "Vent Tube" at the Cruise In's for nothing, dang.
Have you noticed that we're seeing a trend lately with some posts like, "the guys at NTB said", or "NTB said it would fit", or "I've only got 30,000 miles on my HHR but the people at NTB said my struts are leaking and if I don't have them changed the truck will explode and the Mayan's will come back and get us all".
Here in the Carolina's, NTB has a well deserved reputation for doing less than wonderful work, which means I'd take anything they say or do with a grain of salt....and I'd get a second opinion or go someplace with competent people behind the counter.
Seriously Velocity, take the battery back, get your money back, and head to your dealer or a good auto parts store like Advance, Autozone, NAPA, etc. You need to put the proper battery in, or you're just asking for trouble.
Have you noticed that we're seeing a trend lately with some posts like, "the guys at NTB said", or "NTB said it would fit", or "I've only got 30,000 miles on my HHR but the people at NTB said my struts are leaking and if I don't have them changed the truck will explode and the Mayan's will come back and get us all".
Here in the Carolina's, NTB has a well deserved reputation for doing less than wonderful work, which means I'd take anything they say or do with a grain of salt....and I'd get a second opinion or go someplace with competent people behind the counter.
Seriously Velocity, take the battery back, get your money back, and head to your dealer or a good auto parts store like Advance, Autozone, NAPA, etc. You need to put the proper battery in, or you're just asking for trouble.
My buddy quite and opened his own shop per this reason. He could not replace good parts as it was wrong. NTB is not different than many of these other shops.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-21-2008
Posts: 1,458
From: SE Michigan
NTB opened a few stores in the Detroit area, then closed them after a few years. Tire competition in Detroit is fierce and the y could not make a profit.
That said, I took my wife's car in for tires, and brought along a used rim so I could get a full size spare. Told them to save the best of the old tires for a spare and mount a new tire on the extra rim.
When i left, as soon as I hit the road the car shook violently, I aimed the side view mirror down and saw the rim was bent on the driver side rear. Went straight back and asked why they put the tire on a bent rim.
'You said mount a new tire on that rim.'
Pointing out the new balance weights on the bent rim, I asked why they couldn't tell the rim was bent when they balanced it.
'We thought you knew the rim was bent and was ok with that.'
Never went back.
That said, I took my wife's car in for tires, and brought along a used rim so I could get a full size spare. Told them to save the best of the old tires for a spare and mount a new tire on the extra rim.
When i left, as soon as I hit the road the car shook violently, I aimed the side view mirror down and saw the rim was bent on the driver side rear. Went straight back and asked why they put the tire on a bent rim.
'You said mount a new tire on that rim.'
Pointing out the new balance weights on the bent rim, I asked why they couldn't tell the rim was bent when they balanced it.
'We thought you knew the rim was bent and was ok with that.'
Never went back.
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
I stand corrected on the Optima batteries hyperv6, and thanks for the tech tidbit.
My only dealings with Optima batteries have been in competition vehicles, and they seem to do quite well in that environment, but I've heard horror stories about premature failure in street applications.
My only dealings with Optima batteries have been in competition vehicles, and they seem to do quite well in that environment, but I've heard horror stories about premature failure in street applications.
Senior Member
Joined: 09-11-2007
Posts: 1,379
From: Palm Bay, Florida
Many "tire" shops do put quotas on wrench work to add to the bottom line. A friend of mine quitone because he couldn't make the quota of additional work and was given grief.
When I had tires replaced on my HHR the shop wanted to perform about $300 of addional work, like change the oil (looked dirty) (DIC saild 50% oil life), do a transmission flush (not needed until 100K miles and it was done at 50K anyway plus an engine injector cleaning regimen along with an alignment. I have a specialty shop do my alignments and a local mechanic do most of my engine and service work.
The techs at the tire shop look like parolees from the local jail.
When I had tires replaced on my HHR the shop wanted to perform about $300 of addional work, like change the oil (looked dirty) (DIC saild 50% oil life), do a transmission flush (not needed until 100K miles and it was done at 50K anyway plus an engine injector cleaning regimen along with an alignment. I have a specialty shop do my alignments and a local mechanic do most of my engine and service work.
The techs at the tire shop look like parolees from the local jail.
Member
Joined: 10-07-2009
Posts: 79
From: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
My 09 HHR came delivered with the hard plastic battery vent tube broken off at the battery. Thanks GM. I removed the battery from the vehicle to remove the broken piece. Reworked the vent tube connection using a short section of rubber hose to the hard plastic tube that runs down through the load floor to atmosphere making the connection more flexible similar to a motorcycle battery venting tube. I used a plastic vaccum hose in-line connector I fitted into the battery vent hole.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
I stand corrected on the Optima batteries hyperv6, and thanks for the tech tidbit.
My only dealings with Optima batteries have been in competition vehicles, and they seem to do quite well in that environment, but I've heard horror stories about premature failure in street applications.
My only dealings with Optima batteries have been in competition vehicles, and they seem to do quite well in that environment, but I've heard horror stories about premature failure in street applications.
What I find is that most people do not know how to charge an Optima. If the Optima gets too low on voltage most average chargers will not charge it back up unless you put the battery in a series with a good battery to stimulate the battery to take a charge.
Many of the new style batteries need to have a new style charger that similated the diode in the Optima to take the charge.
The Battery Tender will charge them as well as many of the new breed of chargers that are made to deal with the new style batteries. Even Optima is coming out with a new charger that deals with this issue.
I would bet that 75-80 percent of the Optima's that people have that are claimed failed are still good if you use the correct charger.
I have fixed many customer optima batteries by getting them to just charge them with the correct charger or the series trick.
The Optima in the Fiero sat since last Oct and I just stuck the key in and turned it not even hitting the gas and it fired right up.
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
NTB opened a few stores in the Detroit area, then closed them after a few years. Tire competition in Detroit is fierce and the y could not make a profit.
That said, I took my wife's car in for tires, and brought along a used rim so I could get a full size spare. Told them to save the best of the old tires for a spare and mount a new tire on the extra rim.
When i left, as soon as I hit the road the car shook violently, I aimed the side view mirror down and saw the rim was bent on the driver side rear. Went straight back and asked why they put the tire on a bent rim.
'You said mount a new tire on that rim.'
Pointing out the new balance weights on the bent rim, I asked why they couldn't tell the rim was bent when they balanced it.
'We thought you knew the rim was bent and was ok with that.'
Never went back.
That said, I took my wife's car in for tires, and brought along a used rim so I could get a full size spare. Told them to save the best of the old tires for a spare and mount a new tire on the extra rim.
When i left, as soon as I hit the road the car shook violently, I aimed the side view mirror down and saw the rim was bent on the driver side rear. Went straight back and asked why they put the tire on a bent rim.
'You said mount a new tire on that rim.'
Pointing out the new balance weights on the bent rim, I asked why they couldn't tell the rim was bent when they balanced it.
'We thought you knew the rim was bent and was ok with that.'
Never went back.
My Mom & Pop (local) tire shop allow me in back to watch everything. I like that..
Member
Joined: 10-07-2009
Posts: 79
From: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
I read it and run away to watch my battery.
I do not know what you say about ventilation tube. My battery (ac Delco), came to me from the U.S., along with the car. I am pleased with it work, but it has no tubes - ordinary maintenance-free battery. Neither I nor my friends have never heard of batteries with tubes. I asked the major artists who specialize in Audi (Audi all have the battery in the trunk) - the first time they hear about the battery with the vent tube.
Yes, I remember - in the old days were served by batteries. You can unscrew the lid with a coin and look inside. Possibly, the battery of this type needs some ventilation. But is that still produce? I have not seen it for sale.
Now I have doubts. In order my battery?
I do not know what you say about ventilation tube. My battery (ac Delco), came to me from the U.S., along with the car. I am pleased with it work, but it has no tubes - ordinary maintenance-free battery. Neither I nor my friends have never heard of batteries with tubes. I asked the major artists who specialize in Audi (Audi all have the battery in the trunk) - the first time they hear about the battery with the vent tube.
Yes, I remember - in the old days were served by batteries. You can unscrew the lid with a coin and look inside. Possibly, the battery of this type needs some ventilation. But is that still produce? I have not seen it for sale.
Now I have doubts. In order my battery?
To answer your question overhere in America. There is a tendancy for manufacturers to use maintenance free batteries with no caps or provision for adding water to top up the cells. It is gas recombinant technology and they never should require topping up. There are still, call it the old fashion style of batteries that have removable caps for adding water. Not all but most motorcycles use the old style conventional battery with a rubber vent tube to ground and removable caps.