car battery smell like sulfur?

Question

Hey,

The battery in my car is located in the trunk, and right now the trunk really smells. I know this is an indication that the battery needs to be replaced, however the car starts fine.
Do I still need to replace it?

Thanks.

Answer 1

have your charging system checked as you shouldn't smell a battery unless it's being overcharged by the alternator.

Answer 2

The trunk is an enclosed space and has very little ventilation. The batt. uses a sulfuric acid electrolyte and when it charges it produces hydrogen gas. This is what you are smelling. You should be aware that when a batt. produces this gas in an enclosed poorly vented area there is a real danger of an explosion if a spark is introduced. You might want to check your charging system and make sure you are not over charging your batt. I don't know if this is a custom installation, but it sounds like you need some better ventilation.

Answer 3

You may have a small crack in the battery that's allowing the sulfuric acid to seep out. Better take a look and see if there's any corrosion around the battery tray.

Also, your catalytic converter may be faulty. Or both.

Answer 4

I think you need to check you charging system first. You are probably over charging your battery. That could be because the battery will not hold a charge or the voltage regulator is sending a false signal to the alternator. Check both.

Answer 5

all have been good answers.i doubt it is your catalytic converter as your trunk would not smell. your alternator is overcharging your battery. take car to advance auto and have them do a free charging system check. chances are your voltage regulator on the alternator is bad. it may have trashed the battery too. you may have to replace both. good luck.

Answer 6

nicely the first question might want to be what form of automobile is it.....next ingredient is the alternator a sparkling one or RE man made one. if you're over charging this commonly potential the voltage regulator is on th fritz that's usually hardship-free in a remanufactured alternator once you've an inner one and once you've a exterior one you are able to purchase a sparkling one yet i might want to need to understand if it has an inner or or exterior regulator

Answer 7

You battery fluid (electrolyte) is boiling.
If you don't have it fixed, you're going to have serious problems. Not only in hydrogen explosive, but the battery acid will eat through everything in your trunk.

You either have a loose connection, bad battery cell, or faulty alternator.

HAVE IT CHECKED TOMORROW.

Answer 8

Check the exhaust not the battery. The exhaust comes up through the trunk that is what you are probably smelling. Good Luck!!!!