How Can I Tell if My MINI’s Battery Is Leaking Acid?
It is important to have us change out your MINI Cooper’s battery right away if it is leaking battery acid. The acid can cause other problems, such as eating through the battery cables. If it has been at least three years since you have had the battery changed, pop the hood on your Cooper and inspect the battery. You should also look at the sticker on the battery to determine how old it is. For example, if the sticker says 11/18, your battery was manufactured in November of 2018.
The Terminals Are Corroded
Age can play a role in whether the battery will start to leak. If your battery is old, you have a higher chance of the battery leaking. The first thing you should do when you pop the hood is to remove the battery cover if there is one. Set it aside and look carefully at the positive and negative battery terminals. They should be clean as should the connectors connecting the battery cables to the terminals. If either or both are corroded, your MINI’s battery is leaking battery acid.
You Smell Rotten Eggs
In addition to the corrosion , you will detect an unpleasant odor around the battery. This is the odor of rotten eggs, and nobody wants to smell that. Your MINI Cooper’s battery, and all car batteries for that matter, has sulfuric acid inside it. This acid works with the water and lead plates found inside the battery to create a chemical reaction that allows the battery to produce power. The battery helps your MINI Cooper start and also powers things like the power accessories in the European vehicle.
The Battery Case Looks Weird
Finally, the battery may start to leak because there is something wrong with the chemical reaction inside of it. When this happens, the battery case can also be affected. If you inspect the case carefully, you may notice that it is bubbling. The case may also be cracked or warped. We encourage you to bring your MINI Cooper to our shop right away if there is a visible problem with the battery case. In severe cases, the chemical reaction inside the battery could cause serious problems.
We are a full-service European auto repair shop, and we are experts in all things MINI. Call us today to set up an appointment for your Cooper so we can test and inspect the battery. If everything is okay, we’ll tell you. If the battery needs to be replaced, we’ll replace it.
