2 new problems - batteries going dead and strong odor from engine room

[skunkman]

Problem 1. I took my boat out for the first time in a couple of weeks and had to use the emergency start feature to get the port engine started. I went to a sand bar and ran my stereo for about 2 hours and the starboard batteries went dead. Today I took it out and starting was sluggish on both engines - boat was on shore power with charger on over night. Drove for about an hour-voltage with engines on was 12.2 V, with engines and generator 13.3 V. Refueled and restarting was sluggish again. With engines off voltage drops to 10 V on both battery banks. Any Thoughts???

Problem 2: There was a strong odor coming from the engine compartment - kind of like brake fluid or hydraulic fluid if I recall what those fluids smell like. Odor so strong that it could be smelled under way. Again any thoughts???

 

[Carbo]

One of more of your batteries is dying. More then likely the odor you smell is sulfuric acid. Get those batteries out of the boat asap. Escaping fumes are combustible.

 

[bahamabreisus]

2nd that

 

[skunkman]

2nd that

I hope that is all it is. My concern is that I am having problems with both banks of the batteries. Maybe just a coincidence. Batteries are 3 years old

 

[NVERL8]

Could be alternator if only 12.2 volts while under way.

 

[Mike Blake]

I hope that is all it is. My concern is that I am having problems with both banks of the batteries. Maybe just a coincidence. Batteries are 3 years old

Take all of them out check for water and have them properly tested.

 

[War Eagle]

Likely one or more shorted cells in a battery. Charger/alternator is over charging the remaining cell and boiling the electrolyte (smells like hydrogen gas - and it is). Pull them and have them tested - soon!

 

[The Bill Collector]

Did anyone of the batteries ever get low on fluid and expose the plates ? If so even at 3 years that will fry it....

 

[skunkman]

I have a call into MarineMax hopefully they can get it sorted out fast. Thanks for all of the good advice.

 

[northern]

Costco beep cycle batteries are $100 each. If you do your own work it is less than getting a mechanic to look and then decide.

 

[importmonkey]

My shop recommends two seasons only on a set of batteries. They also don't recommend deep cycle but instead push high cranking amps. Just FYI.

I'd change those batteries and not look back. Money well spent even if it's not the problem. I certainly wouldn't risk getting stranded with them.

 

[Westie]

There is no reason to have to replace batteries after only 2 years if you take proper care of them. I'm going on 6 years on my starting battery and 8 years on my house batteries. All are still going strong. Your shop is making a lot of extra money off of you.

 

[importmonkey]

There is no reason to have to replace batteries after only 2 years if you take proper care of them. I'm going on 6 years on my starting battery and 8 years on my house batteries. All are still going strong. Your shop is making a lot of extra money off of you.

Sorry, I didn't communicate my point very well. I just wanted to offer a point of view - a view of a local shop, not necessarily my own. I don't necessarily agree with them, nor would I change my batteries every third year either. I think it's a bit silly, to be honest, and that money could be used for better things. It was to call attention to the fact that some folks believe 3 years is a decent amount of time on a battery and that replacing them wouldn't be a waste of money. Hope that clarifies things.

 

[northern]

There has been much written on batteries on this site. One thing I remember is your batteries are only as good as the worst one. A group of batteries will try to equalize. A bad battery will draw down the good ones until they all are bad. When we change batteries we change them all in a set. Not cheap but get by, by drinking domestic wine for a bit.

 

[skunkman]

There has been much written on batteries on this site. One thing I remember is your batteries are only as good as the worst one. A group of batteries will try to equalize. A bad battery will draw down the good ones until they all are bad. When we change batteries we change them all in a set. Not cheap but get by, by drinking domestic wine for a bit.

I thought the port engine batteries and the starboard engine batteries were Isolated unless you link them with the emergency start button

 

[northern]

On our boat there is a cross over diode system that will equalize the power between batteries when one bank is full charged and the other is not it will bleed from the good side to the bad. The reason is one side is used for 12 volt house power. If you watch the gauges you will see one side go to full charged and then drop off a bit when the other side is not full charge. This was original to the boat. It will not bleed the one side to zero there is a shut off at about 12 volts.