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Positive battery terminal corroded off...

TheStig

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#1
Well, had my Fiesta in for service at the local Ford dealer on Tuesday and was told the battery had some corrosion on the positive side, but it was $30 to clean it and I declined. My SA said most people do, given that was half the cost of my entire service itself.

Fast forward to Saturday and I get in my car in the morning, push the go button and "click". Crap, battery must be dead. Make some quick calls to cancel plans and get a friend rolling to my to run to Autozone for a battery. I dig into there and notice the bit of corrosion on the positive side is BAD. REALLY Bad. While im trying to undo the positive cable, it comes complete off from its mounting post on the positive side.

Im at right around 42k miles on a 2014. Never seen this issue happen before in any others cars. Not only did it pull apart like peanut butter was holding it together, BUT it also "copper plated" some of the tools I was using. Seriously, they have copper on them now and it wont come off. Ford tows it in for free thankfully which was nice. But now im hit with a $430 repair bill for the positive terminal (that I cannot find on any parts websites ANYWHERE), battery and labor with tax. Not to mention they would not provide a loaner car so I had to get a rental for pretty much a week, Ford said 4 days to get parts, so that was another $230.

Has this happened to ANYONE else? I want to know if there is any damn thing I can do. Its freaking insane that they design it this way to pull apart line Cinnabon.

Picture of my car:


How it should look (i think, its from google images)
 


me32

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#2
Seems like a good lesson to learn. You should be going over the car every couple weeks. Checking all fluid levels, inspect all components for any abnormal wear. Its possible the battery cable was not fully tight causes the issue.
 


Hijinx

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#3
Wow... That is very unfortunate. But, I have to ask... Did you check it when/after Ford mentioned it?
 


OP
TheStig

TheStig

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Thread Starter #4
Seems like a good lesson to learn. You should be going over the car every couple weeks. Checking all fluid levels, inspect all components for any abnormal wear. Its possible the battery cable was not fully tight causes the issue.
It was tight enough that neither cable could be removed. I check everything under hood pretty much monthly, or sooner if I hear things or feel something isn't right.
Wow... That is very unfortunate. But, I have to ask... Did you check it when/after Ford mentioned it?
Yes I did, it looked like it needed to be cleaned and have some extra battery terminal splooge put on. Was going to have it tested to in case the battery was near its end anyways. I did not do it right away since its been over 115 degrees here and I don't have a place to work on it.

Im just trying to see if I have a leg to stand on that this is an abnormal failure. Ive never seen a terminal eat itself to death like this, not on a car this new with this few a miles.
 


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#5
Bummers to see something like this, but it does happen. It happened to me when I had an 08 Honda Accord, brand new! Occurred 1 yr into ownership. Luckily was replaced under warranty. Like you, I checked it monthly, but it did corrode to the point where the terminal came off like butter.

It was tight enough that neither cable could be removed. I check everything under hood pretty much monthly, or sooner if I hear things or feel something isn't right.

Yes I did, it looked like it needed to be cleaned and have some extra battery terminal splooge put on. Was going to have it tested to in case the battery was near its end anyways. I did not do it right away since its been over 115 degrees here and I don't have a place to work on it.

Im just trying to see if I have a leg to stand on that this is an abnormal failure. Ive never seen a terminal eat itself to death like this, not on a car this new with this few a miles.
 


MPA

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#6
I had the same thing happen to me in another car - thankfully it happened when I was at Wal-mart, so I was able to go in and buy a new battery, and a cheap set of tools to replace it.
 


me32

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#7
You dont really have a leg to stand on because ford saw it and mentioned it to you. Basically in fords eyes thats neglect. Im surprised you werent recommend a new battery at that point.
 


Quisp

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#8
Batteries at the end of their life will put out a lot of corrosive gassing.
 


OP
TheStig

TheStig

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Thread Starter #9
Thanks guys, I just wanted to be sure it wasnt a crazy situation like I saw it being. Ford did tell me there was some corrosion, but even as I witnessed I didnt assume it would pull itself apart.

Expensive lesson, but by then it was a gonner under all that paste lol.
 


me32

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Thanks guys, I just wanted to be sure it wasnt a crazy situation like I saw it being. Ford did tell me there was some corrosion, but even as I witnessed I didnt assume it would pull itself apart.

Expensive lesson, but by then it was a gonner under all that paste lol.

At least it didn't cause any major damage to any other electrical parts. Good luck
 


OP
TheStig

TheStig

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Thread Starter #11
At least it didn't cause any major damage to any other electrical parts. Good luck
Wont know until Today or Tomorrow but initial indication is no.

On a side note, my Focus rental car has a HORRIBLE auto transmission. When the auto in a Dart I rented last year is better, something is wrong there.
 


me32

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Wont know until Today or Tomorrow but initial indication is no.

On a side note, my Focus rental car has a HORRIBLE auto transmission. When the auto in a Dart I rented last year is better, something is wrong there.
Keep us updated.

I dont under why the focus didn't use the same transmission used in the fusion. A normal 6 speed auto.
 


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#13
Surprising... didnt consider just stripping back the wire and put on a new terminal?

Thats what I would do... unless the positive lead is way too short.

Source: Did it many times over the course of my short technician career.
 


OP
TheStig

TheStig

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Thread Starter #14
Surprising... didnt consider just stripping back the wire and put on a new terminal?

Thats what I would do... unless the positive lead is way too short.

Source: Did it many times over the course of my short technician career.
Did you not look at the pictures? its not a typical terminal. Its two pieces of plastic that sandwich a copper plate that then attaches to a clamp for the positive terminal. The connection between the plastic part and the clamp ceased to exist, it ate itself apart. I dont know how to further describe it to you, but there was no "stripping" back a piece of plastic.

All the connections that need power bolt onto this "terminal" if you will.

Thursday no parts showed, I was told they would Friday.
Friday no parts showed, I was told they might Saturday.
Saturday no parts showed as expected.
Today (Monday) I'm told the parts should show.

This sure is a long wait for a normal part...

FYI the Focus Rental (which im paying out the ass for) has a normal positive terminal like 99.99% of vehicles.
 


OP
TheStig

TheStig

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Thread Starter #15
FYI here is an additional picture... But even Rock Auto doesn't show it for sale at all.

 


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#16
FYI here is an additional picture... But even Rock Auto doesn't show it for sale at all.

Oh, haven't notice the big block of stuff. My apologies sir, although I still don't think you should sound so mad about describing it to me, I didn't look at my car's terminal, since its literally 700 miles old, but this built in fuse block is pretty interesting to me. I will have a look and see what ways is possible for a temp fix.
 


OP
TheStig

TheStig

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Thread Starter #17
Oh, haven't notice the big block of stuff. My apologies sir, although I still don't think you should sound so mad about describing it to me, I didn't look at my car's terminal, since its literally 700 miles old, but this built in fuse block is pretty interesting to me. I will have a look and see what ways is possible for a temp fix.
I had pictures in the first post, it threw me a little when you said it. Thought you saw something I had missed lol

Called Ford and opened a case about it, for what its worth the lady said she had not seen any other claims like mine. Doubt it matters but now im just pissed that the part is taking forever. I actually found it online, its listed under fuses, and its only $25.00.
 


me32

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I had pictures in the first post, it threw me a little when you said it. Thought you saw something I had missed lol

Called Ford and opened a case about it, for what its worth the lady said she had not seen any other claims like mine. Doubt it matters but now im just pissed that the part is taking forever. I actually found it online, its listed under fuses, and its only $25.00.
Good choice to open a claim. You might be able to get them to pay for the rental only because you have been quoted days that it should be fixed an that has not been the case since you are paying out of pocket
 


OP
TheStig

TheStig

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Thread Starter #19
After being on hold for 30 and 20 minutes respectively while at work trying to get an update, I finally went to the dealer and spoke to my SA. He had to go show me my car as opposed to explaining what they were dealing with, I assumed this was bad.

Turns out they got the "fuse" panel which i linked above, but it does not come with the clamp that goes onto the positive terminal and it bolts to. To go further, the one connected is actually spinning the battery post and causing it to leak acid if they even try to remove it. So that is another fight I got, they should have my car back to me today but I feel I have ground to fight from for some sort of reimbursement.

Whats odd is that the Ford parts website shows the factory battery having an 84 month warranty, I doubt my battery would be under this at all but I will pose that question still.

As an update to the rental Focus, I would NEVER buy an Auto Focus. Jesus does the transmission suck. Foot down and it sits there for about 2 seconds to think about it then goes pretty well. When you let off it hangs the revs REALLY high, also downshifts hard when braking.
 


OP
TheStig

TheStig

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Thread Starter #20
Dealer called, She's done and Ford is currently looking into reimbursement for my extended rental and/or any of the parts and labor.

Hopefully they can at least cover Friday through Today since it was supposed to be done Thursday.

Either way ill be happy as shit to have my car back.
 




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