Charlies 86 SE

[GTRS Fiero]

Why are battery trays made from steel, anyway?

[Fierofool]

Probably for strength but still remain lightweight.  Some people have used a battery box, but it would need a drain if it remained in the factory location. 

I am surprised at how badly it was eroded.  The battery tray was replaced with a Fiero Store tray in the past.  Don Hulse did it.  I don't know if it was for Scottie or the person who owned it before him. 

Apparently the alternator had been overcharging and boiling the batteries for some time judging by the corrosion on the fender wall and the cradle below.   

[GTRS Fiero]

Well, at least you found out about that, since the engine blew.  I'd cut out the rotted part and weld in new metal.

I had been pulling my battery, every winter, so corrosion would not go as long.  I wonder if a gell battery would be better.

[Fierofool]

I believe Zach, Mark and Jordan did just that.  Zach and Mark were in there with grinders and cutting wheels in their initial attack, then they started applying new metal. 

A gel battery probably would help to reduce if not eliminate the problem entirely. 

[scottb]

I meant for the picture of the GT to go in the thread for that car, but I don't think I communicated that...oops. That picture was from Friday when I changed out the "locked up" compressor. In reality the compressor clutch had went bad. Since Charlie already had the compresdor I changed it. As far as I know he still has cold air at the vents.

[TopNotch]

I meant for the picture of the GT to go in the thread for that car, but I don't think I communicated that...oops.

Fixed!

[Fierofool]

I still got cold air.  I hadn't been using it because I had to run the fan on high and it was chilling me out.  Sunday afternoon after church, I removed the blower motor and the ballast resistor and cleaned all the junk out of the ductwork.  I had chewed up leaf particles blowing out of the defroster onto my dash and leaves stuck inside the dash vents.  Found a couple of leaves entangled in the ballast resistor, too.  Now I can safely run the blower on the lower speeds.  And to think, the blower was cleaned out last summer. 

[GTRS Fiero]

Pretty scary how fast it gets gunked up.

[NoMad]

Ya, we were adding steel from the start but I wish I would have just gone bigger on the initial cuts. Just pull most of it and build one from scratch. Likely would have taken less time. Live and learn.

[mweldon]

Apparently the alternator had been overcharging and boiling the batteries for some time judging by the corrosion on the fender wall and the cradle below.

Maybe, but even my 88GT, which for the most part lived a life of luxury by the PO, always garaged kept, driving only 3-5K miles a year max, still had the same locations of corrosion as yours, just less severe and earlier in the process.  The decklid vent, mixed with rain or hose water washing over the battery leads to acidic material pooling on the shelf below.

[GTRS Fiero]

Maybe the battery tray could be coated with bedliner.

[scottb]

In my experience coating metal battery boxes doesn't do any good, acid will find its way through the coating

[GTRS Fiero]

Part of that seems to be that the battery moves and wears through the coating, but yes.

[scottb]

Battery shouldn't be moving

[GTRS Fiero]

Ideally, no, but many Fieros are either missing the clamp, or the clamp isn't securing the battery.