plastic tubing in Battery area

[zodman]

On the left side of image C & D in the picture referenced in the Pelican topic of replacing the Fuel Pump, there is a section of clear plastic tubing that disappears into the void of the area that contains the fuel tank.

On my car, it was not connected to anything, and floating loose from the fuel tank area in the area where the battery resides. What is its purpose? Should it connect to anything or is its proper place to just float around the area where the battery sits? I don't think it sits down below like the Pelican image, as the tray for the battery would squash any fluid that would exist in it if its purpose is an overflow tube.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/22-FUEL-Fuel_Pump/images_large/Pic5.jpg

[Loren]

That is the battery vent - in the Pelican photo it looks like it just fell into the photo.

If your battery is vented (and 99% are) you need to hook that up so charging gases go outside the car.

[zodman]

Thanks Loren...

[mikesz]

I have never heard of a battery vent before. How can you tell if the battery is vented? I have a 99 boxster and have the same clear tube that runs to the passenger side.

[Loren]

Any battery used inside a closed compartment needs a vent - unless it is a sealed gel type battery like Optima.

A least two bad things can happen if the battery is not vented to the exterior of the car. One is that you have a corrosive mist of gases inside the front trunk that damage everything (metal and electronics. And, two the mist can be sucked into the car through the pollen filter outside air intake.

[zodman]

My new battery has an oval vent, smack in the middle side of the top of the battery between the two posts. I had to gently squish the angled tube at the end of the clear plastic tubing to fit into the oval vent, but usually these vents are round and are located at the narrow ends of batteries at the top.

[Loren]

My new battery has an oval vent, smack in the middle side of the top of the battery between the two posts. I had to gently squish the angled tube at the end of the clear plastic tubing to fit into the oval vent, but usually these vents are round and are located at the narrow ends of batteries at the top.

The vendor that you bought the battery from should have given you the vent tube conversion kit. It converts the oval tube outlet to the round tube on the car.

[zodman]

As always, thanks for this info. I'll fetch that piece within the next day or so after I've nailed down that P0102 issue.

[mikefocke]

First class Loren.

[mikesz]

Thanks Loren, you learn something new every day. Now I have to find where my battery vent is!

[mikesz]

I have an Ever Start from Wal-Mart and I cannot find a fitting for a vent tube anywhere. Any ideas?

[zodman]

Look on the narrow side at the top where the positive post is for a small round hole. It won't stick "out" because it's an "Innie"

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/EverStart%20Maxx%2094R%20Battery%20Vent%20Hole.jpg

Edited January 7, 2014 by zodman

[Loren]

Look on the narrow side at the top where the positive post is for a small round hole. It won't stick "out" because it's an "Innie"

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/EverStart%20Maxx%2094R%20Battery%20Vent%20Hole.jpg

Yes, same issue with this type of battery vent - they need to supply you the vent kit.

In this case the battery has a vent hole on each side. In the vent kit is a connector and a plug. You simply plug connector to the battery and then your vent tube and plug the other side of the battery.