Auto Mechanics please help ... !

Hey guys,

I had the battery freeze in my 08 Cadillac CTS and it wouldn't hold a charge anymore. I went into the trunk and removed the old battery, but everything was covered in a weird pink gel.

Not sure what it is, or where its coming from.

At first I thought it was the battery bursting ... but there doesn't appear to be damage to the battery. I have no idea what it is. I got it all over my hands removing the batter and it just smells like oil.

Please let me hear your thoughts

 

how cold is it there? Looks like Hydraulic fluid to me from a air /bag/strut that is now blown.

 

Is it thick, gel like? The color looks about dexron, (trans fluid) but too thick for that. Maybe some soft of anti seize gel used on terminals to make them easier to take off.

 

its been -45 Celsius for the last 6 or 7 days. Its warmed up to about -23 Celsius today which is why I finally went out to change the battery lol.

I have no idea what it can be ... and can't really tell what the source of the liquid is.

 

+1 if the strut is blown or been replaced

 

and yes its thick, and gel like.

 

leighton, that's kinda what i thought! A strut blew out, but that seems way to think, and with the covers on, how would that blow everywhere it did? Not questioning, just typing out loud!

 

can you see if its coming out of the top of the wheel well?

Does that corner bounce back the same way the other does if you push down on it?

 

It does look like it is coming from the approximate location of the strut mount. Does look kind of similar to hyd fluid but definitely not the same consistency although that could obviously be caused by the temperature. Royco 782 hyd doesnt freeze until below -40c which he is at.

 

Take a look at the lift support for your trunk lid. I'm willing to bet you will see some of that residue on it. Other than that, it's possible that it's the gel from the battery. Last I checked though, GM wasn't using Gel cell batteries in the caddy's.

edit: also, the battery is a vented type, another possible route for the contents to make their way out without the battery "bursting"