i have a 2001 ssei and yours is good compared to mine. i have 2 -3inch holes in the inboard rear corner of the battery compartment. if the thing hadnt died ,it woulda gotten alot larger . baking soda will clean it up ,then use roof tar to protect the area. make sure the vent system is working w/ a compressor air nozzle on low. and wear glasses for your eyes.

2 things


1. we would normally ask that you not dig up old threads.
but since this is not really that old I'll let it slide

2. he posted his fix.



Oh and a 3rd thing. you do make a good point that us 2000+ cars need to check under the rear seat more often.

Let'* continue his topic in the 2000-2005 section. Instead of double-posting and splitting up the replies.

I had the same exact thing. 2002, my car wouldn't start. I checked the battery, and there was a circular crack all the way around one of the side terminals, and when I tugged on it the entire terminal with cable attached fell out of the battery, and a thin stream of acid ran out of it. Abso-frickin-amazing. I pulled the broken battery (carefully to avoid getting acid all over) then flushed out the engine area with water, then bathed the battery compartment in baking-soda and water mix. Scrubbed it all in really good with a 1.5" paint brush. Rinsed again. Had the rusty battery tray. Wire brushed it out with a drill. Treated it with Extend rust treatment, then primed it and painted it. Got a new battery, got new battery cables, and have been good ever since. Yes, it'* amazing how those trays just get eaten up. I don't know why they weld them in, seems like it ought to be a replaceable part.

Well, since this thread is alive, I'll post too....

That is the exact thing I plan on doing for mine, I've already got all the materials, just haven't spent the time to do it yet.

Good fix Pat!