Water in 12V battery compartment!

[Indytim]

Well this was interesting. My wife’s 2013 C-max would not start, stranding her on an errand. Car was totally dead. But when I hooked up jumper cables, it started immediately and she was able to drive home.

Next day, same issue.

I tried the key fob waving but that did nothing.

Next step was to remove the 12V battery and have it checked. But when I opened the hatch and removed the trim, I found that the 12V battery compartment was completely full of water. As in, up and over the battery terminals. (See pics)

 

My plan from here is to remove the water, remove the battery and have it checked and replaced if necessary, clean up the bits of corrosion, and find the source of the leak and fix that. 
 

Other than those steps, does anyone recommend anything else (assuming that addresses the issue of not starting.)

 

I thought I would document here since I have not seen this problem reported before.

[fbov]

Lead-acid battery cells have vents. I bet that one's diluted. Surprised the car hasn't thrown a code!!

[homestead]

 

Would look to see if there is a plugged drain hole in the recessed area.  And carefully inspect the gasket on the rear hatch, perhaps water

is getting there.  I also remember there was a drain hole on the bottom of the rear hatch and that some cars had that hole taped over

such that water was collecting inside the hatch door.

 

[SnowStorm]

Make sure there's no battery acid in that water!  We'll want to hear what you find - and thanks for the report.

[Donald Nelson]

Thanks for the post. Our 2013 C-Max did has the same issue. Water was over the terminals also. I am on the search as to the why of the cause.