I experienced outcome #2 today The battery did not blow up per se... but the caps popped off and spewed acid all over that side of the engine bay That made a huge mess, smelled terrible, etched my chrome intake... I quickly sprayed a solution of baking soda with water to neutralize as much as I could. Now I have white residue everywhere that I have to clean off.

So... it turns out my alternator was putting out 17 volts! I just drove home after finding that out and thought I could at least make it to my garage... no luck! Saw the mess when I parked

So now I have to replace the alternator (which I hear involves disconnecting the half-shaft?), replace the battery, and deal with the mess

I wonder if I ruined the alternator a while back when I cleaned the engine with some citrus cleaner... I was not careful about avoiding the alternator...

 

sound like.a.huge mess and a pain lol gl hope.all.works out

 

you can remove the alternator through the top, remove the strut bar the fuel rail, and the passenger motor mount, then lift the engine a few inches, between 3 and 5 worked for me, then massage the alternator out, it helps to have a lift so you’re not bent over for the hour or so getting the alternator loosened up and out.