Electronics Bods - battery leak/bike light

So my Cateye EL 520 stopped working. It's a non-servicable item, but I've prized the fucker apart anyway. Turns out a battery has leaked into the head, leaving that chalky white stuff everywhere.

What I want to know is this: what does the battery contents actually do to stop the light working, and is it even worth spending any more time saving it?

If there's hope, I'd rather pursue it, as it's £30-£50 I could be spending on the plethora of other bike bits that'll break in a year.

clean all the oxide up and if the wire insulation has melted away exposing the wire, re-insulate it with insulating tape and see how you go.
replacing the driver circuit board etc is beyond me.

Use vinegar or lemon juice to clean up the leak with a cotton swab no eater though.

Thanks for that, I'll clean it up and see what happens. They're such simple things, hard to see where it's failed. Does that chalky shit eat though electronics?

Clean with electrical contact cleaner spray

Thanks for that, I'll clean it up and see what happens. They're such simple things, hard to see where it's failed. Does that chalky shit eat though electronics?

that chalky shit is the oxide after the acid has reacted with something. i think anyway.

Metal + Acid = Salt + Hydrogen

Supposing the white stuff is the salt. Chemistry FTW!
I suppose if it was a wire which was involved in the reaction then there's probably no use. Unless you used Electrolysis.. But then that would probably cost more than the actual light. But good luck fixin' anyway.

Your light has dandruff.

or dry rot.

or a coke habit

Could just be dust from lack of use.

or ash for a small Hobbit who lives in there.

Fill it with water and use it as a snow globe.

I'll go with 'coke habit' please Bob.