Hello everyone. I went to use my Xtar flashlight and the head would not turn at all. That is not normal. I tapped it lightly on my chair and was able to get the head off it of. The pics you see is what I saw. What the heck happened? What do I do about it?
It looks like salt corrosion.
Battery leaked.
What kind of battery is it?
The battery is an AW RCR123a. I thought those were “top of the line”. 
…but is it the battery, or some other source of corrosion.
Hmm. Most likely battery unless this light has touched water or been immersed.
I am trying to get the battery out of the light. It does not want to come out. LOL This is a first for me.
Ummm, she blew up. Dude, now what?
Your flashlight didn’t ‘blow up’…lol
It would probably be a good idea to change your title as it might alarm some folks.
Hope you are able to somehow fix your light.
If the bottom will come off, use a dowel and hammer
Title changed. Good idea.
I think somehow it vented without actually blowing up the flashlight. Weak o-rings?
Send a pic of it to AW, maybe he can do something for you (Like send you another cell…)
Have you tested the edges of the battery tube for sharpness? I am thinking that maybe the wrap got cut by the edge and it shorted inside…
Where do I get the contact info for AW? Next thing, if the battery is replaced, what about the flashlight? I wonder if it will clean up or did it also fry the light?
You should be able to find him on CPF-Marketplace, and maybe on normal CPF. So far the light looks like it will clean up to me.
Yeah battery leakage and corrosion
edit - red = iron oxide (water + metal)…a leaking non rechargeable will be white/gray flaky corrosion
My sis-in-laws SK68 did that, had to clean it all out, wipe it down with baking soda solution, then WD-40 it, pop the out the driver, clean it all up too. Now it works just like it did before.
Sorry about your issue…sux when a battery leaks and corrodes the guts out of your light
Good luck
It can be complicated.
My thoughts:
Is your Xtar a 1-cell flashlight? If it’s a 2-cell, there are additional questions.
1-cell questions:
Did you contact whoever sold you the battery — assuming you bought it separately?
Or, if it came with the flashlight, contact the seller?
Did you get more than one battery?
Did it come with a charger, or did you buy one separately?
What charger have you been using?
Have you been checking the voltage on the battery each time on taking it out of the charger?
And the usual caution:
“there are apparently a fair number of ”counterfeit” CR123A batteries on the market (and eBay, etc.) - some of those seem to be more prone to accidents. So be careful where you purchase.”
Edit: same response posted where you posted the same question, on the other popular flashlight website.