My battery exploded!!!

[BBW]

Earlier today I filled up with petrol, started the car and heard a huge BOOM, I got out looked around the car and under thinking I may have been another car drving past or somthing :confused: little did I know what was going on in the boot... (I was in a hurry).

Finished work tonight, got to my car in the freezing weather (it was snowing) and tried to start my car. Only to get a trickle of power and no chance of starting it.

As it was 10.30pm on a cold Sunday in the middle of town, there was no chance I was going to jump start it so I called the AA.

After 30mins of waiting the 'happy' AA guy turned up, had a look and said 'woooaaah! take a look at this'! So down I peered to what I can only discribe as Chernobyl!

Chunks of plastic everywhere with Acid flowing all over and the rest of the boot coated in battery acid!!!


http://www.anus.com/zine/local/about/toxic_landfill.jpg <--- Artist impression of my boot
My cars currently outside my mechanics garage - I will report (with pics) tomorrow whats happening.


The AA guy reckons its 99% likely to be a faulty Aternator which has been over charging it causing the meltdown - If I was looking at it when it blew I wouldnt be here typing this, I would be driving the big CL in the sky :eek:

[nokia8860]

:eek:

[stox]

I would spray down the area with a solution of water and baking soda as soon as possible to neutralize the acid.

[BBW]

Its 12.40am and im 2 miles from the garage... and its snowing... no can do :(

[stox]

Your car is soaking in a concentrated solution of sulfuric acid.

If your insurance will cover this, I guess you don't have to worry. If your insurance doesn't, I would venture to guess that it is in your best interests to run, not walk, to your car and neutralize the acid ASAP!!!

Seriously, sulfuric acid will do terrific damage to your car.

[manny]

Did you know that your alternator was overcharging?

[Eiknujrac]

Wasn't there a recall on the original batteries for something like this?

[manny]

Originally posted by Eiknujrac
Wasn't there a recall on the original batteries for something like this?

Yes, but I'm not sure about his 1995 model.
Too many questions:
1. Original battery?
2. Did it have " vents "?
3. Was the alternator overcharging?
4. Was it maintained, i.e. checked periodically?

[CKlasse]

Did you smell anything funny? :D :D :D

[BBW]

Called up my Mechanic, he reckons its not the alternator as they have been testing it for most of the day, hes going to keep checking things to try and rule out other things.

Could this have somthing to do with the mosture in the boot? I often have pools of water in different parts?

As for the acid, he said it looks far worst than it is, virutally nothing has been damaged other than a small patch of carpet and some paint has been come off!

I guess this is due to the battery being in a small enclosed area?

Will report back tonight when (hopefully) I should get it back :)

[Brabus]

Dang... glad you survived the "blast"...

[BBW]

Well, I called up my mechanic tonight and all is good.

He tried everything all day and found no trouble, He has put the trouble down to a faulty battery. I wont pick it up until tomorrow & the acid burns are tiny :cool:

[BBW]

Update:

Today I finally managed to have a look (in daylight).

There are only a handfull of very minor 'burns' (mainly just marks to the paint) and nothing major.

I guess I was really lucky! Green arrows show the burns. Pics from a Nokia 7610



http://www.c-class.org/images/bat1.gif

http://www.c-class.org/images/bat2.gif


This shot shows fragments of the old white battery inbedded in the boot carpet!


http://www.c-class.org/images/bat3.gif