My car is idling smooth. I hear what sounds like coolant boiling. Yes I've heard that too many times. I look back and bam! My battery is BOILING. Don't believe? You know I got video

Funny side note. The battery still starts the car. I just held my breath while in the cabin. Those fumes will be toxic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cro46lYxC9o

 

Wow that's insane. luckily you caught it when you did!

 

That's hydrogen BTW, very explosive.

 

lol I knew it was either toxic or flammable. Good call.I guess it's okay to huff then. Haha

 

what would cause something like that? I've seen wiring burn up because it's grounding out, but why would the battery fluid start boiling?

 

I haven't used that battery in years. So it could have internal problems. I could be putting a load on it. I got a new (for me) alternator. The wiring was not hot so i wasn't overloading that. No fuses popped either. I'm going to pop the top now that it's cooled down.

 

That looks like a 625, it's not?

 

Yeah, time to ditch that battery and replace it. That's mighty not cool!

Dale

 

Have you put a voltmeter on it while the car is running to see what the voltage is on the battery?

 

Batteries can often make a boiling sound when undergoing extremely fast charge or overcharging. This is the bubbles forming on the plates, and then popping when they get to the surface. The gas is oxygen and hydrogen, so do be careful, although I doubt any dangerous amount is actually produced.

As someone previously said, check the battery voltage when its under charge/producing the bubbles. Also check it when its been off charge for a while. And perhaps again once its under load (engine off, ignition on). This should tell you whether it's a battery or car fault.

 

We have batteries do this in the shop when were recharging them, like other posts have said check the standing voltage (ign off) if it is down by approx two volts it would indicate a bad cell which can cause this also like the post above said over charging/fast charging make sure your Alternator is putting out 14.4 volts. Please for the sake of you and ur car make sure the windows are down and there are no sparks until you get this figured out.

Mike

 

DOA. its 9.6 v standing. it wont even let me jump the car. 10.4v if im lucky with another car jumped to it.

its a 680. i hate buying batteries. ever since i relocated it, my car has sat for long periods of time and it kills the expensive small batteries.

Wish i could just add distilled water like days of old.

 

Wow that's scary. When did you buy that battery? I've had a PC680 since 2005, and have been using a trickle charger for the past couple years... I attach the charger if the car sits for more than a week at a time.

Are you thinking about going with a larger battery for the replacement?

 

just bought a braille b2618 :-D

i never trickle charged it. i made fun of my brother for doing that. just desserts lol

i let this little guy sit for 1.5 years out of the car.

 

Yeah leaving a lead acid battery uncharged for a long period of time is a sure way to kill it
That said, if you have a de-sulphater, you can typically resurrect them to to usable.

 

You have a dead cell in the battery. That's why its voltage was low when checked. The voltage regulator/alternator is trying to bring the voltage to 14V or so, and is thus overcharging the remaining 5 good cells trying to do it. Replace the battery.

 

glad to hear ya replaced it, even if you don't want to trickle charge them, take the battery out of the car if it is going to sit for long periods of time. There is always a draw on a battery in a car ie clock on your stereo, ect, and the cold doesn't help them either.

Mike

 

Or at least disconnect it.

 

Ack, that's what i meant 925, 680. In any case, why would a dry cell be boiling?

 

A dry cell is not actually Dry per say, my understanding is that a AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery is called a Dry cell battery. I would think this is because the electrolyte is suspended in a fiberglass mat against the plates in the battery. These types of batteries usually need to be recharged a certain way. So for example a dry cell or AGM battery sits in a car for a year with a slight draw on it. The battery ends up being discharged. Car gets started and the alternator puts out lots of voltage to cope with the electrical load and try to recharge the battery. Seeing as most AGM batteries need to be recharged a certain way the battery gets hot and the electrolyte starts to boil.
Now this is just how I understand it, I could be wrong.


Mike

 

Der Hindenbatterie!!

 

I had a similar experience a year ago when I trunk-mounted my Optima Yellow Top - that I had for 5 years and never used. I knew I was taking a chance with the old battery, but I wanted to try it anyway. So I charged it, finished the wiring and installation, and the car wouldn't start. My Power FC was indicating only 9 volts engine off and 12 volts with it running, after jumping it with the stock battery. So I bought a new Yellow Top, and it's worked perfectly since. The Braille's look like high quality batteries, though, and they come in tons of sizes. Thanks for sharing the vid.

 

I had this same problem in my miata 2 weeks ago with an optima (boiling and filling the trunk with hydrogen lol). The battery got so hot I couldnt touch it. Optima replaced it for free, but it was still pretty damn scary. Good luck

 

weak batteries , everyone of them lol , i run 1 alpha cell gxl 180 , gel not agm (in my 7) and 3three wired parallel in my explorer which puts out 5k watts max 3k rms. run the radio half volume for 2 hours , will always start even with a weak alternator.