<VV> Battery Explosion

[Gary Swiatowy]

Sent first reply, prior to reading this one.
I also had a battery go bad in my 66 Coronet.
Meeting people to take a trip to Erie PA from Buffalo Area for a show.
Went to start the Coronet and smoke came out from under the hood.
Fusable link fried.
Called  AAA and he wanted to give me a jump start.
First 12 volts, then  24...........(we had tried bypassing the link)
Dead short in the battery. Year old.
They replaced the battery under warranty, but didn't want to know me about 
any other damages.

Fried my MSD unit as well.

Gary Swiatowy


> From: "Bill Hubbell" <whubbell at cox.net>

> Subject: Re: <VV> Battery Explosion
> This has been suggested by others, so here is my response:
>
> I don't think it was Hydrogen gas.  My car is Factory Stock Restored 
> (well,
> it was before this incident anyway) so the battery had the special vented
> caps with hoses that vent the hydrogen gas outside the engine compartment.
>
> It looks like the explosion occurred in the center cell on the positive
> side.  I suppose it could have been hydrogen in the battery which blew it
> apart, but the ignition source was inside the battery, and therefore was
> probably some sort of internal short.  It only happened when I hit the
> starter switch, which would of course cause a large current draw from the
> battery.  There is no evidence of other electrical damage, so I do believe
> the ignition came from within the battery itself.
>
> Yeah, I know the acid might still present problems but I flushed 
> everything
> with tons of water from the hose, then vacuumed it with the shop vac and
> blew everything out with the air hose, then did it all over again with a
> baking soda solution, including giving the harness connectors a good soak.
>
> Unfortunately this means the car will be going on display at the museum 
> with
> a non-stock battery as I don't have time to get a new repro-stock battery.
> Oh well, it could have been a lot worse.
>
> Bill Hubbell
>