Battery Blowing up

[Craftsman]

I'm on my second battery in just about years time. Got to it before it exploded as it was swelling up on me (the first one exploded and rusted where I didn't clean it good enough). Whats the best way to find the problem as to why its swelling and whats the fix?






Modified by Craftsman at 12:38 PM 6/14/2006

[180fan]

sealed battery or was it the type you can dump water into? I'm also gonna assume you were just starting the car when it decided to take a dump on you?

[ricebike]

check your alternator? mebbe it's overcharging da batteries, causing them to blow up???

[ACESXX]

--> WOW a battery that blows up??? never heard/seen anything like that??? dont know check with the manufacturer?? or sue them!!!!! jst kidding!

[Craftsman]

sealed battery or was it the type you can dump water into? I'm also gonna assume you were just starting the car when it decided to take a dump on you?

First and second was a sealed battery.

[Craftsman]

check your alternator? mebbe it's overcharging da batteries, causing them to blow up???

I thought about that too. What about the voltage regulator? Is that part of the alternator?

[180fan]

If they're sealed batteries, were they using gels? The sealed battery would explain why they were swelling and then bursting. The bursting on sealed batteries usually comes from water in those sealed batteries getting exhausted, going a bit lower than the lead plates and hydrogen gas building up in that space and sparking during a heavy draw like during start up. Try using a normal battery that you can keep an eye out on the water level or a sealed battery that's using a gel.

[Craftsman]

Try using a normal battery that you can keep an eye out on the water level or a sealed battery that's using a gel.

Good info. Thanks. I want to diagnose the problem --drain problem or over voltage. When I get the body work done I'm planning to do a full fielding on the alternator. I can't find anywhere, where it says the voltage regulation is done through the ECU/PCM so I'm asuming it's in the alternator. If this is wrong let me know.

If I can't find the problem, would the sealed gel battery take the abuse and not swell? Since the battery tray has so much cancer it's coming out and the battery is going in the trunk and I won't see it as much to catch it before it Hiroshimas.

[ricebike]

I thought about that too. What about the voltage regulator? Is that part of the alternator?

yes, the rectifier bridge (full of diodes) are integrated @ the back of the alternator...

not hard to take to autozone or any auto parts slinger for a bench test... GL w/ your findings!--------------------on another note, i had one of those "sealed batteries" on my wifey's car.after a drive belt change (the honda dealer tech had kinda overtighten it a tad, so I don't haveta come back to get the new belts rechecked/retightened-- bad practice IMO it was there for warranty work on top of it)

I noticed that the battery started to "sweat out" thru the vents! dammit...to...hellz

[180fan]

The gel batteries are a bit less prone to the liquid on the inside evaporating reason for that is they usually have some other chemical in the gel that binds to the hydrogen and makes water.

If you're planning on using a sealed gel battery, look at an optima. I've been using the redtop starter battery in my s13 for almost 4 years with no problems.

[Craftsman]

Thanks for the help everyone. I'll head to Napa/Autozone/Advanced when the front end gets put back togethor and have them test it. I'll be using a red top too since I don't have any need for the yella top.

[guyaverage]

Your alternator is shot.

[slydin'240]

When I was working at KIA we had a Sedona van come in and the battery was all swelled up. Tested the alternator and found it to be putting out 18.5V - New alt and battery and away they went.