Burning Battery Problems

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Author Message   Chris Brennan (Cdmbrennan) Member Username: Cdmbrennan Post Number: 52 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Monday, August 04, 2003 - 08:45 pm:    Battery light came on yesterday afternoon - headlights would not function (but Hellas wired to foglight switch would). Wouldn't start this morning, but after charging batt. for 2 hours, ran fine. Bought a new red top Optima and almost immediately noticed a strong, burning smell - opened hood and there's definitely fluid/gel leaking from the new battery and the hiss of fluid under pressure from the battery as well. What gives? Lights still won't come on and battery wants to...explode? Any ideas appreciated - this one has me stumped.   Chris Brennan (Cdmbrennan) Member Username: Cdmbrennan Post Number: 53 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Monday, August 04, 2003 - 08:48 pm:    If it makes any difference, I'm running 8mm Magnecor ignition wires and 3 Hella500s - but it's been this setup for 3 months now with no probs. Engine has 90,000 miles on it...   Luis Constantin (Luisc) Member Username: Luisc Post Number: 118 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Monday, August 04, 2003 - 09:22 pm:    Your altenator may be overcharging your battery. Had a similar experience with a different brand battery in another vehicle several years ago. It was traced back to the voltage regulator allowing the altenator to overcharge it, only that battery exploded. Also check to make sure the cables are on the right post. Reversing polarity can do the same thing. But then the engine probably wouldn't start if that was the case so I'd still bet on the altenator.   Chris Brennan (Cdmbrennan) Member Username: Cdmbrennan Post Number: 55 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 08:19 pm:    Luis, thanks for the suggestion. Thought it might be something to do with the alternator and it looks like that's the ticket. Fried a couple of electrical things today so I'm waiting the week it takes to get an alternator in...   Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) Senior Member Username: Deanbrown3d Post Number: 704 Registered: 02-2002 Posted on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 06:37 am:    Chris - did you measure the charging voltage?   Peter J Blatt (Peteb) Member Username: Peteb Post Number: 201 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 06:03 pm:    I got a lifetime garenteed alternator from NAPA, magna marelli, 220.00 or so, 4 hours to get in the store near me! also had a prob with alternator at about 75k miles, installed a VDO volt meter to see what's going on since that date! Good luck, and like dean said, did you check the voltage? and why did you charge the batt? Peter.