SF Gate: Freak fire traps man inside Audi/Battery failure a p ossible cause

[Larry C Leung]

A flaming battery will produce current until either:

- the case melts far enough to let all of the electrolyte in at least one
cell to leak out, or
- the plates melt together and short

Hence the need for Kill switches on race cars (and why firemen are
sometimes rather disraught when big Audi's burn. Keep that in mind Bose
owners!)

(former collegue, volunteer fireman was commenting on how a post accident
5K became a search and destroy mission trying to find the battery. It
seems one of the cars involved had a fuel leak. When I told him that the
battery was under the seat, he goes, "Ooooh, THAT explains it!")

LL - NY

On Mon, 14 Jan 2002 14:46:14 -0700 Brad Wilson <dotnetguy at pobox.com>
writes:
>Beatty, Robert wrote:
>
>> Actually just spoke with dad about this on the phone.  If the fire
>was from
>> the battery or battery compartment, the power door lock motor is
>located
>> RIGHT next to the battery.  Any holes melted into the lines or pump
>casing
>> allowing a leak into the locking system would have the pump
>contiuously
>> trying to lock the doors.
>
>Except that the motor can't run without battery power. If anything,
>you
>might benefit for heat there, by melting the tube and opening it to
>air (and
>thus killing the vacuum effect). Just my 2c.
>
>Best regards,
>Brad
>
>2000 A6 2.7 biturbo quattro   http://www.quality.nu/bradw/audi/
>2 turbos, 1 driver ... no limits
>