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

[ScottyCBoy at aol.com]

This sounds more like it. If the pump was activated the locks would stay down
and be impossible to pull up by hand. I guess it could be that the pump
stayed activated pulling the locks down, the pump heats up (possibly igniting
hydrogen gas produced by a battery after it has been discharged significantly
(starting an engine)). The guy probably passed out before the locks were able
to be opened by hand. I bet the owner didn't have a properly installed
battery vent.

Scott

In a message dated 1/15/2002 11:10:06 AM Central Standard Time,
DGraber460 at aol.com writes:

<< My money is on the vacuum pump under the back seat. Our 5kt (recently
stolen,
 and gone forever I hope), had the pump short out, partially melt, and stink
 up the car. The battery was vented, but I think we probably came close to a
 fire also. >>