Battery Explodes

[Bernard Littau]

Yikes!!!

> Mine just blew up last week.  I live in the desert and
> apparently it is quite common out here.  When the
> liquid level in the batter drops due to evaporation,
> pockets of hydrogen gas build up in the battery.  At a
> certain point the slightest little spark ( when you
> turn the key) will blow the thing sky high.  It
> doesn't send any kind of electrical surge, but I will
> echo the need to wash everything down with a backing
> soda solution.
>
> (Thank god for Audi's plastic battery boxes)

This is very sobering, the though of having a battery explode as a somewhat
common event.  Especially for those of us who have the battery in the
passenger compartment (under the PS back seat).

I think I'll go pry the tops off my maintenance free vented battery and
check the fluid level today.

Best,

Bernard Littau
Woodinville, WA
'88 5ktq