The new "Unintended Acceleration"....?

[cobram at juno.com]

Will Ng <wng-audi at verizon.net> writes:

> Having a battery installed under the backseat is no defect, 
> otherwise,  there would be hundreds of thousands of 
> charred VW/Audis. I like the fact that my battery is 
> under my backseat. It's location makes wiring to 
> the trunk a breeze, car handles better, and protects 
> the battery from the elements.

Back when I was getting my instrument rating, the Piper Warriors at my
FBO had a recall done (they call them Airworthiness Directives, generates
much less panic than the word "recall" does).  The battery was (is) under
the back seat, and there had been a few fatal fires from the seat springs
turning into radiant heaters from terminal contact.  Pipers answer was to
have a piece of 1/2 inch exterior plywood cut and put over the battery to
prevent terminal contact with the springs.  Every once in a while they'll
be news of an old Piper Warrior or one of it's clones, going up in smoke
(or coming down in smoke) because the plywood was not replaced during a
repair or reupholster job.  

BCNU,
http://www.geocities.com/cobramsri/