FW: [V8] the dreaded blue wire debacle

[Coleman, David]

Did this make the list yesterday?   I never got the post, and wondered
if anyone else had this issue w/ OE Audi battery: 

-----Original Message-----
From: Coleman, David 
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 3:44 PM

HEY.  The OE battery I bought from Audi for my '91 V8 three days before
its untimely demise (the car's, not the battery's)  DID NOT have a
nipple or otherwise suitable place to attach the vent tube to.   I left
it unhooked figuring it was an UPGRADED configuration.

Depending on what happens insurance-wise, I guess I'll have to GO BACK
to the bloody dealer?

-DaveC.


> Your battery ABSOLUTLY HAS to have a cover over the POSITIVE post, and

> the battery has to have a vent hose. There is a very specific battery 
> that must be used (sorry - I don't have the type handy) or you WILL 
> have at least two very nasty problems:
> 
> 1. Explosive and corrosive HYDROGEN GAS is constantly being generated 
> by the battery when the car is running.
> 
> 2. If (or more likely when) someone sits on the rear seat over the 
> exposed battery post, and causes a short to ground, you will have an 
> instant fire, possible battery explosion, and probable injury to 
> everyone in the car.
> 
> Make sure you have the correct battery type and that it is properly 
> VENTED through the tube in the floor.
> On some batteries, you connect the vent hose to one vent nipple on the

> battery and then make sure to PLUG THE OTHER ONE or you will still 
> release hydrogen under the seat.
> 
> Your symptoms still sound like a bad alternator. If you have been in 
> deep water you could have caused some sort of corrosion problem in the

> alternator.
> It could have just failed for no good reason too. It happens.
> 
> (SORRY ABOUT THE YELLING BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT STUFF :-)