FW: [V8] the dreaded blue wire debacle

[dsaad at icehouse.net]

Someone pointed out that some new battery technologies - like Gel Cell - have no
vent and are in fact totally sealed. AFAIK though, even "sealed for life" lead
acid batteries are vented. Usually this vent is part of the cap. The cap may say
"Don't Remove" but it is removable (at least the ones I have seen) and you can
add water if needed. I think the sealed for life statement just means the
battery is designed to die at a specific time.
Sort of like "Don't bother to replace the automatic transmission fluid - just
replace the transmission" :-).

So - if you don't have a vent tube nipple, and you don't have a Gel Cell (you
would know because they cost about double) then you could have the wrong battery
type installed. Is the seat foam over the battery all dis-colored? That would
indicate to me that the battery is venting.
I would ask the dealer that installed the battery to make sure they put in the
correct type.

Dave


Quoting "Coleman, David" <David.Coleman at blackrock.com>:

> 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 :-)
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