4310 battery spew warrant fix

JerryG · Dec 13, 2003

I shut off my car one day, then it acted like the battery was dead. It just clicked. I thought it might be the cable connections. I tightened them, then went to try and start it. When I did, there was a boom and the caps blowed off all over the yard. The shop guy said that it had shorted internally when I had it replaced. Another funny thing, it was a Diehard. I had it replaced at Sears, went to start the car and nothing while still at Sears. They hooked it up to their very large analyzer and told me that the plates had apparently never been welded together. No doubt they had to put in another new one. That one worked.

JDgreen227 · Dec 14, 2003

I saw a battery explode one time but it wasn't the fault of the battery itself. Where I worked we had an old Clark propane conversion forklift that used a 6 volt battery, we also had a Manpower employee who was mechanically challenged and had a bad habit of smoking while using the forklift, despite my warnings not to do that. One Monday the battery would not turn over the Clark so he got a pair of jumper cables and hooked it up to the two 12 volt batteries of my work diesel truck and for good measure started the truck, which had a high output alternator....

The good thing about this incident is that nobody was injured--
and it certainly cured him from smoking around the forklift.

Bird · Dec 14, 2003

( Batteries expoloding when jump starting are the reason there is a special way to hook up the jumper cables )

Right, Egon, and in spite of warnings, training, etc., one of my employees once had a battery explode while trying to hook up jumper cables. It was only sheer luck that none of the acid hit her eyes.

Trev · Dec 14, 2003

( ( Batteries expoloding when jump starting are the reason there is a special way to hook up the jumper cables )

Right, Egon, and in spite of warnings, training, etc., one of my employees once had a battery explode while trying to hook up jumper cables. It was only sheer luck that none of the acid hit her eyes. )

Bird, when you say "in spite or warnings, training, etc." do you mean that the person followed the training and still had trouble.. or that she ignored some of her training?

Now you guys have me worried.. what IS the correct way to jump start another vehicle? I thought I knew.. but maybe I'm wrong. I won't even put here what I thought, in case someone reads just this note and thinks my method is correct! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Thanks,
Nervous Bob

Bird · Dec 14, 2003

Bob, she didn't follow the correct procedure; i.e., she just hooked the cables positive to positive on the batteries, then negative on the good battery to negative on the bad one, and that's when a spark blew it up. AAA has the instructions as to how to do it properly. Basically, it amounts to making that last connection away from the battery so any spark is not close enough to any gas that's escaping from the battery to ignite it.

JDgreen227 · Dec 14, 2003

My understanding is that the safest way to hook up jumper cables is to be certain the two vehicles do not have metal to metal contact, then you connect the cables as follows:

1. Connect first to the positive terminal of the dead battery, or use remote positive terminal if one exists.

2.Connect to the positive terminal of the good battery, or use the remote positive terminal if one exists.

3.Connect to the negative terminal of the good battery, or use the remote negative terminal if one exists.

4.Connect to an unpainted metal part in the engine compartment of the vehicle with the dead battery, such as a motor mount or alternator bracket. If there is a remote negative terminal, that can also be used.

Be sure none of the cables are near any moving parts of either engine, and start the vehicle with the good battery. Then try to start the other vehicle. Remove the jumper cables in the reverse order they were installed---negative off the vehicle that had the dead battery first, then negative off the good battery, etc.

It goes without saying you should not wear watches or rings when working around batteries, and I understand it is also a good idea to be sure radios and other electronic devices are off or unplugged in both vehicles.

Trev · Dec 14, 2003

Thanks, Bird! Will go and read that ASAP!

Bob

Trev · Dec 14, 2003

( ...and I understand it is also a good idea to be sure radios and other electronic devices are off or unplugged in both vehicles. )

That pretty much matches what I'd heard, except for the part about the electronics in the cars. I had heard that you should have the radio on, the heater blasting at full power, etc., to minimize the chance of damage due to power transients, etc.

Will have to go read that link Bird gave me.

Thanks Folks!

Bob

jinman · Dec 14, 2003

Bird, I think AAA's eplanation is good, but I even think the safest way it to connect the postive terminals and then find a good ground on both vehicles away from both batteries. If your connection to the good battery is not firm, the jumper cable can arc there too when the ground connection is made to the vehicle with the dead battery. I'm positive I'm oversensitive about this, but with my "explosive" experience, I just don't trust lead-acid batteries anymore. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I have one of those self-contained jumper batteries and I use it on my mowers and other utility vehicles when needed. It's been one of the best purchases I ever made for $50. However, if my diesel doesn't start, I either get a neighbor to give me a ride to buy new batteries or call a tow truck. Trying to jumpstart a two-battery diesel truck is asking for trouble. A small tractor like most of ours is no problem, but a diesel pickup is a different "critter." /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

jinman · Dec 14, 2003

( Now you guys have me worried.. )

Bob, what is the saying? ..."Knowledge is power."
I don't think any of us want to worry you. To get back to your original post, you can test the specific gravity of your tractor's battery and the peak charged voltage to verify that you have a good battery. I doubt you need a replacement yet. I am a firm believer in, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

As to exploding batteries, I've seen guys hook up jumper cables and then touch the ends to make a big spark, supposedly to check the connection. Heck, I even did that as a kid without knowing any better. I don't do it now. I know how to protect myself and my bad experience will ensure I follow all safety precautions in the future. I don't think you need to be "worried," just be aware. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif