I would suspect the voltage regulator is overcharging but you could have an
internal short in the battery itself.  You need to find a shop that can
accurately load test the charging system for you.

Justin Jensen
SLC Utah

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Puzerewski
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2000 1:29 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Battery overheating

Electrical gurus----I  need help!!!!!!!!!!!!

Started smelling rotten eggs in the vanagon over the weekend, but thought it
was propane, so cut off the tank.  Still smelled it.  Took a look at the
primary battery (new regular acid battery bought in March) and saw water and
got a whiff of sulfur.

Drove the Vanagon to the Battery store and had them test it for warranty.
Tested good, but temp of battery was rising 147 degrees f and climbing with
car off.  18 year old at battery store tested system (so he said) and told
me there was a short somewhere that was causing the battery to boil.  Huh?

It starts right up, and I saw that the battery had 14.3 on one test and 15.3
volts on another test.  However the dude really did not know what he was
doing.

Other than blowing a fuse for my blower fan, all other circuits in the car
are running normal.

One more thing, noticed that the battery light does NOT come on when I turn
the key.

Voltage regulator bad?

Adam Puzerewski
81 westy
74 beetle
86 cabrio
Vanagon Partsmobiles