Wow.

Is there any reason to suspect that the battery had been overvoltaged by
a funky voltage regulator? Only because Andrew describes a battery
failure due to voltage regulator failure, but in your case the battery
failed right after starting the engine, yes? I don't know much about
modes of failure for batteries but I'd think that an explosive failure
of a lead acid battery due to overcharge would occur after the engine
had been running for a while, allowing it to bake and pressurize. And I
guess the battery would have to of the sealed type, too.

What kind of battery was it? Brand and technology (flooded cell, AGM, gel)?

Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR

On 5/31/2008 7:00 PM Zoltan Kuthy wrote:

> Just as I turned the key, booom, smoke and chaos.
> Apparently, the battery exploded under the pass. seat.  One cell leaked out completely, the others partially.  The plastic of the battery fell apart at places.
> Today, I was cleaning the whole thing up, POR 15, bedliner spray, cleaning ground, fitting with stainless bolt.
> Otherwise all is well.
> Zoltan
>