Holy crap, that's scary.
Batteries generate hydrogen gas; which my friend found out about when
playing too close with a spark plug rigged to a coil.  The battery did the
same thing- blew up in his face.
Fortunately he wore glasses so no major damager done.
I always wear safety glasses when working around batteries now.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mike
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 7:19 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Friday - Disaster averted

Awesome, Jeff!

  I too, averted disaster today, but of a different sort..........

  Today while working at a customer site, a diesel truck battery blew up in
my face, spraying both of my eyes and my entire upper torso, face, sinuses,
arms, etc. with battery acid/ water.  The whole top of the battery
shrapnelled, a few pieces even poked my forehead and nose.   I couldn't see
through the acid haze in my burning eyes.
  Quick thinking, and a gallon jug of clean water within arm's reach saved
both my eyes, and the guy that was with me topping off the almost empty
battery cells.
  Needless to say, I spent the entire afternoon in a clinic and then an
opthamoligist's office to sort out the damages.  Luckily, the water rinse
for a half hour or so, limited the injuries to minor, with no expected
long-term consequences, but now I need to prevent infections.  No fun, I'll
tell ya!

Grateful to still see with both eyes now,

Mike B
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Jeff Lincoln
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
  Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 3:50 PM
  Subject: Friday - Disaster averted

  Well, I was heading back to work from taking my lunch break - waiting at a
  stop light when I suddenly noticed White smoke Billowing out of the side
  vents of the bus. HOLY S*@t!

  I got off the road as quickly as I could, pulling into a party store.
Turned
  her off and took a look - coolant pouring out of the rear of the van. My
  heart sank and I feared the absolute worst.

  I got the engine lid off and was looking from above and underneath - I
  couldn't find where it was coming from - but everything was soaked. Again
I
  feared the worst.

  I went in the store and purchased a couple gallons of water (I have
coolant
  at home used water just to get by) - I started filling the coolant tank
  hoping the leak would make itsef' apparent - sure enough, water started
  pouring after about half of the second gallon was in. So I found it. Turns
  out there is a rather large coolant line above and just forward of the
  engine - this line had a plastic coupler (close to the center) that had
  broken. I was relieved to find it actually.

  So happens there was a local mechanic right next door - he was kind enough
  to loan me a screw driver and some needle nose pliers so I could get the
  coupler out. When I showed him what had happened - he just happened to
have
  a coupler the same size in his tool box. I put in the new part clamped it
up
  - started the bus and checked for leaking. All is well.

  The guy charged me $2 for the part - I gave him a total of $10 for his
  kindness. Nice old guy - seemed to know a bit about VW buses too.

  So there you have it - scary at first but no catastrophic failure. I
noticed
  the coolant light and the smoke (steam) quickly enough nothing over
heated.
  All that and I was only 10 min late back from lunch. I guess if something
is
  going to break that's the kind of problem you want. The Vanagon Gods were
  good to me today.

  have a great weekend everyone :)

  --
  Thanks,

  Jeff
  '90 Carat (Grover)
  '86 (We call this one Parts)
  '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus