Ok what the F just happened! Blew the battery caps off!

[Challenger RTA]

Just a reminder. When jumping a vehicle. Connect to the positive terminal first. Then connect negative to the motor or chassis. This is the safest way. When connecting the last connection there will be an arc. You don't want that at the battery. That will have a higher potential hydrogen gas.


On an other note. Summer time is when most batteries go bad from the heat. You might not see the results until a little later. First time when you need the cold cranking amps.
Then on a personal note. Two weeks ago I bought three battery. Wouldn't you know, now I need an other.

Bottom line: It's harder to maintain a battery when there sealed. Not able to add distilled water or acid if needed.

 

[Raycuda]

Just to recap my recent problems and posts. I’ve had some wiring harness issues. I think I have them fixed to the point where I can drive my car. Once my harness issues were resolved the battery had died so I left it on a trickle charge for a few days my car started right up drove it and had no issues.
I haven’t used my car since then (maybe a month or so now). I was going to take it out today but the battery was dead again, so I left it on a trickle charge for a few hours when i returned home turned the key still basically dead. I removed the trickle charger and hooked up my battery starter/charger set it 12V/200 Amp engine start. When I turned the key it instantly made a loud pop and blew one of the caps off the battery! Why did this happen? Is my battery junk? I know my underwear is!

Ive had the battery a few years now and has been fine no issues Duralast battery And yes the leads on the charger were hooked up correctly. I’m basically paranoid to drive my car much less even try to start it now. Im now keeping a fire extinguisher in the truck next time I take it out which is probably a good idea regardless.

I don't know why the cap popped off, but I always leave my car on a battery tender when parked in the garage, all my toys live on a battery tender.

 

[sheetmetaldan]

I don't know why the cap popped off, but I always leave my car on a battery tender when parked in the garage, all my toys live on a battery tender.

What battery tender do you use? I would like to get a decent one not some harbor freight cheapo.
Just to update my situation I do need a new battery. I removed it from my car over the weekend and charged it for a few hours and it is totally dead!

 

[pschlosser]

What battery tender do you use? I would like to get a decent one not some harbor freight cheapo.

Agreed. Some of those tenders are uncontrolled charging circuits. They can cause electrolyte gassing, particularly in older batteries that have mild sulfation and never fully charge.

 

[Raycuda]

What battery tender do you use? I would like to get a decent one not some harbor freight cheapo.
Just to update my situation I do need a new battery. I removed it from my car over the weekend and charged it for a few hours and it is totally dead!

I have always used the Deltron Battery Tender Plus. They make a verity of them for your individual needs, and the best prices have seen for them is on Amazon.

Battery Tender Plus 12V 1.25 AMP Car & Motorcycle Battery Charger and Maintainer, Float Charge for Automotive, and ATVs - Smarter Than a Trickle Charger​

 

[6PKRTSE]

I have never used any of those battery tenders in my life. I don't trust them. Charging overnight or all the time is known for burning down too many vehicles, garages or barns to the ground. I just disconnect all my batteries when the vehicles are not in use and never been a problem. Vehicles can sit all winter long and fire right up in the spring.

 

[Ronbo73]

This is what I used for my battery. I bought a battery from Walmart and used this to make my battery look like an original and less money than the cap. Click on the link. not sure why it says "pardon our interruption"

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[6PKRTSE]

This is what I used for my battery. I bought a battery from Walmart and used this to make my battery look like an original and less money than the cap. Click on the link. not sure why it says "pardon our interruption"

Pardon Our Interruption...

I do the same to my new batteries. (First 3 pics are the same battery).

On my old resto batteries, I hide the lightweight racing batteries inside them.

 

[Challenger RTA]

Lets take this somewhere else. Battery: What are you using and why.


I guess I'm hijacking but it something that is overlooked. Then it's to late.

Battery: What are you using and why.

 

[pschlosser]

Overcharging can pop the caps off. Some tenders will overcharge. Lead-acid batteries only need to be topped off every few months, if put away fully-charged. Extreme (below freezing) cold can shorten this time between top-off. Older batteries can sulfate, and continually take a charge, and if left unattended on a poorly designed tender, bubble away.

 

[Raycuda]

I have never used any of those battery tenders in my life. I don't trust them. Charging overnight or all the time is known for burning down too many vehicles, garages or barns to the ground. I just disconnect all my batteries when the vehicles are not in use and never been a problem. Vehicles can sit all winter long and fire right up in the spring.

I have been using a battery tender since 1976 and never had any problems with them. I currently have 3 vehicles on tenders.

 

[heminut]

I have never used any of those battery tenders in my life. I don't trust them. Charging overnight or all the time is known for burning down too many vehicles, garages or barns to the ground.

Motorcycle batteries are notorious for not lasting very long and the battery for my full dress Harley are damned expensive. I keep a battery tender plugged into it whenever I'm not out riding and I usually get 5-6 years out of a battery, which is exceptional for motorcycle batteries. I also keep a battery tender on a 29 series deep cycle battery for my RV that sits in the garage when I'm not using the RV and have put a battery tender on the battery in my Cuda for a week at a time. IMHO and experience a properly made battery tender is quite safe to use long term. You say you've never used one so you have no personal experience with them, only what someone else has said. Quite often, "Charging overnight or all the time is known for burning down too many vehicles, garages or barns to the ground." is probably from using a regular battery charger (NOT the same as a battery tender) or other circumstances not related to the charger itself.

 

[pschlosser]

and the battery for my full dress Harley are damned expensive.

The AGM motorcycle batteries are proving to be quite robust. If you're still on straight lead-acid, the next time it fails, consider an AGM battery. With my sons and daughters, I help maintain seven (7) two-wheeled vehicles (many are 4-stroke scooters), and as they move to AGM batteries, storage and maintenance problems drop through the floor.

They also seem to tolerate tip-overs without loss of battery function or spillage of acid on the frames and motor. A real +++

 

[Xcudame]

We really are all missing the obvious! Get out there and drive your E-Bodies! Even if it's only around the block or two!

 

[6PKRTSE]

I drive the crap out of all of mine. A couple from the last few cruise in nights. My red Charger in the middle.

My red Challenger was even one of this year's cars that made the Woodward Dream cruise shirts and posters.

 

[sheetmetaldan]

Just catching up on my post seems I’ve missed a lot! I ended up having to buy a new battery my old battery was completely dead after the caps blew off. I went with an interstate battery not the top of the line but good enough for my needs. However now that I have a new battery back in it seems the voltage limiter got cooked so there goes another $60 for a new one.
I do like that hidden battery trick. I may try that down the road as i have a retro style battery that would be an excellent candidate to do that with!

 

[sheetmetaldan]

This is what I used for my battery. I bought a battery from Walmart and used this to make my battery look like an original and less money than the cap. Click on the link. not sure why it says "pardon our interruption"

Pardon Our Interruption...

Thanks for posting this. I just ordered one for myself. I found it at this place Weskar.com cost me $23.95 & free shipping was a better deal than E-bay. I’ll update this when I receive it just in case anything weird happens with shipping & tariffs or whatever.

 

[moparleo]

Hydrogen gas is why caps pop off, cars catch fire, acid caused paint damage, electronics damaged.
Charge out of the car, where there is good ventilation.

 

[Raycuda]

I drive the crap out of all of mine. A couple from the last few cruise in nights. My red Charger in the middle.

My red Challenger was even one of this year's cars that made the Woodward Dream cruise shirts and posters.

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View attachment 144111

CONGRATULATIONS! That is so cool, what an honor.

 

[CASCA2525]

worked frequently driving forklift and have been fortunate to never have an accident with electrics, but I have taken the training course and updates and Leo is spot on and you don't want to see the injuries they show in the course, its also stunning to see those 1/4inch wall steel battery boxes bloomed open like a flower from a hydrogen explosion, before opening the battery compartment we needed googles that sealed around our eyes, face shield, rubber apron that covered neck to knees an bicep high rubber gloves