My Battery Exploded tonight! PICS!!!

So I was on my way home tonight from hitting a few bars with my friends, and being DD, I was sober and wanted to tune out the drunkies in the back with some music. My aftermarket headunit has been freezing lately, but a restart of the truck usually fixes it. I exited the highway, got to the red light, shut the ignition off, then back on within a second or two, and BOOM!

My hood popped open as if I pulled the release cable, truck didn't/wouldn't start, all warning lights on, but dim, no accessories, hazards, nothing. I was stuck in the middle of the road. Popped the hood and found that one of the acid caps on the driver side of the battery had popped off, and was nowhere to be found. Got the drunk friends out of the truck to help me push her into a parking lot across the street. Still couldn't find the cap after looking all over the engine bay. I came to the conclusion it had fallen under the truck at the light I was stuck at.

Seems like a tablespoon full of acid had splashed onto the inside of my hood. I wiped it off with a shop towel, got everything out of the truck and manually locked all the doors and called my brother to come pick us up. After closing the hood, I noticed a very small (1/8") dent protruding up on my hood from what looks like where the cap had hit.

I have no idea what might have caused the pop, but it definitely made a loud noise as if the hydrogen had ignited somehow. As far as I know, it's the original OEM battery with 69,000 miles on it. I do have quite a bit of accessories, all fused and relayed, hooked up to the battery, but I can't imagine that causing it. I haven't had time to loom them all up just yet, so it looks like a mess of wires right now. Never had any problems with this battery, always started the truck perfectly the first time and has ran all my accessories+sound system for a few months now.

Left the truck in the parking lot, asked a local deputy if it'll be towed and he said it's fine for 3 days. Not sure if leaving those acid caps open overnight will do any corrosive damage, but I had nothing to plug the holes with and my friends were getting antsy.

I was supposed to go to on that Gorman run tomorrow morning, but it looks like I'll be waiting for Pep Boys to open so I can buy a new battery and install it.

Here are some pics. Excuse the muddy mess, I had gone mudding the day before.

Acid cap clearly gone with some acid spilled on the battery.



Cap popped off


Dent in the hood

 

A clean motor is a happy motor

 

Would not be surprised if all that mud was the source of your problems.

 

usualy only a dead short will pop a battery like that...youre lucky the case didnt explode

 

Appears the vents were clogged by the mud all over your engine bay and the pressure got too much. Have fun neutralizing all the acid.

 

This ^^^^^^^^^.

Your battery didn't explode. I have seen a battery explosion. That wasn't one.

 

Agreed, this was definitely the cause. I've seen it happen on four-wheelers before, the vent gets clogged by mud and all the pressure is contained inside the case.

 

x3 on the vents being clogged....

 

I'll X4 this for sure. Those batteries have to be vented. During charging the chemical reaction does generate fumes. If the fumes have nowhere to escape, then the pressure inside the cells will build until the caps can't hold it in any longer. I bet from now on you will always rinse off at least the battery after mudding. I'm glad you weren't hurt. If that hood had popped open when going down the highway things could have been much worse. Count your blessings and be thankful you just have a small dent in the hood.

 

Wow didn't think it could happen so quickly...I only went through 2 puddles, about mid tire in height 2 nights ago. I do always wash my engine bay with the motor running, usually on my way home from mudding but this time I was going to Gorman with the other TW guys today and figured I'd wait until after.

Good to know. Thanks for the help fellas. Heading to Costco to buy a new battery.

 

If you have the factory towing package, Costco won't have your battery. It isn't popular enough. Just an FYI.

 

I realized this 3 days ago when I got my new battery. Costco didn't have the one I needed. Also, stay away from mud, it ruins everything!

 

Thanks for the heads up. You think Pepe Boys or Vatozone has them?

 

What's up with all those loose wires..huge safety factor! Get some wire loom and wrap those suckers up. And put fuses on the wires that don't have em!!!!

 

What kind of battery does the tow package require?

 

It's not required. Desired maybe.

 

I needed a 27f and Costco didn't carry it.

 

I would highly recommend against this, that's just asking for engine and electrical trouble.

Technically not required, as the truck will run without the correct battery type. However, doing so will result in additional wear on the alternator(meaning shorter lifespan), as well as shortened lifespan of the battery.

 

In some instances that may be correct but not in this one under most situations. Besides, the difference between the Towing battery and the standard one is not that great.

 

I agree... mostly.