Steaming battery

kristian12

Has anyone any suggestions before i take the van into the garage tomorrow.

The dash on my ford connect van fails intermittantly and occasionally the eml light comes on. Tonight driving home it smelt something like eggs and when i got home and lifted the bonnent the battery was steaming and red hot. When i pressed the accelerator it poured black smoke from the exhaust (first time i've known it do this).

Are these likely to be connected and has anyone any idea what it could be?

johnayo

If the smoke is from the battery, then stand well back from it and make sure there are no sparks about. Probably caused by the alternator overcharging.

miller50841

kristian12 wrote: »

Has anyone any suggestions before i take the van into the garage tomorrow.

The dash on my ford connect van fails intermittantly and occasionally the eml light comes on. Tonight driving home it smelt something like eggs and when i got home and lifted the bonnent the battery was steaming and red hot. When i pressed the accelerator it poured black smoke from the exhaust (first time i've known it do this).

Are these likely to be connected and has anyone any idea what it could be?

Is the battery the correct one? also is it a sealed or can you top it up it may need to be filled with water not from the tap though.

Did you check the terminals aren't loose also make sure the battery is held down correctly.

kristian12

johnayo wrote: »

If the smoke is from the battery, then stand well back from it and make sure there are no sparks about. Probably caused by the alternator overcharging.

Thanks, There were no sparks just steam and very hot.

miller50841 wrote: »

Is the battery the correct one? also is it a sealed or can you top it up it may need to be filled with water not from the tap though.

Did you check the terminals aren't loose also make sure the battery is held down correctly.

Thanks. The battery is the one that was in it when i bought the van in 2010 so i assume so, i would have thought if it was incorrect it would have given me issues before. It is sealed and secure.

visual

Be careful sealed batteries (nearly all batteries are sealed these days) can explode. The over heathing is either due to alternator over charging or faulty cells in battery.

I say your battery needs replacemet eitherway and possibility alternator faulty.

kristian12

Thanks, it's in the garage now and the guy seems to think its a faulty alternator that needs to be stripped out and sent off for repair. He said it'll take a few days? So expensive job by the sounds of it

Del2005

kristian12 wrote: »

Thanks, it's in the garage now and the guy seems to think its a faulty alternator that needs to be stripped out and sent off for repair. He said it'll take a few days? So expensive job by the sounds of it

Unless the van is a rare one you should be able to pick up a reconditioned one easily enough, can't see why they are sending it for repair.

kristian12

Del2005 wrote: »

Unless the van is a rare one you should be able to pick up a reconditioned one easily enough, can't see why they are sending it for repair.

Nope certainly not rare, a 2007 ford connect

Interceptor

kristian12 wrote: »

Thanks, it's in the garage now and the guy seems to think its a faulty alternator that needs to be stripped out and sent off for repair. He said it'll take a few days? So expensive job by the sounds of it

Usually ~€120 to refurb an alternator and then whatever labour he charges to swap it out + commission. The refurb is two hours work, the rest is waiting time but at least your battery didn't explode and kill your family pet.

'cp

kristian12

Interceptor wrote: »

Usually ~€120 to refurb an alternator and then whatever labour he charges to swap it out + commission. The refurb is two hours work, the rest is waiting time but at least your battery didn't explode and kill your family pet.

'cp

Thanks.

Or me when i very cleverly stuck my head under the bonnet to see what the smell was :eek: