Passenger Compartment Batteries

[bobins]

I was having a look over the VW Toerag at work the other day, trying to find out about the battery. According to the owner's manual the battery is under the passenger seat and so you should go to your nearest VW dealer to get it inspected and/or changed They also warned about buying your own battery for it as, amongst other things, they warned it must comply with electro-magnetic requirements

[Gibbo2286]

I was having a look over the VW Toerag at work the other day, trying to find out about the battery. According to the owner's manual the battery is under the passenger seat and so you should go to your nearest VW dealer to get it inspected and/or changed They also warned about buying your own battery for it as, amongst other things, they warned it must comply with electro-magnetic requirements

One of my mates had an Audi 80, that had the battery under the back seat, it came to grief when he gave his dad a lift in it, the previous owner hadn't fitted the battery cover and the old man's weight pushed the seat springs down and shorted out the battery causing quite a spectacular exit and an unstoppable fire.

[GiveMeABreak]

A completely ridiculous idea having the battery under the passenger seat or inside a passenger cabin - just like the Xsara Picasso.

Although rare, there have been deaths / injuries from Hydrogen sulfide leaking out - normally the manufacturer would use a sealed battery - but as we know, not everyone has a Chemistry degree and won't always fit either the manufacturer - recommended battery or a properly sealed / vented type when it needs replacing. This one happened in a Porsche Cayenne SUV (scroll do

So if you start to smell the rotten eggs - time to bail...

https://www.click2houston.com/consumer/ ... e-aware-of

[Paul-R]

I think that's being a bit alarmist Marc. The rotten eggs smell is much more frequently noticed from catalytic converters cleaning themselves out rather than from a dodgy battery.

[GiveMeABreak]

I think it is perfectly valid Paul - vented batteries need to be vented outside the vehicle - but even some 'sealed' batteries give off fumes.

Take these pics of BMW showing the venting - and what it can do when not vented out properly.

Although I appreciate the Xsara Picasso has a vent pipe - I personally don't like the idea.

[Hell Razor5543]

I saw on TV recently (about the A1) a BMW estate that was involved in a rear end shunt. The emergency services were in attendance, and somebody smelt something in the cabin of said BMW. As the tailgate was severely damaged it could not be opened normally. The Fire Brigade cut the back open, and they found that some damaged metal was touching the battery, and (IIRC) was shorting it out.

[CitroJim]

My Skoda has its battery under the rear seat...

[EDC5]

The V6 X7's have passenger compartment batteries. Although they're in the rear quarter wing right next to the cabin air exhaust so any vented gases would be quickly removed from the cabin.

[JohnD]

I think that's being a bit alarmist Marc. The rotten eggs smell is much more frequently noticed from catalytic converters cleaning themselves out rather than from a dodgy battery.

Sorry but I strongly disagree! I caravan in Spain during the winter months and when I left home, I used the motor mover to shift the caravan from the back garden out to the front drive. The mover is powered by a 12volt on-board battery in the caravan. The fact that it drove the wheels indicated that the battery was ok. I drove to Portsmouth, spent the night on the dockside then parked the car and van on the ferry for 30 hours. Then I drove 300 miles to Salamanca. In the early hours my CO detector started chirping. As I wasn't burning any gas, I assumed the detector was faulty so took the 3volt battery out of it. In the morning I replaced the battery and within 30 minutes the chirping started again. Took the battery out again. During the afternoon I noticed an unpleasant smell so started to investigate - sinks, shower room, toilet etc. Finally I looked under the seating. The smell was strongest on the nearside. I went outside and opened the battery locker. The smell of rotten eggs was over-powering. Not only that - the battery was much too hot to touch. Fortunately I keep a spanner in the locker so I could loosen one of the clamps and disconnect the charger. It took several hours for the battery to cool. I believe it was not far off blowing its lid. I also discovered that the detector not only reacts to carbon monoxide but also reacts to hydrogen gas.

[GiveMeABreak]

A very lucky escape if you ask me John! I really do wonder what the outcome could of been had it exploded - and I bet you'll never take the battery out of your detector again!

[wurlycorner]

I don't like the idea of batteries in the passenger compartment either (having helped a neighbour recently with his Beemer that had a flat battery having them in the boot is a (-expletive removed-) PITA IMO) but it's not uncommon...
Batteries on electric forklifts, milk floats, many diesel vans and lorries etc. are commonly under the drivers seats.

Given that batteries for electric cars won't fit under the bonnet (or that it isn't sensible to, given the centre of gravity problems) batteries in/under/around the passenger compartment is the inevitable future!

As for VW's and batteries...
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.p ... -procedure
Worse than a PSA BSi reset!
Apparently cars that require this sort of complicated crap after a dead battery, is progress

[bobins]

As for VW's and batteries...
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.p ... -procedure
Worse than a PSA BSi reset!
Apparently cars that require this sort of complicated crap after a dead battery, is progress

Holy crap. It's a bit alarming that "In the event of a collision, the airbag control module triggers a separation, which disrupts the power supply wiring to the starter. The battery cut-off takes place pyrotechnically through a very small explosive charge. "
I've got visions of all of those old American shows where the cars seemed to explode in a ball of flame at the slightest accident

[GiveMeABreak]

Yep VW can keep their pyrotechnic-triggered exploding batteries along with their rapidly expanding fuel emission figures

[Paul-R]

I think that's being a bit alarmist Marc. The rotten eggs smell is much more frequently noticed from catalytic converters cleaning themselves out rather than from a dodgy battery.

Sorry but I strongly disagree!

So you're saying that your experience is that the H2S smell occurs more frequently because of a bad battery? How many times has this happened?

As far as I'm concerned I have experienced the smell from catalysts many times and a faulty battery never.

[Paul-R]

I think it is perfectly valid Paul - vented batteries need to be vented outside the vehicle - but even some 'sealed' batteries give off fumes.

I didn't mean to give the impression that special batteries are not needed, just that if you smell H2S it's more likely to be from a catalytic converter.