Battery in boot - Strange smell coming into car

[scootlife]

My battery is located in the boot, but ive a strange smell coming through to the car and wondered what was the best way to vent it ?

ive stuck a plug in one of the vent holes and used some small platic connectors and

clear pipe to the other vent hole and this exits through the grommet in the left rear well.

 

My alternator was charging at 19v and the battery was really stinking , in fact there

was smoke coming out of it !!

Ive changed the alternator and now its ok at 14v, but im assuming i may have

killed the battery?

It was new in Nov last year. It still hold charge but how can i tell if its damaged?

 

Or can anyone recommend a sealed battery ?

 

I just dont fancy our 1 year old being in the back with all those bad smells

floating about the car.

 

Cheers Rob

[Savvi]

The rotten eggs smell is your battery.

 

I think it will be ruined and i would get a new one if i were you

 

 

When you do it will be fine in the boot and you shouldn't normally get any smells.

[over_head_cam]

^^^^ Exactly what I was going to say

[mattsbmw]

rob

 

if you want to try that one that came off the capri to see if it cures the problem before buying a new one your welcome too

[scootlife]

Thats what i thought. Just was hoping to get away with buying another battery so

soon!! Cant really take it back to shop as it was me that overcooked it .

 

im sure its a bit bowed at each end also..

 

off to Halfords later then !! Thankfully have a trade card so a healthy discount helps !

[Retromotorsport]

Personally, even if you have a properly sealed rear bulkhead, ie the rear 1/4s are sealed as these are often missed, most just have an alloy sheet fitted behind the seats, then you should have a Gel type battery, these are sealed 100%, and can be fitted in any position, including upside down, look for REDTOP, VARLEY, DMS, OPTIMA as brand names of Gel batteries, a Redtop 25 or 30 will cope with day to day running, and allthough they cost a bit more, one of my customers has been running his Jensen Healey for over 10 years on his redtop20.

The 'sealed for life' batteries still vent gasses

[scootlife]

I remember my wifes MX5 had 2 rubber vent pipes as standard , vented through the floor which

is where i got my venting idea from.

I was thinking of a gel battery, but presumably if i vent out the new battery then that should help with any gasses ?

[Retromotorsport]

It should...but i just dont trust them.. some have a press fit cover over the plugs for topping up.. and these can breath, yes the cost of a gel battery is greater, but then falling asleep at the wheel because of low levels of gas over an hours drive have caught up with you is more expensive... in the long run though , paying out for a 60 quid battery every 4 years or a 100 quid for DMS for 10 years...

[mk1estate]

i think your missing the point, its only cos you overcharged and then buggered your battery that you were getting the fumes, with a new battery and the overcharging sorted you should be ok with no fumes coming from the battery. Now before everyone kicks off, i know batteries will give off fumes but it should be minimall and as its in the boot it should be ok, if you worried at all use a battery box and add some vents

[Retromotorsport]

All well and good... but the problem is, what if the reg blows in the alt again.. and the gases start creeping in again..

As he said.. a one year old kid is in the car...

[105Ian]

You pay for what you get as they say and as Gary has said a proper gel battery may cost more in the first place but it's a case of fit and forget about worrying about fumes again , the extra price will soon be forgotten and as they say you can't put a price on safety