A cautionary tale.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Over the hollidays using my car just for local

journeys etc.,

a foul smell wafted in through the ventilation

fo 10minutes or so and then disappeared, however

over the next few days it came and whent, I had

to refill screenwashers, after a journey and on opening

the bonnet found every covered in greenig white splashes

and gas discharging from vents in the battery (Bat 3 mths old)

during the runup to the hols I had become very breathless,

and congested, supposed it was a chest infection, NO SUCH LUCK

the gas emmited from the battery is HYDROGEN SULPHIDE (H2S, or ''bad egg gas''

I am now under going a series of tests and treatment for poisoning by this gas.

Be Warned this problem I'm told was caused by intermittent over charging

by a faulty generator causing the battery to boil.

[patdavies]

Hydrogen sulphide is only emitted by a faulty battery - either low electrolyte or plates touching.

 

A good battery will only emit hydrogen.

[heliosuk]

It's also emitted by the petrol fueled car in front with a catalytic convertor warming up. Generally overcharging should also show up as a red charge light on the dash but the are circumstances, though rare, where it won't. A convenient reminder to check levels on a regular basis it seems.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Out of interest this is the 3rd battery of

the same type fitted to my Hyudai Accent

used as a business rounabout all have

to some extent suffered the same ''fault''

each time so far the local fast fit have

replaced the battery, checked the

alternator and confirmed charging at

13.5 to 14 volts, any ideas welcome.

Also no charging warning light, and

these are supposedly maintenance free

batteries.