So has your battery ever *exploded*? | FerrariChat
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So has your battery ever *exploded*?

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by ///Mink, Sep 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM.

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  1. ///Mink

    ///Mink Formula Junior
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    Sep 5, 2006
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    Tom Mink
    #1 ///Mink, Sep 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
    Because mine just did. I hadn't driven the car in a couple of weeks, and I always keep a 500ma trickle charger on it. I got in, turned the key on and all seemed normal. I disabled the immobilizer, turned the key to start and it sounded like a bomb went off under the hood.

    I purchased the battery in 2016, and I had honestly forgotten how old it was. Anyway I'm off to collect a new one and I'll report back if there was any lasting damage.
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  2. ///Mink

    ///Mink Formula Junior
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    #2 ///Mink, Sep 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
    Well it looks like I lucked out. After a baking soda bath and a new battery, it fired up like nothing had happened. Whew.
    You can see the trail of acid under the car after I moved it out of the garage. Yikes. In 40+ years of driving and 70+ cars I can safely say this is the first battery explosion I've ever experienced. Hopefully it's the last, too!
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  3. buddyg

    buddyg F1 Veteran
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    #3 buddyg, Sep 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
    That’s scary! Glad you and the car are ok.
     
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  4. Steen Jensen

    Steen Jensen Formula Junior

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    #4 Steen Jensen, Sep 20, 2025 at 7:17 PM
    Begs the question...why?
    Batteries produce hydrogen gas when charging but that gas needs a spark to ignite. Possibly loose battery connection that arced upon startup?
    Are you using a good float charger that will cycle on and off? If not , that gas would be more likely to build up. I used to use those cheap trickel chargers but stopped doing so when I figured out how inferior they are to a proper battery tender.
    I would give your engine bay a good rinsing (carefully) , extending to the underside. That acid is extremely corrosive.
    Glad your car is OK.
     
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  5. ///Mink

    ///Mink Formula Junior
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    #5 ///Mink, Sep 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
    Yeah good question. I use a Porsche Charge-o-mat that floats. I like it because it charges at a lower rate than the Battery Tender I also have. I have used this tender/battery combo for many years without incident. Battery terminals were clean and tight. Crazy.
     
  6. RacerX_GTO

    RacerX_GTO F1 World Champ
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    #6 RacerX_GTO, Sep 21, 2025 at 12:46 AM
    Batteries blow up when you're trying to start the car, is because the terminals are krudded up. When on the battery maintainer, or even 2A or more charge, hydrogen was present, you turned they key, an arc happened and "BANG!".
    I'm paranoid about that scenario as well, sulfuric acid is nothing to play around. As added insurance, I put those felt/pad washers on my terminals before connecting it up.
     
  7. ///Mink

    ///Mink Formula Junior
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    #7 ///Mink, Sep 21, 2025 at 12:53 AM
    I definitely see the logic, but the posts were clean as could be and the terminals were tight. I cleaned them before installing the new battery but they were honestly just fine. I am really befuddled by this.
     
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