Jeep Sahara Unlimited Battery Exploded etc..

[Echo4]

I have a 2008 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unltd (55000km's) and had a nightmare of an easter holiday with our new Jeep. Left for Kosi Bay (Utshwayelo) on the 22 April 2011 from Centurion. On the way to Kosi Bay i refueled at Manguzi Total. When i started (tried to) the Jeep there was a huge explosion - sounded like a gunshot. The battery physically burst open. Eventually got a replacement battery in Manguzi just to get going. The next day on our trip to Bhanga Nek the engine management light came on and it went into "limp" mode. After a restart the management light stayed on but the Jeep behaved normal. Visited Bhanga Nek. On the way back at a stage i used 4L. When shifting back to 4H the "selector bush" broke and i was stuck in no gear in the middle of nowhere. Managed to "re-hook" and got going again and back to Utshwayelo. Contacted Jeep road side assistance and they arranged to collect the Jeep at Kosi Bay - Utshwayelo. Jeep was "flatbedded" to Jeep Empangeni. Received it back next day with a replaced Jeep battery and they repaired the "4x selector". Did test drive next morning and thought everything was ok. On restarting again Jeep was completely dead - Empangeni Jeep did not bother to tighten the positive and batterry clamp and the protective battery "jacket", so it came of on the dirt road. It was so lose could turn the nuts with my hands! Fastened it and everything was fine again (in my dreams!). Leaving for Centurion, just got on the tar road and engine management light came on again and Jeep went into limp mode. After restart it was normal but only for about 5km's and limp mode again, and so we "sukkeled" to Jozini where Jeep was flatbedded again to Empangeni! Got a rental eventually and traveled back to Centurion. Jeep is still at Empangeni and they said that it is a broken Turbo pipe How could i drive 1 to 5km's normal every time after a restart before i goes into limp?
Has anyone had similar experiences? Battery explotion / system managment / limp mode issues. Could the battery explosion had anything to do with the engine management issues. (Jeep Empangeni says there is noting wrong with the alternator - no over charging?) What i have experienced with Jeep empangeni so far, I have serious doubts about their ability. Feedback to me was also extremely poor.

[Dirk]

Cannot comment on the battery but had the same problem with the 4WD selection in my JK.

[RoelfleRoux]

Sjoe Dirk.... thanks!

Echo4,

Sorry your first post is to relate a bad experience. Hope you will have many good ones to follow soon.

Batteries do explode, luckily not regularly and I'm sure the clever guys on this forum will start offering explanations soon.

[Dirk]

Also meant to say, mine now has 55000km on, and the battery was replaced last week.

[OFFROAD ADDICT]

What is a normal battery life, under normal conditions.3 years maybe. Or shorter.
Battery exploding.....don't some Landys have their batteries under the seat. This can be a bummer .

[RoelfleRoux]

I think batteries explode for the same reason Fukushima lifted its roof: hydrogen gases mixing it up with oxygen.

[Kavanji]

wasnt there a story of the battery acid eating away at the turbo pipe? or was that on the KJ? not sure, but i know that the CRD turbo system recycles the oil fumes that get generated under normal driving conditions and this stuff causes the intercooler to gum up and if a turbo pipe has a weak spot from the acid it is the weakest link and will pop, causing the engine management to see al kinds of funny sensor readings and go into limp mode.
have them clean the intercooler or do it yourself if the stealers are to ignorant to do it.

was the battey well maintained? usualy we only notice our cars have a battery when it gives us trouble and i am no exeption. my battery exploded because the electrolite level was to low and two plates shorted out. this causes hidrogen gas to form and the next time you draw big amps (starter/ winch) it pops. for me it was "skoolgeld"! i look after my battery well now.

[Echo4]

Hi Kavanji.

As i understand this is a "dry" battery and there is nowhere to add anything? Someone mentioned that it has a powder inside. Will look again when i receive it back. When it "popped" there where absolutely now acid / water / powder of any sorts visible.

Must just mentioned that the Jeep was absolutely awesome regarding towing ability (towing an Echo4 fully loaded - you know how the wife can pack making use of the last cubic cm of space) and in the sand around Kosi Bay / Bhanga Nek.

[HeinrichC]

I have seen a battery blow only once in my life, guy jump started his car with a spare battery he had on the floor, it was a much bigger battery. He tripped over the jumper-cables and the next thing the battery in the car exploded.

Sorry to hear about all your problems; did you buy your Jeep new?

[Echo4]

Bought it privately about a month ago - had 52000km on and is as new. Did speak to the previous owner and he was very surprised and concerned. Will post some pictures later this week.

[Engel]

faulty regulator??

[HeinrichC]

The exploding battery somehow could have have caused damage to the electronics.

[Kavanji]

Hi Kavanji.

As i understand this is a "dry" battery and there is nowhere to add anything? Someone mentioned that it has a powder inside. Will look again when i receive it back. When it "popped" there where absolutely now acid / water / powder of any sorts visible.

Must just mentioned that the Jeep was absolutely awesome regarding towing ability (towing an Echo4 fully loaded - you know how the wife can pack making use of the last cubic cm of space) and in the sand around Kosi Bay / Bhanga Nek.

Hi Echo4

AFAIK there is no such thing as a dry battery! they all have some sort of catalyst, be it acid in a lead-acid cell or gel. people are led to believe they are buying "maintainace free" batteries, but even these require toping up.
they have small valves installed to prevent evaporation of water but this only works to a certain extend and then needs to bo refilled with de-ionized water.

the fact that there was no mess when your battery poped confirms my theory that the battery was dry and shorted out, causing the hidrogen to explode.

why did the battery run dry? inspect the other cells that are still intact, if they are all dry have the charging system checked. could be the regulator overcharging the battery. if its only the blown cell, the battery went faulty in that cell causing the catalyst to evaporate / leak out over time.

usually the cell closest to the + pole goes south first.

@ HeinrichC, it is possible that the exploding battery caused a spike and damaged some controll module although this is unlikeley, usually when the battery shorts out the damaged cell pulls the voltage down to 0 Volt and the exploding cell disconects the circuit but with the sensitive electronics one never knows

@ Echo4 i am sure you will get this sorted out and will have many happy kilometers with the Jeep.

blame this one on the battery manufacturer (and a litle bit on the operator )and not on any vehicle brand, it also happens to kitchen appliances! Ask me i know!

[bungykhb]

I had a similar problem, although not as extreme as yours. Am concerned that the problem was originally caused by the alternator, but no one can confirm this. What if it is the alternator that doesnt stop charging? These batteries are R4000 a piece. bl*&*&%rie expensive if you ask me.

Below is my experience: (quoted from my threadhttp://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/...ad.php?t=88680)
"""
After a fantastic holiday in Kruger, we returned home on Sunday. When stopping at a service station just past half way, I noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. There was also a "chemical smell". With further investigation I found out that the battery was boiling hot and bulging a bit at the top. A needle to say - the battery was cooked!
Basically just made it home with instrument panel going crazy - including the most hated constant Ding-Ding for the last 2hrs of the journey!
I am really worried that there may be more damage than just the battery. ( to the electrical system and computer) So far (fortunately) nothing i can pick up.

Two possible causes:
1) Battery failure - short-circuit, age related
2) Alternator over charging the battery.

What bothered me was that there were no warnings from the vehicle!
Quoting another user on another topic:

"Sometimes I find car warning and self protection systems downright amusing.
Leave your seat belt off - bing, bing, bing, bing..............
Leave your lights on - bing, bing, bing, bing..............
Leave your keys in the ignition when you get out - bing, bing, bing, bing..............
Leave your indicators on - tic, tic, tic, tic..............
Leave your etc etc - bing, bing, bing, bing..............
But if it overheats, silence, and you blow the motor.
If the oil pump fails, silence, and you blow the motor.
If the alternator fails, silence, followed by lots of silence.
Come on car wake up, I know my seat belt is not on, what I don’t know because I haven’t got time to see the little red light on an obstacle, is that your fan is faulty and you are about to self destruct.
Not all cars, but many"
OR,
in my case, the battery is about to explode. My vehicle could have burnt out! (a lot of that lately on the forums)
Have any one had similar experiences? The replacement battery is R4000! These batteries are supposed to be "the best battery in the world" as quoted by my local Battery Centre owner.

What could have caused it? I checked the alternator. (charging Voltage of 14.6V) This according to my local Auto Electrician and Battery centre is within limits. The say it should be below 15V.

Is there better ways to test an Alternator?

How do I know that the alternator will stop charging when the battery is full? """

[Jean Kotze]

faulty regulator??

That would be my guess too. Would over-charging be the only cause of battery explosion? From my limited experience it is normally a combination of old battery and over-charging.

The JK is equiped with a so-called maintenance free battery. Due to modern technology requirements, greater stress is put on batteries. Life span range between 6 and 48 months depending on usage. Running appliances and winches directly from the car battery will also reduce battery life.

My Rubicon's battery was replaced at about 48 000 km (1 year old).

[Apocalypse]

Interesting...

First of all turbo pipes - weak point. Mine blew apart at 55000km.

Battery - had the same problems with it being loose and engine light coming on - the computer logs a fault code ad voltage surge.

Back to battery in a moment.

Limp mode - I've had this. First time was the turbo pipe. Second time was a low boost warning. Limp mode engaged. Stop turn off, open door, close door, restart, don't floor it until the air cleaner is replaced.

However if you were towing with a pre 2010 model without the hot gearbox oil warning it may enter limp mode if the box gets too hot. It will leave the light on and allow you to continue after it cools. I believe. Never happened to ms and I've towed heavy trailers a long way...

Back to battery. My opinion - those things from the factory look like they are fuel cells off a space ship, but they are rubbish. Mine lasted 2 years, gets horribly hot and the terminals deteriorate so badly the clamps come loose between services and I tightened them myself...

I did not post this on the fire threads, but the battery is on the right in acV6 and the left in a CRD. If you look at the burnt out crd pics the bonnet is most damaged on the left. On the V6 they seem to burn on the right.

Just saying....

[Jean Kotze]

I did not post this on the fire threads, but the battery is on the right in acV6 and the left in a CRD. If you look at the burnt out crd pics the bonnet is most damaged on the left. On the V6 they seem to burn on the right.

Just saying....

Apo,

It most likely depends on what you regard as left and right on a vehicle ...

But ... the battery on my V6 sits on the left hand side of the vehicle (over the left front wheel), and the fires on those vehicles started on the right hand side of the vehicle (over/under the right front wheel).

Directions are as viewed from the driver's seat, which is on the right hand side of the vehicle (same side as where the fires started on the V6, but opposite side of battery).

Also note, we had two seperate incidents, one battery completely exploding and one failing, none resulted in the type of fires we were referring to in the JK burning threads. Also, there were prior warnings (smells, instrumentation warnings or explosions), yet no sudden intense fires.

[Apocalypse]

Hmmm... Pic I looked at had the battery on the right... Maybe a lhd/ rhd thing?

Either way, I really don't like the batteries. Mine was replaced under warranty a couple of weeks back too...

Does the V6 have the same battery? Big yellow thing with round cells, looks like a 6 pack in a little blanket to stop it getting too cold?

Left and right is always the same on a vehicle. As viewed facing forward.

[Jean Kotze]

Hmmm... Pic I looked at had the battery on the right... Maybe a lhd/ rhd thing?

Either way, I really don't like the batteries. Mine was replaced under warranty a couple of weeks back too...

Does the V6 have the same battery? Big yellow thing with round cells, in a little blanket to stop it getting too cold?

Left and right is always the same on a vehicle. As viewed facing forward.

My V6 has a black battery, no blanket, maintenance free battery. On the Rubi it was replaced under warranty at about 48 000 km (one year). But, I must admit that I have run my fridge and winch from it - so 12 months is not too bad.

Also, the battery in the Mountain is much more powerful and larger than the original one in the Rubi.

In SA, the battery of the petrol and diesel should be on the left hand side (above the left front wheel). Where is your diesel's battery located?

[Jean Kotze]

Attached is a pic of my V6's engine bay (a bit dirty).