Olds Dad

So I use a battery tender on my '55 driver, which unfortunately spent the brutal RI winter outside. I noticed that the normally green indicator light had turned to red so I opened the hood (after literally shoveling snow off of it) to see if perhaps one of the leads had come off.

This is what I found - almost looks as if it exploded, but no sign of fire or heat - could it have frozen? I have never seen anything like this.

Thoughts?

NHolds

Looks like a critter wanted in...

classicmuscle442

Looks like ground cable melted case, did you have to move cable for picture?

Olds Dad

No - picture is exactly as I found it - did not have to move the cable. Bone dry inside yet I don't see any signs of acid having leaked out. Like I said, very strange and I've never seen anything like it.

stellar

An infamous quote comes to mind, " what does it matter now" As far as I can tell from the pic, it doesn't look chewed or melted, and if the tender was working I doubt if it was frozen unless the battery was bad anyway. So my best guess was an explosion. In any case I would monitor the tender for under and over charge conditions before I reused it without frequent voltage testing.

Olds Dad

I agree - it's a moot point; but I still wonder what happened. I've had old iron for many years and while I've had many a dead battery, I've never had this happen. Just hoped someone out there had a similar experience and knew the cause.

Rocketowner

I've known batteries to freeze when there was no charge in them,and even saw them burst the case at the top edge,but yours looks like it exploded.Glad it didn't cause a fire! Larry

Professur

Did you find the missing plastic?

MDchanic

I'm with NHOlds - looks like a critter to me.

Some of those things will chew on stuff and you'll never figure out why. I've seen squirrels eat lead roof flashing.

- Eric

jensenracing77

My guess would be a critter also. Maybe he was looking to take a trip on some acid

NHolds

Pop the top the rest of the way off and look for a carcass...

stellar

Now that gives me the giggles. Being bone dry inside means the varmint must have taken a long trip or maybe the tender is overcharging.

rjohnson442

Looks like a squirrel tried to eat it's way in from the teeth marks. Battery was probably the warmest thing around and he wanted in! You need a new ground cable btw

stellar

Send the battery to Eric for some forensic examination. Don't send it to jensen, he may want to mix any left over acid with some koolaid to see if he can get a charge out of it. Then again maybe he could let one of his employees check it out on one of their unscheduled days off.

jensenracing77

HAHAHA... I don't think any of them are into anything like that but anymore nothing would surprise me.

stellar

As a former business owner, I feel your Pain. (The Clinton quotes seem to fit well today)

Octania

That is caused when a large electron gets into the system. 110V electrons are much bigger than the 12V electrons, sometimes they get in thru a charger.

or, drunken animals

Ozzie

If you have any squirrels where you live, I'll also vote for them. I too have seen them eat the lead roof flashing. I have a friend who took up squirrel hunting because of it. If I had the squirrels' habits I'd probably be dead. One was probably trying to get to those delicious lead plates. Next time put the '55 in a garage with restricted access.

Olds Dad

I built a 4 car garage and this one is still outside. 2 convertibles and a hardtop inside along with a lot of stuff...should have built a 10 car

mrolds69

Yup, you and me both Gordon!

Olds Dad

So I'll sign you up Frank for my first tenant at my new garage rental facility?

twintracks

I would also suspect a raccoon. But, I don't think it will be back.

biggus

I don't know but it looks like a rat to me. I think I'd be checking the rest of the car over pretty close.

4Speedy

Looks like a short between the battery plates.
Seen other similar issues Like yours.