Van went bang!

An alchemy of sparks, copper wire and earth

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Locked
CitizenMoon
Registered user
Posts: 17
Joined: 14 Oct 2013, 22:40
80-90 Mem No: 0

Van went bang!

Post by CitizenMoon »

Thanks in advance for any help, (very) recent history of my T25 is;
1 Wipers and indicators stopped - scrubbed earth crowns etc. jobs a guddin'
2 Had new fuel tank fitted from very reputable local Dub Head. jobs a guddin'

Cut to the chase,
3 Van started cutting out when going uphill, found loose connection on fuel pump, stripped back and re-terminated,( I am an electrician, so confident in my joint) jobs a guddin'
4 30 miles in from Newcastle to Keilder, uphill fuel cut out prob re-occurs, checked connections.
5 BANG ! Negative battery terminial caught a flame.

Seems a bit coincidental for the two not to be related, back feed of some type? Yes I have disconnected the battery.
Again thanks in advance,
David

User avatar
itchyfeet
Registered user
Posts: 12427
Joined: 23 Jul 2007, 17:24
80-90 Mem No: 12733
Location: South Hampshire

Re: Van went bang!

Post by itchyfeet »

You dont say what engine but petrol wbx have a big fat cable to the starter, it can rub through the insulation at the back by the chassis rail, worth checking, i have added insulation to mine after i was tipped off

Id say thats a direct short to do that, unrelated to the other things id say.

also possible to slide the seat back and short the batt terminals if the runners have been uncrimped but you would remember doing that
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
1989 DJ digijet WBX Holdsworth Villa 3 Pop Top
itchylinks

User avatar
marlinowner
Registered user
Posts: 1530
Joined: 28 Jan 2014, 12:02
80-90 Mem No: 13646
Location: Scottish Borders

Re: Van went bang!

Post by marlinowner »

Would shorting the battery to ground cause ignition problems and hence engine to cut out?
1993 SA VW T25/T3 2.5i Microbus/homebrew camper
1981/1968 Marlin Kitcar TR6 Engine

User avatar
ghost123uk
Registered user
Posts: 6857
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 10:15
80-90 Mem No: 2585
Location: John in Malpas, in the very S. W. part of Cheshire.
Contact:

Re: Van went bang!

Post by ghost123uk »

Yes, and is VERY dangerous too. A 12 Volt lead acid battery can explode in a BIG way and throw pints of very hot Sulphuric acid out. Believe me when I say you DO NOT want to be anywhere near if it happens :evil:
Some examples of what happens here :run
Last edited by ghost123uk on 23 Jun 2014, 06:50, edited 1 time in total.
Got a new van, but it's a 165bhp T4 [shock horror] Accurate LPG Station map here

User avatar
New Kentish Campers
Registered user
Posts: 1739
Joined: 12 Oct 2010, 06:16
80-90 Mem No: 8994
Location: Near Linton, Kent.
Contact:

Re: Van went bang!

Post by New Kentish Campers »

In respect of the engine cutting out, I take it that the people who fitted your new tank also replaced the fuel lines and in-line filter? Might be a good idea to check the carb's. cone-shaped intake filter too [assuming of course you are running a pierburg carb. engine?]

CitizenMoon
Registered user
Posts: 17
Joined: 14 Oct 2013, 22:40
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Van went bang!

Post by CitizenMoon »

Cheers for the replies, yes it is petrol.Yes new tubes and filter.Short from seat seems unlikely, but cheers for the tip. Jeez that battery was hot. I will follow up other suggestions. Great forum this, everybody wants to help, rather than deride a (gaping in my case!) gap in knowledge. Thanks again.

User avatar
ghost123uk
Registered user
Posts: 6857
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 10:15
80-90 Mem No: 2585
Location: John in Malpas, in the very S. W. part of Cheshire.
Contact:

Re: Van went bang!

Post by ghost123uk »

CitizenMoon wrote:Jeez that battery was hot.

Sounds like you are a very lucky person there. Did you look at any of those YouTube clips I linked to ? :twisted:
Got a new van, but it's a 165bhp T4 [shock horror] Accurate LPG Station map here

Locked