Fumes - is my leisure battery trying to kill me?

Post by **Breezy** » 29 Aug 2008, 16:05

Hello
Have a Westfalia Club Joker LHD. Get a really strong smell / fumes when driving, gets you right at the back of the throat and have to have all the windows open for ventilation. This is a new problem - first time we noticed it was on our longest ever drive (about 8 hours) but now it is doing is as soon as you start the engine up. I think it might be the leisure battery behind the driver's seat.

Welcome any suggestions on what to do - new leisure battery? (have seen the advice on ones that fit in the wiki) or is it something to do with the way it might be wired up (overcharging?).

Is there a way I can safely disconnect the leisure battery as a temporary fix? Don't especially use much electricity anyway while camping. Just need it to stop choking me every time I drive anywhere!

Post by **kevtherev** » 29 Aug 2008, 16:19

whats it smell of?

burning?
exhaust?
oily?
gas?
rotten?
acrid?
dry and acrid?
rubber?
melted plastic?
burnt paper?

.....

Post by **Breezy** » 29 Aug 2008, 16:24

hmmm....I would go for "dry" definitely, and maybe also "acrid".

It really makes the back of your throat feel dry and makes you need to desperately stick your head out of the window for fresh air. It literally chokes you. Not healthy at all. Driver tends to get it even worse than the passenger, which would fit with the leisure battery since its behind the driver seat.

Post by **Rozzo** » 29 Aug 2008, 16:27

is it an Aircooled? if so could be the exchanger blowing

disconnect the battery and see if it goes away.

put a voltmeter on the battery with the engine running as it could be the regulator in the alternator thats gone. if it is then you would just boil the new battery.
good luck finding it.

Post by **Mocki** » 29 Aug 2008, 16:34

i seriously doubt its the battery, for the simple reason the fumes from a charging battery are heavier than air, so they sink, not rise......so would exit via the vents in the botton of the battery box - you do have vents dont you??
if it is the battery, they are explosive, so very very dangerous, dont cause any sparks, dont switch any switches...........
take the battery out see if it goes away, but which ever and whatever you do , do not drive it like this........

Post by **funbus1** » 29 Aug 2008, 16:34

Check to see if it gets hot, If it does, bin it, could be knackerd cells, can be dangerous. Disconect it and tape up the terminals and drive around see if smells still there.if not,problem solved, till u get a new one. Rick

Post by **kevtherev** » 29 Aug 2008, 17:38

So have you looked at the battery while the engine is running?

Post by **Laurie** » 29 Aug 2008, 18:22

The leisure battery is governed by the same regulator as the main battery. Get a volt meter on it and check.

It really is a horrible, pooey kind of smell and it makes your eyes sore.

If you have an air cooled and are imbibing carbon monoxide, it will make your throat feel dry.

Post by **Emma&Al** » 30 Aug 2008, 13:40

Hi,
I had this with my Aircooled and found it to be the heat exchangers. I had an oil leak and it had found its way onto the heat exchangers. Any air that was getting in through the blower into the cab, made me want to jump out out of the van - i couldnt place the smell at first, but it was definately that.

Hope this helps?

Post by **Breezy** » 01 Sep 2008, 09:37

Thanks for all the advice - much appreciated.

No, its not an Aircooled. Shouldn't be an alternator problem because that has recently been replaced.

I've disconnected the leisure battery yesterday, taped up terminals. Did also check there is ventilation in the battery box as suggested, and found a couple of small holes for venting. Very small trace of fluid near one of the battery cells so there may have been a bit of leak. Went on a longish drive and the smell seems to have gone. Fingers crossed we have temporary solution at least.

So next step? If I replace the leisure battery with a new one does it sound like the problem is likely to be fixed? I guess it makes sense to try this and see what happens. I've always been a bit confused about the wiring ever since I got the van. The lights still work without the leisure battery. Never have quite figured out what is connected to where and so on... I'll make a trip out to purchase another battery when pay day comes round!

Website · Post by **syncrosimon** » 01 Sep 2008, 09:51

If you still suspect that it was the battery, I really would invest in an electrical meter and check the voltages going to both batteries. If the battery was making a smellable smell, then something has to be wrong and in my experience it is more likely to be the wiring/alternator than the battery it self. If you had a shorting wire, that would smell, and now that the battery is disconnected it appears to have gone, getting a new battery wont solve the problem I am afraid.

This is all you need.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/14350/Ele ... Multimeter

Then check the voltages when engine on and off.

Just an idea like....

Post by **Red Westie** » 01 Sep 2008, 14:06

Typical signs of a battery 'over gassing' what you are smelling is very noxious hydrogen & hydrogen disulfide gasses which are not only very unpleasant to breath but can easily cause an explosion.
I've seen a battery explode and I've also been within 10 feet of competitive clay pidgeon shooting and in my opinion the battery is more leathal.
The charge/discharge cycle of a leisure battery does tend to use a fair amount of water, if the levels have been allowed to become very low lead plate distorsion can occur and so when refilled it can cause a cell to short out and become extremely hot.
How warm is the battery to touch?
You likely need it changing before it melts all the split charge circuit like it did on mine (mine got so hot you couldn't touch it with the hand) Very dangerous.
Martin