Engine bay fire - caused by battery spark

[Al Bal]

Hi,
I'm very new to T25s, I picked my van 2 days ago and yesterday evening had a rather frightening experience! As I was parking it outside my house I stalled it, when I fired the engine again, smoke appeared from the rear followed by some flames! After extinguising the fire (powder extinguisher) I opened the engine cover. The material on the underside had caught fire and the battery terminals and cables scorched. On closer inspection of the engine cover I could see a mark where the metal had been badly scorched, this was directly above the battery terminal. I believe the terminal and engine cover must have been touching and when I fired the engine it caused the spark, im sure this is not supposed to happen!

So my questions are:

Has this happened to anyone else?
Is the battery too big? (I'm not sure of the batt type but can find out)
Should the battery be covered? (it wasnt)
Should the material on he underside be so flammable?!

I should also explain, i bought the camper from a classic restoration company who have restored it and rebuilt the engine, they are also fixing the van.

For my own peace of mind I'd like some independant advice on this. Does anyone have any advice on general engine bay fire prevention? Also what material should be used under the engine cover?

1982 Reimo hi-top camper conversion
1.6 TD 5 speed

[R0B]

the top of the battery should come nowhere near the underside of the cover.these do engine bay extinguishers here

[T'Onion]

does sound like you have the wrong size (in height ) battery on there , the insulation is normally covered with a plastic sheet.

[Al Bal]

Thanks. Is there a particular battery type/size I should have?

Alan

[Aidan]

I have never seen one fitted but there is actually a battery cover available from VW for the diesel battery
281 915 411 G about a tenner, it's obviously an LT part from the number.

[Al Bal]

Thanks for all of the replies. After closer inspection with the guy I bought it from it seems the battery wasn't sitting correctly and also the cables and attached metal ring weren't connected to the terminal properly and was sitting higher than it should. I think a cover is a good idea, thanks for the tip Aidan.

Can any of you advise on what material should be used under the engine cover, and where I can get it?

Off to France in 2 weeks armed with several fire extinguishers!!

Alan

[Aidan]

probably easiest to find another lid, there is a fibreglass version as fitted to Caravelle GLs which is lighter, I have one in the lockup, should be others for sale check out the breakers on for sale here and on brickyard

[Al Bal]

How much roughly for a fibreglass cover?

[Aidan]

The one I have I'm asking £15 for, the foam has been trimmed to suit lpg installation on a 1.9 dg engine and one corner has taken a bash so is slightly flakey, suprised not to have sold it at 2 vanfests tbh, obviously plus p and p which might be a bit more than the cost of the part - try spannerboy down your way for more local source or it may be possible to do an 80-90 express to closer to you, as I know someone going down to Kent via me this week, he's off to the war and peace show

[Al Bal]

Thanks Aidan. I'm in Holland, so still pretty far away! Unless you know someone heading this far?

[Aidan]

McGill's going to Belgium at the weekend
I'm sure that you'll be able to find one through the dutch forum http://www.teedrie.nl/index.html, the syncro boys and girls over there seem a pretty cool bunch

[Al Bal]

Great, thanks for the link. I've been trying to find some sources here without much luck.

Thanks for all the help.

Alan