Battery tops blew off this morning

[JRS]

I went out to start my truck this morning, cycled through the grid heater, turned the key and heard a loud "bang" from under the hood. Smoke started rising from under the hood. I carefully opened the hood and noticed that both the caps were blown off the passenger battery. Acid was dripping and forming a pool under the truck. I was able to dump baking soda on everything and hose it down for a good 20 minutes. Called road side assistance and sent it to the dealer on a flat bed. Completely stock truck, no wiring modifications at all (unlike my '97!). Factory batteries. No word yet on the problem. 57k miles.

 

[rwitt]

I had this happen to my Jeep a couple of months ago. I knew the battery was needing to be replaced and was planning on doing it that coming weekend. Guess I waited a little to long. The charging system checked out good, so I suspect a couple of cells shorted together causing the problem. You were fortunate to be close to water and some baking soda to clean things up quickly. I wasn't, and by the time I was able to do that, it had removed some paint on the fender.
Rich

 

[Grizzly]

Maybe a good idea to carry baking soda and a gallon or two of water or RV antifreez with us all time. You never know!

 

[JRS]

It appears that the "cross-over wiring" shorted and damaged the battery. On back-order for five days. Now left with no way to haul my goose neck race car trailer, so will have to skip racing this weekend. Don't think the Caliber rental car they provided me can tow 12k lbs! Oh well, I guess it's just some one telling me I shouldn't race this weekend.....

 

[Wingate]

That happens... typically its due in part to outgassing of the battery combined with an unfortunate spark... . I would think the AGM batteries should be more resistant to this condition, but not sure. Sucks either way... .

 

[Bob4x4]

Well so far the agm batteries in the trucks have been doing pretty good. I have only had to change 1 out since we have started seeing them in the rams

 

[crispyboy]

Bob4x4,
Is Dodge putting AGM's in the trucks from the factory now? If so who makes them?

 

[goodguys75]

I wouldn't think that dodge would go the extra mile to do so... . but my truck is old and 06... but i would not get optimas, they don't seem that they are that great... ... for what they cost

 

[JRS]

yes, the factory batteries in my 2010 were AGM. Optima's don't seem to have the same quality they used to. I have several that are 6-7 years old that won't die. The last 3 out of 4 I purchased in the last several years did not last. I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but it was about the same time Johnson Controls bought them out. Probably just a coincidence.

 

[crispyboy]

My curiosity got the best of me and I opened the hood on my brother's 2012 truck. It has AGM batteries made by Johnson Controls.

 

[RonD]

I have always had good luck with battery's made by Johnson Controls, the (4) 6 volt Golf Cart Costco battery's in my 5th wheel, now 4. 5 years old, test as new, Johnson from what I understand make the Die Hard for Sears, and the Interstate battery's also, plus many more brands

 

[JRS]

My truck is still at the dealer. Seems the wrong part was ordered, or at least the wrong part arrived after being ordered. (after waiting five days for the part on back order) I was also told that the cross-over cable is part of the wiring harness, so there is quite a bit of work involved, not just changing out a cable. Just wondering if the fact that my truck is a Laramie model with a manual transmission changes up the wiring harness... .