Re: Wet Cell versus AGM batteries for old cars

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2011/11/21 11:54:51

I've heard of several Optima failures, most of which seem to be related to charging issues, but one I'm quite familiar with was quite dramatic. Of course there were extenuating circumstances. I know I've related this incident before, but in a nutshell the vehicle was a 1956 Executive doing Interstate travel. For whatever reason the T/L decided to run constantly, see-sawing the car up and down repeatedly. At some point the ignition cut out, but as the car was then coasting in direct drive, fuel continued to be drawn into the cylinders as it slowed. Then the ignition recovered and the resulting blast blew nearly the entire exhaust system off the car and onto the highway. The battery was found to have exploded. To the vendor's credit, they replaced the battery and covered the entire cost for a new exhaust system.