One day my car wouldn't start. I was checking out the starter, and decided to jumper the starter solenoid. Unexpectedy I heard a big boom, like a canon shot. I looked around to see where it came from. Neighbor's yard? Across town? And why is the side of my face sore? Turned out I had created a spark and the top of the battery blew off. I found it on the other side of the house. The top grazed the side of my face on its way up. The battery was just sitting there, pretty as can be, water level normal, but there was no top on it, you could see all the guts of it.

That kind of experience you never forget.

geez DD sounds like a farkin near miss!
lucky it didnt cop you under the chin!

Quote:
hydrogen build up + ignition source = booom ive heard of stories like this batterys blowing up because of the hydrogen pretty nasty

Close call.

The best i have is..
Was out 4wding in my old pootrol, and was wondering why I was losing power to headlights etc.

I assumed that it was due to having mud in the alternator, it had stopped charging and the old six had draine the battery. As i am driving home, the lights are so dim, and its only running on about 4 cyclinders, I am panicing a little.

I get home, and decide to invesitagte under the bonnet.

I alternator was fine. The battery bracket had snapped, and the battery fell against the side of the motor, damaging the plugs and leads to No 1 & 2 cyclinders, and pulled off one of the battery leads.

Didnt damage the battery at all. Just replaced the leads and plugs, and bam it was all go again.

Lucky someting more serious didnt happen