Risk of poisoning with 12V Battery not vented properly

[BoboysTruck]

I didn't know there was a risk. I'm sharing just in case.

https://www.12onyourside.com/2025/1.../?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks

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[icegradner]

It’s easy to check if the vent tubes are connected to the battery in your hybrid. This is true for any vehicles with the 12v battery in the cabin, not just hybrids. BMW and Mercedes do this a lot too, for example. Make sure the tubes are connected! Some people in the past have made the mistake of replacing the 12v batteries with ones that don’t have the vent tube connectors by mistake, or done it to save money, but as this story shows, that’s a mistake.

 

[zen_]

Improperly vented 12v lead acid battery, not the hybrid drive battery.

I saw this as a side benefit replacing the 12v battery in this vehicle with an AGM battery. Given how common it's become to locate batteries in the vehicle I have to believe there were other circumstances here, although I was surprised myself that in a few short years we went from putting AGM batteries in the vehicle, to putting lead acid batteries inside. My 2006 Audi wagon had a big AGM battery in the rear cargo area, but a few cars later, I had a Prius with a small 12v lead acid battery under the rear seat.

 

[icegradner]

Improperly vented 12v lead acid battery, not the hybrid drive battery.

I saw this as a side benefit replacing the 12v battery in this vehicle with an AGM battery. Given how common it's become to locate batteries in the vehicle I have to believe there were other circumstances here, although I was surprised myself that in a few short years we went from putting AGM batteries in the vehicle, to putting lead acid batteries inside. My 2006 Audi wagon had a big AGM battery in the rear cargo area, but a few cars later, I had a Prius with a small 12v lead acid battery under the rear seat.

AGM is still lead acid, and needs vent tubes. When they say they are sealed, that just means you cannot open it to add liquid like some older batteries.

 

[icegradner]

Battery in the cab,
Bad crash,
And another reason I didn’t get the Hybrid.
I figure gas prices will be in the five dollar range in six years when I replace my Ecoboost.
I bet I’ll want a Mavbrid then. I’ll remember this issue. Had a friend die along time ago, from this.

If the crash is bad enough to hit the 12v battery, it’s located close to the center of the rear seat, in the cab, that’s the least of your worries.

 

[Cherokee]

Very true.

 

[zen_]

AGM is still lead acid, and needs vent tubes. When they say they are sealed, that just means you cannot open it to add liquid like some older batteries.

AGM batteries still need vents, but they gas a lot less than flooded lead acid batteries.

 

[Tim d]

I didn't know there was a risk. I'm sharing just in case.

https://www.12onyourside.com/2025/1.../?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks

Ignorant here but aren't these batteries sealed? I thought vented batteries were a thing of the past? Like over 20 years ago.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Ignorant here but aren't these batteries sealed? I thought vented batteries were a thing of the past? Like over 20 years ago.

Yes they are sealed but the vent has a pressure relief valve that requires (2.5-5?) psi before releasing gas. This allows retention of the electrolyte for a longer period of time. Generally a sealed battery with vents comes with a plug to permanently seal the unused vent(s) if the battery comes with more than one.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I wonder how many old Volkswagen owners died from Battery Vapors?
I never heard anyone dying from Battery Vapors from a battery inside a car.

When you consider how small the Volkswagen interior was and the fact that Volkswagens were sealed tight enough to float.

 

[Tim d]

Yes they are sealed but the vent has a pressure relief valve that requires (2.5-5?) psi before releasing gas. This allows retention of the electrolyte for a longer period of time. Generally a sealed battery with vents comes with a plug to permanently seal the unused vent(s) if the battery comes with more than one.

Thx, the last thing I saw with a battery with a vent tube was my 26 year old Yamaha dualsport dirtbike.

 

[Matso]

Pretty freak event I would say considering there aren't many reports of this in my search. But nevertheless it's probably a good idea for all of us hybrid owners to just take a peek under the seat and confirm the vent tube is well attached.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Battery in the cab,
Bad crash,
And another reason I didn’t get the Hybrid.
I figure gas prices will be in the five dollar range in six years when I replace my Ecoboost.
I bet I’ll want a Mavbrid then. I’ll remember this issue. Had a friend die along time ago, from this.

Anyone else consider it lame that a hybrid needs a start battery at all ?

This is nothing but spreading FUD. GM had batteries under the back seat as far back as the 90's. Should people be aware of a the vent tube as an overabundance of precaution? Yes. But saying people shouldn't buy a Hybrid because the 12V battery is behind the seat is plain silly. There are plenty of non Hybrid vehicles that also have the 12V battery behind the seat.

 

[olderthanyourdirt]

Lawyers and we wonder why things cost so much

 

[Escapologist]

AGM is still lead acid, and needs vent tubes. When they say they are sealed, that just means you cannot open it to add liquid like some older batteries.

They just have a cap over the top really, you can pry that off and get at rubber plugs over each cell. It's sealed like a bottle of wine is, don't mean you can't get at it.

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