Can You Still Drive If the Car Battery Is Smoking and Smells Bad?
2 Answers
If the car battery is smoking and emitting a foul odor, you should not continue driving. Continuing to operate the vehicle may lead to burnt wiring and the battery drying out, rendering it unusable. Possible causes of battery smoking include: 1. Separator: Damage to the separator causing sparking between the electrode plates. 2. Battery Short Circuit: This is often due to poor-quality or damaged separators, allowing active material from the plates to pass through. If the separator is of low quality, impurities may form when ions pass through it, leading to a short circuit between the plates. The large short-circuit current can char the separator, worsening the damage and increasing the short-circuit current, creating a vicious cycle. Eventually, smoke is produced and released through the battery's vent, resulting in the smoking phenomenon.
Having driven for decades, I've seen plenty of battery issues, but smoking with a foul odor is absolutely not something to keep driving with—this is no minor matter. It's usually caused by an internal short circuit or overcharging in the battery, heating up to the point of smoking, and the odor could be from leaking electrolyte or burning plastic. Continuing to drive risks spreading the heat source, potentially causing a fire or even an explosion, while also damaging the wiring around the battery. The safest course of action is to immediately pull over, turn off the engine, activate the hazard warning lights, and avoid touching the hood yourself, as corrosive liquids or gases might be released. Instead, call for a tow truck or a professional technician to handle it. For routine maintenance, it's advisable to check the battery voltage and terminal cleanliness annually to extend its lifespan and prevent such risks.
