Battery Problem

[beardown1]

Hello.....About 3 months ago I bought a 1996 Mexican VW Beetle (as I currently live in Monterrey Mexico for a few years). Right after I bought it I started noticing a sulpheric....choking smell inside the cabin when driving. I checked the battery and found that there was no water in it.....and the sulpheric acid had been burning off and emitting that horrible smell. I replaced the battery with a new one and the problem was gone......now after a couple of months it is doing the same thing. I was thinking voltage regulator, but wanted to get some other opinions. When I checked this battery.....the cells appear to have been leaking on top......possibly boiling over. Can anyone help??

Thanks

Beardown1

[vwracer14]

did you check your ground or if the hot wire was touching somwere also i asume its under the rear seat it could be touching the seat springs and shorting out

[beardown1]

Update: Thanks VW racer for your response.....everything checks out under the seat and with the ground strap. I replaced the voltage regulator......did not fix the problem.....replaced the battery again......still did not fix the problem. When I hook a voltage meter up to the battery posts it shows approx 10 amps at idle and jumps to approx 15-16 amps at high engine revs. The alternator is also really hot to the touch......not sure if that is normal or not. Any other help would be much appreciated.

Thanks!!

[vwracer14]

when it runs the alternator will get a little hot but it could be overcharging its rare but can hapen. ive only seen it once.plus were did you buy your regulator at.at my grandfathers shop once we put 5 starters on a bug all of them had factory defects.other than that just start going through your wiring check every thing. two wires could be touching or a wire melted to something hot.update when you figure it out

[beardown1]

While checking wiring I was able to get the alternator light to come on....at least I think that is what it is (it is red with an exclamation mark "!"). I have read where that needs to be on when the key is in the on position. It has not worked since I have owned the vehicle. It doesnt come on when the battery charges......only prior to startup. I can hear the water sizzling while the battery is charging and then it stops when not charging......so I think the voltage regulator is working, but my battery is still being overcharged. Also....when driving at night.......my lights get very dim at sustained low rpms and then get really bright at higher rpms so I am thinking alternator but hate to pay for a new one if it could still be a wiring problem. What does this sound like to you??? Also......my light switch seems to have some sort of short in it......I have to wiggle it to get the lights to turn on.

Thanks,

Beardown1

[vwracer14]

light swiches dont cost that much

i would buy a naw alternator its better than setting your car on fire

[vwracer14]

light swiches dont cost that much

i would buy a naw alternator its better than setting your car on fire