After taking the 67 GTO for a drive,I lifted the hood and hear a hissing sound from the battery. No filler caps,so can't check fluid level. First thought is that it could be overcharging.Which led me to looking into voltage regulators. Choice seems to be either a conventional voltage regulator (has an original voltage regulator with a external condenser now) or a solid state voltage regulator.Prices all over the place from e-bay,Rock Auto,Ames,etc. Is replacing the voltage regulator the best starting place? If I install a solid state regulator,will/should the condenser be installed? Any way I look at it,a hissing battery is not something I want to be near! Could create an "AW NAW MAN" moment! Thanks! Archie
Put a volt meter across the battery with the engine running and check the voltage, if it's above 15.5 volts replace the regulator, and, it could have also damaged the battery by now. OK, I can't over emphasize this: THIS BATTERY COULD EXPLODE IF IT'S BEING OVERCHARGEDray:. When I worked in a service station in the late 60s a battery exploded in the face of one of my co-workers. He ended-up living in the hospital for a week with stitches across the bridge of his nose right between his eyes. He was lucky not to be blinded! Any new (not NOS) regulator will be solid state. I've had very good results with them, they sit there at 14.5 volts no matter what the RPM of the engine. Save the Delco cover from your old regulator (if it proves to be bad) and put it on the new one to make it look original. Yes, hissing battery bad.
Yup,DO have a fire extinguisher! Will look into overcharging,Larry. Thought it prudent to pick the collective V8Buick mind before I start troubleshooting.Thanks for the input!
If your battery is making any sound at all, THAT IS BAD, BAD, BAD! You need to check the output voltage from your alternator. I would put a thick blanket over the battery while you are testing. A questionable battery is a serious issue. You could be seriously injured by an exploding battery. Do not put that battery on a charger or load test it. Chances are, that battery is bad or else it has been damaged from overcharge for whatever reason.
Having been witness to a few batteries exploding in my days,the last one being mere inches away my rear end in a golf cart I can compare the sound to a shotgun blast. Be safe!
Even with no filler caps you should be able to pry off the flat cover over the holes. Some batteries will have a small indent or hole for a screwdriver blade. If the fluid level is low you likely have other issues.
I had one blow up on me 20 years ago ....had a cigarette in my hand 1 ft away from battery and Boom ! no sparks no flames ...or kaboom
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@ battery test at O'Reilly's today,battery is "good". Ordered a Wells VR715 voltage regulator. Chasing this rabbit! Archie:idea2:
