Overcharged batteries and helpful technicians

Last Saturday, my family went on our annual trip to Pangasinan, we heard mass in Manaoag and afterwards went to Lingayen to visit the crypt of my Papang and great-grandparents. On our way home, the van started to smell really bad, it was a noxious mix of chemicals and I told my dad to find the nearest gas station. So anyway, we went into a Petron station somewhere in the middle of Tarlac, checked the engine and the AC system, both of which didn't provide us with any clues as to where the smell came from.

So anyway, I checked the van's rear compartment to see if the rear AC was overheating and to check on the motor oil bottles that might have tipped over and spilled their contents... but I couldn't find the source of the noxious scent. Out of curiosity, I checked the battery, (which was also located at the rear of the van) and to my surprise, it was boiling hot. So, to make a long story short, our battery overcharged and almost exploded. We were able to remedy the problem by buying another battery, which also overheated while we were running on the NLEX, the van’s electrical system shut down and we were forced to dish out over 4k for towing all the way from San Fernando to Paranaque. The alternator and the fuses were so badly shot up by the current and we had no recourse but to have the van fixed in Manila.

Despite this problem, we were still very lucky because of the circumstances surrounding the incident, if it happened while we were still in Pangasinan, it would have been worse, and it just goes to show that even in crises, Jesus walks with us.

Kudos goes to the Automobile Association of the Philippines, for being very professional and helpful during the towing, I understand that we were paying them to do their job, but I believe they performed well over and beyond the call of duty.