Electrical System Batteries

W Arning

Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds, chemicals known the State California cause cancer and reproductive harm. W ash hands after handling.

W Arning

Always wear eye protection when working around batteries prevent the risk injury due contact with sulfuric acid explosion.

Caution

Disconnecting battery cables when vehicle equipped with power door locks will result automatic locking doors.

Caution

When using a pressure washer clean the vehicle, not direct the spray electrical components the engine compartment such the alternator , starter and compressors. W ater spray from pressure washers can damage electrical components.

A maintenance - free battery does not require the addition water for its normal expected T ypical features include heavy - duty construction and a wrought lead - calcium grid resist overchar ge, heat and thermal runaway . these batteries are vulnerable the ravages cold weather operation totally ignored.

sure that the batteries used a particular vehicle are rated for the specified Cold Cranking Amperes (CCAs) necessary ensure reliable cold weather starts. This important, since even well - maintained batteries chilled ° C ° may temporarily capable providing only 40% their rated capacity ° C (80 ° F).

Keep the terminals clean prevent formation power - robbing corrosion.

winter , avoid freezing the electrolyte, the battery must fully char ged. A fully dischar ged battery will freeze solid 5 ° C (23 ° and possibly sustain permanent damage.

Before the onset cold weather , sure protect this vital component monitoring its condition well inspecting the char ging and starting systems.

Battery W armer

A battery warmer can added raise the temperature the battery core and facilitate quick starting cold weather

Battery Condition

The first procedure when testing a battery check for external damage such a cracked case, loose corroded terminals, signs excessive gassing overchar

A battery must fully char ged before a load test

T est the battery with a hydrometer determine the level char maintenance - free batteries equipped with a built - hydrometer the battery condition interpreted follows:

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Battery Condition

• een dot visible

Any green appearance should interpreted a green dot and means that the battery above a 65% state char and ready for use This does not automatically mean that the battery good

•

Dark een dot not visible (black dot) This indicates that the battery below a 65% state char and must char ged before testing. A black dot does not mean that the battery automatically bad.

• Clear light yellow This means that the electrolyte level below the level the built - hydrometer , which may have been caused tipping the battery , a cracked case, overchar This battery should

Charging

Char ging should conducted carefully under controlled Never char a frozen battery . a frozen battery suspected, thaw a warm area for several hours before char

The following chart shows the normal char ging times necessary reach a full char ° C (80 ° F). colder temperatures, the necessary char ging time may increase.

Completely Discharged Batteries

Extremely cold completely dischar ged batteries may not initially show a char since the electrolyte nearly pure water and, therefore, a poor conductor . the acid level the electrolyte increases during char ging, the char ging current will also increase. Use the following procedure when char ging a completely dischar ged battery:

1 Measure the voltage the battery below current will very low and may not show many battery char ger

2 Set the char ger the high setting.

3

Some char gers have a polarity protection feature which prevents accidental reversal the char ger A completely dischar ged battery will not have enough voltage override this making appear that the battery will not accept a char Check the char ger manufacturers instructions how bypass this

4 Once the battery starts accept a char ge, the char ging rate will rise very rapidly . Carefully monitor the ammeter prevent too - high a char ging rate.

5 Proceed char battery one - tenth its rated capacity for one - half hour

Example: For battery rated (amps - char amp

Note: Batteries with very low voltage (below 1 volts) those that not initially accept a char are not necessarily defective. Batteries that have been dischar ged for long periods time may heavily sulfated hydrated (containing lead shorts that cause the battery self - dischar ge). T o accept a char ge, batteries with either these conditions may require a longer char ging time a very high initial char

Use the following chart determine the time required for the battery begin accepting a measurable char (If the battery has not started accept a char after the specified should

Load T est

A battery must fully char ged before performing a load T o load - test a battery that fully char ged, proceed follows:

1 Connect a load tester and voltmeter across the battery terminals.

2 Apply a load that a figure 300 amps obtained for seconds remove the battery surface char

3 W ait seconds let the battery recover and then apply the proper test load the battery determine its condition. T o get the proper load, use half the cranking performance rating. Read the voltage after seconds. Remember that the minimum voltage varies according temperature. Consult the following chart for the proper specification. the battery voltage does not fall below the minimum test voltage after seconds, the battery acceptable for use.

Electrical Connection Protection

corrosion seen any external ring - type terminal connections, such those used the starter , alternator , chassis and/or engine grounds, LPS HardCoat Corrosion Protectant must applied the connection after disconnecting, cleaning and reconnecting the ring Additionally , LPS HardCoat should applied any ring - type terminal connector following any type service procedure which involved disconnecting/reconnecting the ring terminals (such component service and repair ,