Troubleshooting

BATTERY SERVICE

 

 

 

battery is fully charged when the cells are gassing

 

 

 

 

freely at low charging rate and less than 0.003

WARNING

 

 

 

change in specific gravity occurs over a three hour

 

 

 

period.

Keep open flames and sparks away from the

 

 

Jump Starting With Auxiliary (Booster)

battery; the gasses coming from it are highly

 

 

explosive.Ventilate the battery well during

 

 

Battery

charging.

 

 

 

Jump starting is not recommended. However, if it

 

 

 

 

Checking Battery Voltage

 

 

 

must be done, follow these directions. Both booster

 

 

 

and dis-charged batteries should be treated carefully

A voltmeter can be used to determine condition of

 

when using jumper cables. Follow the steps below

 

EXACTLY, being careful not to cause sparks. Refer

battery. When engine is off, the voltmeter shows

 

 

 

 

to Figure 51.

battery voltage, which should be 12 volts.When

 

 

 

 

1. Both batteries must be of the same voltage.

engine is running, the voltmeter shows voltage of

 

 

 

 

2. Position the vehicle with the booster battery

charging circuit which normally is 13 to 14 volts.

 

 

 

 

adjacent to the vehicle with the discharged battery

A dead battery or one too weak to start the engine

 

 

so that booster cables can be connected easily

may not mean the battery needs to be replaced.

 

 

 

 

to the batteries in both vehicles. Make certain

For example, it may mean that the alternator is not

 

 

vehicles do not touch each other.

charging the battery properly. If there is any doubt

 

 

3. Wear safety glasses and shield eyes and face

about the cause of the problem, see your dealer.

 

 

If you need to replace the battery, follow the steps

 

from batteries at all times. Be sure vent caps are

under Cleaning the Battery & Cables in the Regular

 

tight. Place damp cloth over vent caps on both

Maintenance Section.

 

 

 

batteries.

Charging a Completely Discharged

 

 

4. Connect p s t ve (+) cable to positive post of

 

 

discharged ba ery (wired to starter or solenoid).

Battery

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Conne he o her end of same cable to same

1. Be aware of all the safety precautions y u sh

uld

 

 

post marked positive (+) on booster battery.

observe during the charging operation. If y u are

for

 

6. Conne t the second cable negative (-) to other

unfamiliar with the use of a battery charger and

 

 

post of booster battery.

hydrometer, have the battery serviced by your

 

 

 

 

7. Make final connection on engine block of stalled

dealer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

vehicle away from battery. Do not lean over

2. Add distilled water sufficient to cover the plate (fill

 

 

batteries.

 

Not

 

 

 

 

to the proper level near the end of the charge).

 

8. Start the engine of the vehicle with the booster

If the battery is extremely cold, allow it to wa m

 

 

battery.Wait a few minutes, then attempt to start

before adding water because the wat r l v l will

 

 

the engine of the vehicle with the discharged

rise as it warms. Also, an extremely cold batt

ry

 

 

battery.

will not accept a normal charge until it b com

s

 

 

 

 

Reproduction

warm.

 

 

 

9. If the vehicle does not start after cranking for thirty

3. Always unplug or turn the charger off before

seconds, STOP PROCEDURE. More than thirty

seconds seldom starts the engine unless some

attaching or removing the clamp connections.

mechanical adjustment is made.

4. Carefully attach the clamps to the battery in

10. After starting, allow the engine to return to idle

proper polarity (usually red to [+] positive and

speed. Remove the cable connection at the

black to [-] negative).

engine or frame. Then remove the other end of

5. While charging, periodically measure the

the same cable from the booster battery.

temperature of the electrolyte. If the temperature

11.Remove the other cable by disconnecting at the

exceeds 125° F (51.6° C), or if violent gassing or

discharged battery first and then disconnect the

spewing of electrolyte occurs, the charging rate

opposite end from the booster battery.

must be reduced or temporarily halted to prevent

12. Discard the damp cloths that were placed over

battery damage.

the battery vent caps.

6. Charge the battery until fully charged (until the

 

specific gravity of the electrolyte is 1.250 or higher

 

and the electrolyte temperature is at least 60° F).

 

The best method of making certain a battery is

 

fully charged, but not over charged, is to measure

 

the specific gravity of a cell once per hour. The

 

 

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