Regular Maintenance
WARNING
Keep open flames and sparks away from the battery; the gasses coming from it are highly explosive. Ventilate the battery well during charging.
Checking Battery Voltage
A voltmeter can be used to determine condition of battery. When engine is off, the voltmeter shows battery voltage, which should be 12 volts. When engine is running, the voltmeter shows voltage of charging circuit which normally is 13 to 14 volts.
spewing of electrolyte occurs, the charging rate must be reduced or temporarily halted to prevent battery damage.
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 battery is fully charged when the cells are gassing freely at low charging rate and less than 0.003 change in specific gravity occurs over a three hour period.
Jump Starting With Auxiliary (Booster) Battery
A dead battery or one too weak to start the engine |
| Jump starting is not recommended. However, if it | ||||
may not mean the battery needs to be replaced. |
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| must be done, follow these directions. Both booster | |||||
For example, it may mean that the alternator is not |
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| and | |||||
charging the battery properly. If there is any doubt |
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| when using jumper cables. Follow the steps below | |||||
about the cause of the problem, see your dealer. |
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| EXACTLY, being careful not to cause sparks. Refer to | |||||
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| for |
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| Reproduction | |||||
If you need to replace the battery, follow the steps |
| Figu e 45. |
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under Cleaning the Battery & Cables in the Regular | 1. B | th batteries must be of the same voltage. | ||||
Maintenance Section. |
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| 2. P | sition | he veh cle with the booster battery | |
Charging a Completely Discharged |
| adjacent | he vehicle with the discharged battery | |||
Battery |
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| so that boos er cables can be connected easily | |||
WARNING |
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| to the batteries in both vehicles. Make certain | |||
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| vehi les do not touch each other. | ||||
Do NOT charge battery with key switch ON. |
| 3. Wear safety glasses and shield eyes and face | ||||
Never use a quick battery charger to start |
| from batteries at all times. Be sure vent caps are | ||||
engine. |
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| tight. Place damp cloth over vent caps on both | |||
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| batteries. |
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Always disconnect negative |
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4. Connect positive (+) cable to positive post of | ||||||
before charging battery. |
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| discharged battery (wired to starter or solenoid). | ||||
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1. Be aware of all the safety precautions you should | 5. Connect the other end of same cable to same post | |||||
observe during the charging operation. If you are | marked positive (+) on booster battery. | |||||
unfamiliar with the use of a battery charg r and |
| 6. Connect the second cable negative | ||||
hydrometer, have the battery serviced by your |
| post of booster battery. | ||||
dealer. |
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| 7. Make final connection on engine block of stalled | |||
2. Add distilled water sufficient to cover the plate (fill | vehicle away from battery. Do not lean over | |||||
to the proper level near the end of the charge). |
| batteries. |
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If the battery is extremely cold, allow it to warm |
| 8. Start the engine of the vehicle with the booster | ||||
before adding water because the water level will | battery. Wait a few minutes, then attempt to start | |||||
rise as it warms. Also, an extremely cold battery | the engine of the vehicle with the discharged | |||||
will not accept a normal charge until it becomes |
| battery. |
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warm. |
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| 9. If the vehicle does not start after cranking for ten | |||
3. Always unplug or turn the charger off before |
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| (10) seconds, STOP PROCEDURE. More than | |||||
attaching or removing the clamp connections. |
| ten (10) seconds seldom starts the engine unless | ||||
4. Carefully attach the clamps to the battery in proper | some mechanical adjustment is made. Allow | |||||
polarity (usually red to [+] positive and black to | a sixty (60) second cool down period between | |||||
negative). |
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| starting attempts. Failure to follow these guidelines | |||
5. While charging, periodically measure the |
| can burn out starter motor. | ||||
temperature of the electrolyte. If the temperature | 10. After starting, allow the engine to return to idle | |||||
exceeds 125° F (51.6° C), or if violent gassing or | speed. Remove the cable connection at the engine |
36 | www.Snapper.com |