Regular Maintenance

BATTERY SERVICE

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.

 

 

must be done, follow these directions. Both booster

For example, it may mean that the alternator is not

 

 

and dis-charged batteries should be treated carefully

charging the battery properly. If there is any doubt

 

 

when using jumper cables. Follow the steps below

about the cause of the problem, see your dealer.

 

 

EXACTLY, being careful not to cause sparks. Refer to

 

 

 

for

 

 

Reproduction

If you need to replace the battery, follow the steps

 

Figu e 45.

 

under Cleaning the Battery & Cables in the Regular

1. B

th batteries must be of the same voltage.

Maintenance Section.

 

 

2. P

sition

he veh cle with the booster battery

Charging a Completely Discharged

 

adjacent

he vehicle with the discharged battery

Battery

 

 

so that boos er cables can be connected easily

WARNING

 

 

to the batteries in both vehicles. Make certain

 

 

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.

 

 

tight. Place damp cloth over vent caps on both

 

 

batteries.

 

Always disconnect negative (-) batteryNotcable

 

4. Connect positive (+) cable to positive post of

before charging battery.

 

 

 

 

discharged battery (wired to starter or solenoid).

 

 

 

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 (-) to other

hydrometer, have the battery serviced by your

 

post of booster battery.

dealer.

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

warm.

 

 

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

3. Always unplug or turn the charger off before

 

 

(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).

 

 

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

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