Regular Maintenance

Battery Service

 

 

Jump Starting With Auxiliary (Booster) Battery

 

WARNING

 

 

Jump starting is not recommended. However, if it must be

 

 

 

 

 

done, follow these directions. Both booster and discharged

 

 

 

 

 

batteries should be treated carefully when using jumper

 

 

 

 

 

cables. Follow the steps below exactly, being careful not to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cause sparks. Refer to Figure 36.

•

Keep open flame and sparks away from the battery; the

 

1. Both batteries must be the same voltage.

 

gasses coming from it are highly explosive.

 

 

 

2. Position the vehicle with the booster battery adjacent

•

Ventilate the battery well during charging.

 

 

 

to the vehicle with the discharged battery so that the

 

 

 

 

 

 

Checking Battery Voltage

 

 

 

booster cables can be connected easily to the batteries

 

 

 

in both vehicles. Make certain that the vehicles do not

A voltmeter can be used to determine the condition of the

 

 

touch each other.

battery. When engine is off, the voltmeter shows battery

 

3.

Wear safety glasses and shield eyes and face from

voltage, which should be 12 volts. When engine is running,

 

batteries at all times. Be sure that the vent caps are

the voltmeter shows the voltage of the charging circuit which

 

tight. Place a damp cloth over the vent caps on both

normally is 13 to 14 volts.

 

 

 

batteries.

 

A dead battery or one to weak to start the engine may not

 

4. Connect the positive [+] cable to the positive post of the

 

 

discharged battery (wired to starter of solenoid).

mean the battery needs to be replaced. For example, it may

 

5.

Connect the other end of the same cable to the same

mean that the alternator is not charging the battery properly.

If there is any doubt about the cause of the problem, see

 

 

post marked positive [+] on the booster battery.

your dealer. If you need to replace the battery, follow the

 

6.

Connect the seco d cable egative [-] to the other post

steps under Cleaning the Battery & Cables in the Regular

 

 

f the booster battery.

Maintenance section.

 

 

7.

Make the f nal c

nnecti n on the engine block of stalled

Charging a Completely Discharged Battery

 

 

vehicle away fr

m battery. Do not lean over batteries.

 

8. Start the engine of the vehicle wit the booster battery.

1. Be aware of all the safety precautions you should

 

 

 

Wait a few minutes, then attempt to start the engine of

 

observe during the charging operation. If y u are

for

 

 

 

 

the vehi le with the discharged battery.

 

unfamiliar with the use of a battery charger and

 

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

 

hydrometer, have the battery serviced by your dealer.

 

 

 

 

seconds, stop procedure. More than thirty seconds

2.

Add distilled water sufficient to cover the plate (fill to

 

 

 

 

sel om starts the engine unless some mechanical

 

proper lever near the end of the charge). If the batte y

 

 

adjustment has been made.

 

is extremely cold, allow it to warm beforeNotadding water

 

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

 

because the water level will rise as it warms. Also, an

 

 

Remove the cable connection at the engine or frame.

 

extremely cold battery will not charge until it b com s

 

 

 

 

 

The remove the other end of the same cable from the

 

warm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

booster battery.

 

3.

Always unplug or turn the charger off b fore attaching or

 

 

11. Remove the other cable by disconnecting at the

 

removing the clamp connections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

discharged battery first and then disconnect opposite

4.

Carefully attach the clamps to the battery in the proper

 

 

 

 

end from the booster battery.

 

polarity (usually red to [+] positive and black to [+]

 

12. Discard the damp cloths that were placed over the

 

negative.

Reproduction

 

 

 

 

battery vent caps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.While charging, periodically measure the temperature of the electrolyte. If the temperature exceeds 125°F (51.6° C), or if violent gassing or 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 for making sure that the battery is fully 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 a low charging rate and less than 0.003 change in specific gravity occurs over a three year period.

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