H
BATTERIES AND CHARGING
Page H-1
Repair and Service Manual
Read all of Section B and this section before attempting any procedure. Pay particular attention to all Notes,
SAFETY
Always observe the following warnings when working on
or near batteries:
To prevent battery
explosion that could
result in severe per-
sonal injury or death, keep all smoking
materials, open flame or sparks away from
the batteries.
Hydrogen gas is formed when charging
batteries. Do not charge batteries with-
out adequate ventilation. A 4% concen-
tration of hydrogen gas is explosive.
Be sure that the key switch is off and all
electrical accessories are turned off
before starting work on vehicle.
Never disconnect a circuit under load at
a battery terminal.
Batteries are heavy. Use prop-
er lifting techniques when
moving them. Always lift the
battery with a commercially
available battery lifting device.
Use care not to tip batteries
when removing or installing
them; spilled electrolyte can
cause burns and damage.
The electrolyte in a storage battery is an
acid solution which can cause severe
burns to the skin and eyes. Treat all elec-
trolyte spills to the body and eyes with
extended flushing with clear water. Con-
tact a physician immediately.
Always wear a safety shield or
approved safety goggles when
adding water or charging batter-
ies.
Any electrolyte spills should be neutral-
ized with a solution of 1/4 cup (60 ml)
sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) dis-
solved in 1 1/2 gallons (6 liters) of water
and flushed with water.
Overfilling batteries may result in elec-
trolyte being expelled from the battery
during the charge cycle. Expelled elec-
trolyte may cause damage to the vehicle
and storage facility.
Aerosol containers of battery terminal
protectant must be used with extreme
care. Insulate metal container to prevent
can from contacting battery terminals
which could result in an explosion.
Wrap wrenches with
vinyl tape to prevent
the possibility of a
dropped wrench from
‘shorting out’ a battery, which could
result in an explosion and severe per-
sonal injury or death.
BATTERY
A battery is defined as two dissimilar metals immersed in
an acid. If the acid is absent or if the metals are not dis-
similar, a battery has not been created. The batteries
most commonly used in these vehicles are lead acid.
A battery does not store electricity, but is able to produce
electricity as the result of a chemical reaction which
releases stored chemical energy in the form of electrical
energy. The chemical reaction takes place faster in warm
conditions and slower in cold conditions. Temperature is
important when conducting tests on a battery and test
results must be corrected to compensate for temperature
differences.
As a battery ages, it still performs adequately except that
its capacity is diminished. Capacity describes the time
that a battery can continue to provide its design amperes
from a full charge.
A battery has a maximum life, therefore good mainte-
nance is designed to maximize the available life and
reduce the factors that can reduce the life of the battery.
BATTERY MAINTENANCE
Tool List Qty. Required
Insulated wrench, 1/2" .................................................1
Battery carrier ..............................................................1
Hydrometer..................................................................1
Battery maintenance kit P/N 25587-G01 .....................1
At Each Charging Cycle
To reduce the possi-
bility of fire, never
attach a battery
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