operators_manual

Undercharge: the voltage regulator is
malfunctioning, the drive belt is slipping, or
your vehicle has undergone long periods of
idling or short distance driving. These
conditions result in battery plates becoming
covered with a hard coating.
V
ibration: loose battery hold-downs may
cause battery plate failure.
Short Circuits: these discharge the battery
by draining electricity.
Dirty or Loose Connections: improper
connections may stop the flow of electrical
power to and from the battery.
Battery Charging
WARNING
Batteries can injure you severely. They
contain acid, produce poisonous and
explosive gases, and supply levels of
electric current high enough to cause
burns. A spark or flame near a battery
on charge may cause it to explode
with great force. Never remove or tam-
per with the battery caps. Failure to
comply may result in property damage,
personal injury, or death.
Except for using small trickle charges to
maintain battery condition, you should
have your vehicle's batteries charged by a
qualified service facility
. To help reduce the
risk of personal injuries, follow these
guidelines carefully when recharging a
battery:
• Before attempting any service in
the electrical installation,
disconnect the battery negative
cable.
• Allow no sparks or open flame
anywhere near the charging area.
• Charge a battery only in a well-
ventilated area, such as outdoors
or in a fully open garage which
contains no pilot lights or other
flames. Gases generated during
the charging process must be
allowed to escape.
• Always make sure the battery
charger is OFF before connecting
or disconnecting the cable clamps.
• To avoid short circuits, damage to
the vehicle, or personal injury,
never place metal tools or jumper
cables on the battery or nearby.
Metal that accidentally comes in
contact with the positive battery
terminal or any other metal on the
vehicle (that is in contact with the
positive terminal), could cause a
short circuit or an explosion.
Charging Reminders
• Use protective eyewear
• Keep all batteries away from
children
• Never reverse battery poles
• Never attempt to place the vehicle
in motion, or run the engine with
batteries disconnected
• Keep the battery clean and dry
• Look for any signs of damage
• Battery terminals should not be
coated with improper grease. Use
a commercially available,
noncorrosive, non-conductive
terminal coating, or petroleum jelly.
• Never use a fast charger as a
booster to start the engine. This
can seriously damage sensitive
electronic components such as
relays, radio, etc., as well as the
battery charger. Fast charging a
battery is dangerous and should
only be attempted by a competent
mechanic with the proper
equipment.
MAINTENANCE - Electrical System
212 Y53-6096-1C1 (09/20)
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