Note. Recommended interval: every 12,000 km or 6 months.
Warning! When batteries are charged, an explosive mixture of gases is released.
Warning! When working with wires and electrical appliances, smoking, the use of fire, sparking devices, open flammable light devices is prohibited. Avoid sparks when handling wires and electrical devices.
Warning! Never directly short the battery terminals - there is a great risk of injury due to strong sparks.
Attention! When disconnecting the battery from the vehicle's electrical system, first disconnect «negative» wire and then «positive». When the engine is running, the battery must not be disconnected, as, in this case, the electronic devices of the electrical system will be damaged.
Checking the condition of the battery
Only constant maintenance of the battery provides a quick and reliable engine start.
Before servicing the battery, turn off the engine and all electrical consumers, then disconnect «negative» wire from the negative battery terminal.
Check the external condition of the housing and battery terminals. Check the condition of the rubber boots covering the battery terminals. Check that the wire lug and terminal connections are free from oxidation and are securely tightened. Also check the entire length of the wires connected to the battery for cracks and damage to the insulation.
If the terminals show signs of corrosion in the form of white flakes, remove and clean the battery.
Disconnect from battery first «negative» wire and then «positive».
Pic. 2.11. Arrangement of nuts of fastening of a cross clip of the accumulator battery
Loosen the nuts, lift the cross clamp and remove the battery from the vehicle (pic. 2.11).
Pic. 2.12. Using a metal brush to clean the inside of the terminal on the battery cable
Clean the outer and inner parts of the terminals on the wires with a metal brush in the form of a brush, then rinse them with a warm solution of baking soda (pic. 2.12).
Clean the battery terminals in the same way, being careful not to get water and baking soda into the battery cells.
Check the condition of the battery support bracket.
Charging the battery
Attention! When connecting or disconnecting the charger terminals to the battery, the charger must be turned off.
Periodically charging the battery is the easiest way to maintain battery capacity, especially when the vehicle is used for short trips with frequent engine starts.
Keeping the battery charged is especially important in winter, when the battery is heavily loaded. At low temperatures, the battery gives less current when starting the engine than it could at a positive temperature. Therefore, it is recommended to check the battery before the start of the winter season and, if necessary, charge it.
Remove the battery from the vehicle before charging.
Use a charger or charger to charge. Charge the battery with a current equal to 0.05-0.1 of the battery capacity until the density of the electrolyte stops increasing for 4 hours.
It is not recommended to use a high current for fast charging of the battery, as in this case warping of the plates due to overheating may occur.
During battery charging, the temperature of the electrolyte should not exceed 37.8°C.