General Information

The battery, starting, and charging systems operate with one another, and must be tested as a complete system. In order for the vehicle to start and charge properly, all of the components involved in these systems must perform within specifications.

However, when attempting to diagnose any of these systems, it is important that you keep their interdependency in mind.

The diagnostic procedures used in these groups include the most basic conventional diagnostic methods, to the more sophisticated On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) built into the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Use of a induction milliampere ammeter, volt/ ohmmeter, battery charger, carbon pile rheostat (load tester), and 12-Volt test lamp may be required.

All OBD-sensed systems are monitored by the PCM. Each monitored circuit is assigned a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC). The PCM will store a DTC in electronic memory for any failure it detects. See the On-Board Diagnostics Test in Starting and Charging/Charging System for more information.