Starting and Charging: Description and Operation
BATTERY SYSTEMDESCRIPTION
This vehicle is equipped with a single 12-volt battery. All of the components of the battery system are located within the engine compartment. The battery system for this vehicle covers the following related components:
^ Battery (3) - The storage battery provides a reliable means of storing a renewable source of electrical energy within the vehicle.
^ Positive Battery cable (2) - The positive battery cable connects the battery positive terminal post to the vehicle electrical system, starter and alternator.
^ Negative Battery Cable (4) - The negative battery cable connects the battery negative terminal post to the vehicle electrical system through body, chassis and engine grounding points.
^ Battery Thermal Guard (6) - A thermal guard wraps around the battery case to enclose the sides of the battery. The thermal guard consists of a heavy black plastic outer skin and two lighter plies of plastic that have been formed into a sheet with hundreds of small air pockets entrapped between them.
^ Battery Holddown - The battery holddown hardware secures the battery in the battery tray in the engine compartment.
^ Battery Tray (7) - The battery tray provides a secure mounting location in the vehicle for the battery and an anchor point for the battery hold-down hardware as well as a mounting location for the Integrated Power Module (IPM).
For battery system maintenance schedules Refer to GENERAL/MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES. Refer to GENERAL/JUMP STARTING for the proper jump starting procedure. The battery must be fully-charged before any battery system diagnosis or testing procedures can be performed.
OPERATION
The battery system is designed to provide a safe, efficient, reliable and mobile means of delivering and storing electrical energy. This electrical energy is required to operate the engine starting system, as well as many of the other vehicle accessory systems for limited durations while the engine and/or the charging system are not operating. The battery system is also designed to provide a reserve of electrical energy to supplement the charging system for short durations while the engine is running and the electrical current demands of the vehicle exceed the output of the charging system. In addition to delivering, and storing electrical energy for the vehicle, the battery system serves as a capacitor and voltage stabilizer for the vehicle electrical system. It absorbs most abnormal or transient voltages caused by the switching of any of the electrical components or circuits in the vehicle.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
BATTERY SYSTEM
The battery, starting, and charging systems in the vehicle operate with one another and must be tested as a complete system. In order for the engine to start and the battery to maintain its charge properly, all of the components that are used in these systems must perform within specifications. It is important that the battery, starting, and charging systems be thoroughly tested and inspected any time a battery needs to be charged or replaced. The cause of abnormal battery discharge, overcharging or early battery failure must be diagnosed and corrected before a battery is replaced and before a vehicle is returned to service. The service information for these systems has been separated within this service manual to make it easier to locate the specific information you are seeking. However, when attempting to diagnose any of these systems, it is important that you keep their interdependency in mind.
The diagnostic procedures used for the battery, starting, and charging systems include the most basic conventional diagnostic methods, to the more sophisticated On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) built into the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Use of an induction-type milliampere ammeter, a volt/ohmmeter, a battery charger, a carbon pile rheostat (load tester) and a 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 inoperative system it detects.
MICRO 530 BATTERY TESTER
The Micro 530 automotive battery system tester is designed to help diagnose the cause of a defective battery.
CLEANING
The following information details the recommended cleaning procedures for the battery and related components. In addition to the maintenance schedules it is recommended that these procedures be performed any time the battery or related components must be removed for vehicle service.
1. Clean the battery cable terminal clamps (2) of all corrosion. Remove any corrosion using a wire brush or a post and terminal cleaning tool (1), and a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and warm water cleaning solution.
2. Clean the battery tray and battery hold down hardware of all corrosion. Remove any corrosion using a wire brush and a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and warm water cleaning solution (2). Paint any exposed bare metal.
3. If the removed battery is to be reinstalled, clean the outside of the battery case (3) and the top cover with a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and warm water cleaning solution (2) using a stiff bristle parts cleaning brush (1) to remove any acid film. Rinse the battery with clean water. Ensure that the cleaning solution does not enter the battery cells through the vent holes. If the battery is being replaced, confirm that the replacement battery is the correct size and has the correct ratings for the vehicle.
4. Clean the battery thermal guard with a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and warm water cleaning solution (2) using a stiff bristle parts cleaning brush (1) to remove any acid film.
5. Clean any corrosion from the battery terminal posts with a wire brush or a post and terminal cleaner (1) and a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and warm water cleaning solution.
INSPECTION
The following information details the recommended inspection procedures for the battery and related components. In addition to the maintenance schedules it is recommended that these procedures be performed any time the battery or related components are removed for vehicle service.
1. Inspect the battery cable terminal clamps for damage. Replace any battery cable that has a damaged or deformed terminal clamp.
2. Inspect the battery tray and battery hold down hardware for damage. Replace any damaged parts.
3. Slide the thermal guard off of the battery case, if equipped. Inspect the battery case for cracks or other damage that could result in electrolyte leaks. Also, check the battery terminal posts for looseness. Batteries with damaged cases or loose terminal posts must be replaced.
4. Inspect the battery thermal guard for tears, cracks, deformation or other damage. Replace any battery thermal guard that has been damaged.
5. Inspect the battery built-in test indicator sight glass (if equipped) for an indication of the battery condition. If the battery is discharged, charge as required.
BATTERY
The battery Group Size number, the Cold Cranking Amperage (CCA) rating, and the Reserve Capacity (RC) rating or Ampere-Hours (AH) rating can be found on the original equipment battery label. Be certain that a replacement battery has the correct Group Size number, as well as CCA, and RC or AH ratings that equal or exceed the original equipment specification for the vehicle being serviced. Battery sizes and ratings are discussed in more detail below.
^ Group Size - The outside dimensions and terminal placement of the battery conform to standards established by the Battery Council International (BCI). Each battery is assigned a BCI Group Size number to help identify a correctly-sized replacement.
^ Cold Cranking Amperage - The Cold Cranking Amperage (CCA) rating specifies how much current (in amperes) the battery can deliver for thirty seconds at -18°C (0°F). Terminal voltage must not fall below 7.2 volts during or after the thirty second discharge period. The CCA required is generally higher as engine displacement increases, depending also upon the starter current draw requirements.
^ Reserve Capacity - The Reserve Capacity (RC) rating specifies the time (in minutes) it takes for battery terminal voltage to fall below 10.5 volts, at a discharge rate of 25 amperes. RC is determined with the battery fully-charged at 26.7°C (80°F). This rating estimates how long the battery might last after a charging system failure, under minimum electrical load.
^ Ampere-Hours - The Ampere-Hours (AH) rating specifies the current (in amperes) that a battery can deliver steadily for twenty hours, with the voltage in the battery not falling below 10.5 volts. This rating is also sometimes identified as the twenty-hour discharge rating.
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
BATTERY SYSTEM SPECIAL TOOLS
