To service the battery, you need eye and hand protection, baking soda, petroleum jelly, a wire stripper from the battery terminal, and a tool for cleaning wires and terminals. If the battery has plugs in the banks, a hydrometer will be required to measure the density of the electrolyte.
A maintenance-free battery can be installed on the vehicle, the maintenance of which is reduced to keeping the case and terminals clean. Such batteries do not contain antimony, which has a harmful effect on the plates, and a separator is installed in the case cover that absorbs electrolyte vapor and then returns it to the battery banks, as a result of which water evaporation is excluded, leading to a decrease in the electrolyte level. By maintaining a stable electrolyte level, the life of the battery is significantly increased.
If a maintenance-free battery is used, the condition of the battery can only be checked with a voltmeter.
Warning. A small amount of hydrogen is released from the side vents of a maintenance-free battery, so you should not keep the battery near open flames, sparks, or smoking.
Periodically check the battery case or cover for damage.
Check the tightness of the clamps of the wires connected to the battery terminals to ensure good contacts, and also check all the wires for cracks and fraying.
If there are obvious signs of corrosion in the form of white deposits, then you need to remove the wire clamps from the terminals, clean them together with the battery terminals and reinstall. Corrosion can be minimized by applying a coat of thick oil or grease to the wire clamps and terminals after they are installed.
Check that the protective rubber cap on the positive terminal is not damaged (if he is). The cap must completely cover the terminal.
Make sure the battery holder is in good condition and the clamp bolts are securely tightened. If the battery is removed from the holder, make sure that there are no foreign objects on the base of the holder when installing it. When tightening the clamp bolts, do not overtighten them.
Places of corrosion of the holder, battery case and surrounding surfaces must be treated with an aqueous solution of soda, but be careful - the solution should not get into the eyes, skin or clothes. Be sure to use protective gloves. Rinse all treated areas with clean water.
All metal surfaces of the vehicle affected by corrosion should be primed with a zinc based primer and then painted.
Attention! It is necessary to periodically check the density of the electrolyte in the battery to determine the load capacity of the battery. Remove the plugs from the battery cans. Type enough electrolyte into the hydrometer so that the measuring float floats freely in it. Read the density on the scale on the float. The numbers on the scale mean the following:
- 1.260 g/cm3 - the battery is fully charged;
- 1.160 g/cm3 - the battery is half charged;
- 1.060 g/cm3 - the battery is discharged.
With the same low electrolyte density in all battery cells, charge the battery. If only one battery cell is discharged, then the battery is defective - have it checked by a workshop.