Attention! Some precautions must be observed when working with batteries. There is always some amount of hydrogen present in battery banks. It is a highly explosive gas, so do not smoke, use open flames or sparks near the battery. The electrolyte inside the battery is a highly reactive sulfuric acid that can cause severe chemical burns or, at best, ruin your clothes or car paint if not handled properly. When disconnecting the battery, always disconnect the negative cable first and then the positive cable.
Examination
1. Constant attention to the battery is the only way to ensure a fast and reliable engine start. But before starting the next maintenance-free battery procedure, stock up on everything you need for this (pic. 11.1)
Pic. 11.1. Tools and materials needed for battery maintenance: 1. Face mask or goggles - when brushing the terminals, particles of sulfuric acid salts can easily get into your eyes; 2. Soda - a solution of soda in water is used to neutralize traces of acid and its reaction products with external parts of the battery; 3. Technical vaseline - a layer of technical vaseline on the battery terminals will protect them from corrosion; 4. Terminal and Cable Lug Cleaner - This wire brush tool will easily clean battery terminals and cable clamps; 5. Felt washer - put on the battery terminals under the clamps, it will help protect the battery leads from corrosion; 6. Puller - sometimes the cable clamp is very tight on the terminal, even if the tie bolt is fully released. The puller allows you to pull the cable from the terminal without damage; 7. Device for stripping the terminal block of leads and cable lugs - has the same purpose as pos. 4, but slightly different from it; 8. Rubber gloves - an additional means of protection when working with a battery (be aware that there is sulfuric acid inside the battery)
2. When servicing the battery, some precautions must be taken. Before working on the battery, turn off the engine and disconnect the negative cable from the battery.
3. The battery generates hydrogen, which is a flammable and explosive gas. Therefore, do not smoke, use open flames or sparks near the battery. Charge the battery in a well ventilated area.
4. Battery electrolyte contains poisonous and highly reactive sulfuric acid. Do not allow electrical power to come into contact with skin, clothing, and especially eyes. Don't swallow it. Wear goggles to protect your eyes. Keep children away from the battery.
5. Pay attention to the external condition of the battery. If the positive battery terminal has a protective rubber boot, make sure it is not torn and in place - it should completely cover the terminal with the clip. Check the terminal clamps - they must be securely tightened and free from corrosion. Inspect the case and battery cover - they should not be cracked or otherwise damaged. Check battery pressure. Finally, check the entire length of the battery cables for cracking or burning of the insulation.
6. Some batteries (unattended) are completely sealed and do not have openings for drinking electrolyte. 0 such batteries have a contamination indicator on top (fig 11.6). Compare the color of the indicator seen through the window with the template attached to the battery. You can detect a low battery before the car comes to a stop in the middle of the road. If the battery is dead, recharge it and check the charging system (see chapter 5).
Service
7. If on the surface of the battery (especially on terminals) corrosion is detected, which has the appearance of a loose white powder (pic. 11.7,a), battery must be removed from the vehicle for cleaning. Loosen the terminal clamp bolts and remove the cable lugs from the battery terminals - first negative, then positive (pic. 11.7,b). Then release the battery from the clamp and remove the battery from the engine compartment.
8. Thoroughly clean the cable clamps with a brush (see figure 11.1 - tool 4 or 7) with soda solution (pic. 11.8,a). Rinse the terminals and top panel of the battery with the same solution, being careful not to get the solution inside the battery. When cleaning cables and terminals, wear safety goggles and rubber gloves to protect your eyes and skin from the solution. Do not work in good clothes - even in a dilute state, sulfuric acid will easily burn through your clothes. If the terminals are badly corroded, clean them with a wire stripper (fig 11.8,6). Rinse all cleaned surfaces thoroughly with clean water.
9. Since the battery is removed in different ways, check its flow at the same time. If there is dirt or corrosion in the tray, rinse it with the same soda solution. Also inspect the brackets that support the tray for corrosion and treat them in the same way if necessary. If corrosion is significant, sand the brackets to bare metal and coat them with a zinc-based primer from a can.
10. Replace the battery. Make sure that there are no wires, rags, or tools on the tray when installing the battery. For more information on removing and installing the battery, see chapter 5.
11. Place specially treated felt washers over the terminals, and cover the terminals and cable clamps with petroleum jelly or grease to protect them from corrosion. Place the cable clamps on the terminals and securely tighten their bolts (connect negative wire first).
12. Secure the battery with a clamp. Do not overtighten the clamp nuts - the battery case may crack.
13. Make sure the battery is securely attached to the tray and the tray is securely attached to the body.
Charger
Attention! When charging and accumulating, hydrogen is produced, a highly flammable and explosive gas. Do not smoke near the battery, and do not use open flames. Wear safety goggles when near a charging battery. Before connecting or disconnecting the charging station from the battery, first turn off the power of the station.
14. The best way to charge a battery that is so low that it cannot crank the starter is to charge slowly. It is also necessary to maintain the battery in working condition if the car is used mainly for short trips. Keeping the battery charged is especially important in winter, when the chemical activity of the battery decreases and the load on it increases.
15. Good results are obtained by using a low-power two-amp (buffer) charger. Such a device is safe and does not overload the battery. Besides, it's not expensive. For faster charging, you can use more powerful chargers, but with a current numerically not higher than 1/10 of the battery capacity in ampere-hours. More powerful charging stations that allow you to charge the battery in one to two hours are not recommended, since a large charging current is harmful to the car battery and can significantly damage its plates.
16. The average battery charging time is usually given in the instructions that came with the charger. As a rule, the buffer charger charges the battery in 12-16 hours.