Maintenance Car or Jeep: Battery

The key maintenance

Maintenance Car or Jeep: Battery

Check the

Everyone knows it, but the battery contains electrolyte, a liquid mixture of water and sulfuric acid. And a battery with a low electrolyte level gives signs of weakness. To check the level, simply remove the cap or closure bar filling holes. Take a screwdriver if necessary. Must be able to verify that the liquid covers all the elements of the battery, ie the lead plates. The electrolyte level must exceed the plates of about 1 to 1.5 cm.

Top up

If one or more elements do not bathe in water, it must be refilled. In theory, with only distilled or deionized water. But if your battery is completely empty, do not hesitate to add a little water. It will be less severe than continue to run under these conditions. Attention! Never add special sulfuric acid battery is only used to fulfill a new battery delivered dry.

Finally, do not forget that some maintenance free batteries cannot do this upgrade. The caps are sealed.

Clean the terminals

A slight deposit of sulphate (like limestone) between the terminal and the terminal of the battery is sufficient to limit the current. It may even prevent starting the car in cold weather. A wire brush or sandpaper can easily remove this white residue. If this is not enough, consider replacing pods.

Also remember to tighten the clamp that holds the battery. More stable, no risk of upsetting the lead plates and thus lead to a short-circuit elements.

Grease the terminals

After cleaning, coat with grease, pods and the plastic green or red. You retarderez the formation of sulfate. Attention! This should only be done once the lugs tight. It does nothing to prevent electrical contact between the terminals and the terminal.

Place washers anti-sulfate

If your battery has a tendency to "sulphated", you can put washers to prevent the formation of this substance. They insulate the terminals and the terminals of gassing and leaking acid led to the formation of sulfate.

Protect the battery tray

Sometimes the metal bracket suffer acid attacks the battery. In case of damage, remove the battery, then remove and scrape the rust is on the tray. Finally repaint the tank with rust.

Check the alternator

If you have followed all the advice Caradisiac and your car still sputters, take a look at the starter. It may cause malfunction of the battery. Using a voltmeter, measure the voltage at the battery terminals. Engine stopped for several hours, your battery should read between 12.5 and 12.7 v v if it is fully charged. Below 11.7 V, it is flat.

If you control the engine running, the alternator should read between 14 and 14.7 v v. below it does not work. Beyond it loads too. Should check the status of the controller. Then do not hesitate to consult a specialist.

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