Care of battery
WARNING:
Failure to take proper precautions when handling the battery may cause severe personal injury.
- Never expose the battery to an open flame or electric spark. A battery generates highly flammable and explosive hydrogen gas.
- Battery fluid is a corrosive acid. Do not allow it to contact eyes, skin, fabrics, or painted surfaces of the vehicle. If the fluid contacts any of them, immediately and thoroughly flush the affected area with a large quantity of water.
- Keep the battery out of reach of children.
- The battery is a very reliable component, but needs periodical attention.
- Keep the battery carrier clean.
- Prevent rust formation on the terminal posts.
- Keep electrolyte up to upper level uniformly in all cells. (If cell caps are equipped)
- When keeping the battery on the vehicle over a long period of time, follow the instructions given below.
- Weekly, start the engine and run it until it reaches normal operating temperature with engine speed at 2000 to 3000 RPM. Make sure all electric switches are turned off before storing the vehicle.
- Recharge the battery twice a month to prevent it from discharging excessively. This is especially important when ambient temperature is low.
The battery discharges even when it is not used, while vehicles are being stored. Battery electrolyte can freeze and battery case can crack at cold ambient condition if the battery is not properly charged.
- Keep the battery cable connections clean.
The cable connections, particularly at the positive (+) terminal post, tend to become corroded. The product of corrosion, or rust, on the mating faces of conductors hinders the flow of current. Clean the terminals and fittings periodically to ensure good metal-to-metal contact, and grease the connections after each cleaning to protect them against rusting.
- Be always in the know as to the state of charge of the battery. The simplest way to tell the state of charge is to carry out a hydrometer test. The hydrometer is an instrument for measuring the specific gravity of the battery electrolyte. The specific gravity of the electrolyte is indicative of the state of charge. See Battery Inspection