SkyTrak 6036 Service Manual - Manual (Page 414)

Electrical System
9.62 Model 6036 Legacy
9.11.2 Battery
Note: A single, lead-acid type, 12-volt, negative (-)
ground, maintenance-free battery rated at 1000 cold-
cranking amps is used in this vehicle. (Refer to Model
6036 Legacy Owners/Operators Manual for general
information.)
a. Battery Description
The battery supplies power to the starter and ignition
system to crank the engine, and it provides extra power
when the electrical load requirements of the vehicle
exceed the supply from the charging system in the event
of an alternator or charging-system failure. The battery
also acts as a voltage stabilizer in the electrical system,
smoothing out or reducing temporarily high voltage.
With the correct battery cables properly attached and with
the battery properly mounted, the battery does not
require periodic maintenance.
When starting the engine, allow the starter to crank for a
maximum of 15 seconds only, then wait a minimum of two
minutes to help avoid burning out the starter. Also, DO
NOT let the engine idle excessively, as low engine rpm
can also lead to battery discharge.
Keep the battery from freezing by maintaining a full charge.
A completely discharged battery will freeze at 18° F (8° C).
Due to the maintenance-free design, water NEVER has
to be added to the battery, so there are no filler caps.
Each battery is sealed, except for small vent holes in the
cover. The vent holes allow gas and pressure produced
in the battery during charging to escape. The special
chemical composition inside the battery reduces gassing
to a very small amount at normal charging voltages. The
special chemistry also greatly reduces the possibility of
overcharge damage.
The vents require that the battery be kept in an upright
position, to help prevent electrolyte leakage. Tipping the
battery beyond a 45° angle in any direction can allow a
small amount of electrolyte to leak out of the vent hole.
DO NOT exceed this 45° angle when carrying or installing
a battery.
The battery has top-post terminals. Keep the terminals
clean, and securely tighten clean cable clamps onto the
posts. Grease or special spray sealers may be applied
over the connections.
b. Visual Inspection of the Battery
Inspect for damage such as a cracked or broken case, or
cover, that could permit loss of electrolyte. If obvious
physical damage is noticed, replace the battery. Handle
the battery with care. Determine the cause of battery
damage and correct as needed before installing the new
battery.
c. Battery Load Test
1. Disconnect both the negative (-) battery cable (first),
and the positive (+) battery cable from the battery.
Make sure that the negative and positive battery
terminal posts are clean to help assure a good
electrical connection.
2. Attach voltmeter and battery load tester clamps to
the battery terminal posts.
3. Remove the surface charge from any battery that
has just been charged (by a battery charger or by
the vehicle alternator). DO NOT remove the surface
charge from a battery that has been in storage. To
remove the surface charge, apply a 300-ampere
load across the terminals for 15 seconds. Then turn
off the load and wait for 15 seconds to allow the
battery to recover and normalize.
4. Battery temperature should be estimated by touch
and also by the surrounding temperature it was
exposed to during the preceding few hours before
testing. Select the nearest estimated temperature
from the following chart, and determine the minimum
voltage that must be maintained while the battery
supplies a specified electrical load.
5. Apply a 260-ampere load test to check the charge
acceptance of the battery. Observe the voltage after
15 seconds with the load connected, and then
remove the load.
6. If voltage is at or above the value determined in
Step 4, the battery is good and may be returned to
service.
7. If voltage is below the value determined in Step 4,
check the charge acceptance of the battery one
more time before discarding it. If the voltage
continues to read below the value determined in
Step 4, replace the battery.
WARNING:
All lead-acid batteries gen-
erate hydrogen gas, which is highly flammable.
If ignited by a spark or flame, the gas may
explode violently, causing spraying of acid,
fragmentation of the battery and cause
possible severe personal injuries. Wear safety
glasses when working near batteries. In case
of contact with acid, flush area immediately
with water.