4.3.24. Service of the rechargeable battery

At least once in two weeks delete with dry rags dust and dirt from a surface of a monoblock and a cover of the battery. If on a cover incidentally there was an electrolyte, remove it with the pure rags moistened with 10% solution of liquid ammonia or soda. Then dry wipe a cover surface.

PREVENTION Clear a cover surface only at densely wrapped up traffic jams in order to avoid electrolyte pollution.

You watch that traffic jams were always densely wrapped in mouths of cans. At least once in two weeks check purity of openings for gas discharge in traffic jams (if they in them are executed) or in cover sidewalls as the contamination of these openings will cause increase in pressure of gas in the battery that can lead to its damage.

For prevention of oxidation of polar conclusions of the battery and tips of wires regularly clear conclusions and tips and grease them with technical vaseline or jellied lubricant. You watch density of connection of tips of wires and conclusions.

GOOD ADVICE Instead of technical vaseline or usual jellied lubricants it is the best of all to apply the conducting copper-bearing lubricants which are available on sale to protection against oxidation of conclusions and tips.

Periodically check reliability of fastening of the battery on the car and if necessary bring up him in order to avoid emergence of cracks on a monoblock.

GOOD ADVICE For reduction of the vibrations which are transferred to a battery monoblock and for avoidance of damage of a paint and varnish covering in case of an electrolyte effluence from the rechargeable battery install the battery on a rug from acidproof rubber.

Wires have to be attached to conclusions of the battery with a weak point as the tension of wires can lead to shaking of conclusions in a cover and a leak of electrolyte.

Periodically, at least once in two weeks, check electrolyte level in battery elements.

NOTE At batteries with the cover, general for all elements, equipped with a condenser cavity it is allowed to check electrolyte level once in 2 months.

Electrolyte level in all elements has to be 5-10 mm higher than the top edge of separators that corresponds to finding of level between tags of "MIN" and "MAX" on a wall of the translucent case of the battery.

GOOD ADVICE To check electrolyte level over the top edge of separators conveniently glass tubule: lower it in an element against the stop in a separator and, having closed the free end of a tubule a finger, take out it from an element.

For restoration of level of electrolyte add only the distilled water. If it is precisely established that slopping is the reason of low level, then add electrolyte of the same density, as remained in a battery element. If level is higher than norm, then pump out electrolyte a rubber pear with an ebonite tip.

PREVENTION It is strictly forbidden to add in the rechargeable battery the concentrated acid!

If difficulties with launch of the engine in use appeared, check degree of state of charge of the rechargeable battery on density of electrolyte or on tension on its conclusions in not loaded state (tab. 4.4). For check of density of electrolyte use the areometer or the float-operated indicator of density of electrolyte which is available on sale. Tension on conclusions of the battery can be measured by any voltmeter of a direct current with a limit of measurement of 20 V (the similar voltmeter is a part of all autotesters which are available on sale).

If degree of state of charge of the battery of 75% or below, it is necessary to remove it from the car and to load by means of the charger (see. "Charging of the rechargeable battery").