²Battery Thermal Guard- The battery thermal
guard insulates the battery to protect it from engine
compartment temperature extremes.
²Battery Tray- The battery tray provides a
secure mounting location in the vehicle for the bat-
tery and an anchor point for the battery holddown
hardware.
For battery system maintenance schedules and
jump starting procedures, see the owner's manual in
the vehicle glove box. Optionally, refer to Lubrication
and Maintenance for the proper battery jump start-
ing procedures. While battery charging can be consid-
ered a maintenance procedure, the battery charging
procedures and related information are located in the
service procedures section of this service manual.
This was done because the battery must be fully-
charged before any battery system diagnosis or test-
ing procedures can be performed. Refer to Standard
Procedures for the proper battery charging proce-
dures.
OPERATION
The battery system is designed to provide a safe,
efficient, reliable and mobile means of delivering and
storing electrical energy. This electrical energy is
required to operate the engine starting system, as
well as to operate many of the other vehicle acces-
sory systems for limited durations while the engine
and/or the charging system are not operating. The
battery system is also designed to provide a reserve
of electrical energy to supplement the charging sys-
tem for short durations while the engine is running
and the electrical current demands of the vehicle
exceed the output of the charging system. In addition
to delivering, and storing electrical energy for the
vehicle, the battery system serves as a capacitor and
voltage stabilizer for the vehicle electrical system. It
absorbs most abnormal or transient voltages caused
by the switching of any of the electrical components
or circuits in the vehicle.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - BATTERY SYSTEM
The battery, starting, and charging systems in the
vehicle operate with one another and must be testedas a complete system. In order for the engine to start
and the battery to maintain its charge properly, all of
the components that are used in these systems must
perform within specifications. It is important that
the battery, starting, and charging systems be thor-
oughly tested and inspected any time a battery needs
to be charged or replaced. The cause of abnormal bat-
tery discharge, overcharging or early battery failure
must be diagnosed and corrected before a battery is
replaced and before a vehicle is returned to service.
The service information for these systems has been
separated within this service manual to make it eas-
ier to locate the specific information you are seeking.
However, when attempting to diagnose any of these
systems, it is important that you keep their interde-
pendency in mind.
The diagnostic procedures used for the battery,
starting, and charging systems include the most
basic conventional diagnostic methods, to the more
sophisticated On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) built into
the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Use of an
induction-type milliampere ammeter, a volt/ohmme-
ter, a battery charger, a carbon pile rheostat (load
tester) and a 12-volt test lamp may be required. All
OBD-sensed systems are monitored by the PCM.
Each monitored circuit is assigned a Diagnostic Trou-
ble Code (DTC). The PCM will store a DTC in elec-
tronic memory for any failure it detects. Refer to
Charging System for the proper charging system on-
board diagnostic test procedures.
MIDTRONICS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TESTER
The Midtronicstautomotive battery and charging
system tester is designed to help the dealership tech-
nicians diagnose the cause of a defective battery or
charging system. Follow the instruction manual sup-
plied with the tester to properly diagnose a vehicle. If
the instruction manual is not available refer to the
standard procedure in this section, which includes
the directions for using the midtronics electrical sys-
tem tester.
8F - 2 BATTERY SYSTEMKJ
BATTERY SYSTEM (Continued)
(2) Install and tighten the a/c low pressure switch
on the accumulator fitting. The switch should be
hand-tightened onto the accumulator fitting.
(3) Plug the wire harness connector into the a/c
low pressure switch.
(4) Connect the battery negative cable.
BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR
REMOVAL
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE
ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING
COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT
DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISO-
LATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE,
THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYS-
TEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PER-
FORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS
IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG
SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRE-
CAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENTAL
AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable.
(2) Remove A/C housing from vehicle(Refer to 24 -
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION/
HVAC HOUSING - REMOVAL).
(3) Remove the screws that secure the blend door
actuator to the top of the HVAC housing. (Fig. 14).
(4) Remove the blend door actuator.
INSTALLATION
(1) Install the blend door actuator in place.
(2) Install and tighten the screws that secure the
blend door actuator to the housing. Tighten the
mounting screws to 2.4 ( .34) N´m (21 ( 3) in. lbs.).
(3) Install the HVAC housing into the vehicle(Re-
fer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/DIS-
TRIBUTION/HVAC HOUSING - INSTALLATION).
(4) Install the blend door actuator electrical con-
nector from the wiring harness through the glove
box.
(5) Connect the battery negative cable.
BLOWER MOTOR RELAY
DESCRIPTION
The blower motor relay is a International Stan-
dards Organization (ISO)-type relay. The relay is a
electromechanical device that switches battery cur-
rent from a fuse in the Power Distribution Center
(PDC) directly to the blower motor. The relay is ener-
gized when the relay coil is provided a voltage signal
by the ignition switch. (Refer to 24 - HEATING &
AIR CONDITIONING/CONTROLS/BLOWER
MOTOR RELAY - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING)
OPERATION
The blower motor relay is installed in a wire har-
ness connector that is secured to the passenger side
outboard end of the HVAC housing in the passenger
compartment, next to the HVAC wire harness con-
nector.
The blower motor relay cannot be repaired and, if
faulty or damaged, it must be replaced.
Fig. 14 HEATER CORE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION
1 - HEATER CORE
2- MOUNTING SCREW HOLE
3- INLET AND OUTLET TUBES
4- VACUUM HARNESS
5- ACTUATOR SCREWS (3)
6- ELECTRIC BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR
7- MOUNTING SCREW HOLE
8- HEATER CORE RETAINER TABS (4)
24 - 20 CONTROLSKJ
A/C LOW PRESSURE SWITCH (Continued)
VACUUM CHECK VALVE
DESCRIPTION
A vacuum check valve is installed in the accessory
vacuum supply line in the engine compartment, near
the vacuum tap on the engine intake manifold, and
at the HVAC unit takeout. The vacuum check valve
is designed to allow vacuum to flow in only one direc-
tion through the accessory vacuum supply circuits.
OPERATION
The use of a vacuum check valve helps to maintain
the system vacuum needed to retain the selected A/C
Heater mode settings. The check valve will prevent
the engine from bleeding down system vacuum
through the intake manifold during extended heavy
engine load (low engine vacuum) operation.
The vacuum check valve cannot be repaired and, if
faulty or damaged, it must be replaced.
REMOVAL
(1) Unplug the HVAC vacuum supply line connec-
tor at the vacuum check valve. The check valve is
located behind the glove box on the passengers side
of the vehicle (Fig. 22).
(2) Note the orientation of the check valve in the
vacuum supply line for correct reinstallation.
(3) Unplug the vacuum check valve from the vac-
uum supply line fittings.
INSTALLATION
(1) Plug in the vacuum check valve at the vacuum
supply line fittings making sure of proper orienta-
tion.(2) Plug in the vacuum check valve at the HVAC
vacuum supply line connector.
Fig. 22 RECIRCULATION ACTUATOR AND CHECK
VA LV E
1 - RECIRCULATION ACTUATOR
2 - VACUUM LINE TO RESEVOIR
3 - HVAC HOUSING
4 - VACUUM CHECK VALVE
24 - 28 CONTROLSKJ