CAUTION:
If it becomes necessary to start the engine with a booster bat-
tery and jumper cables,
a. Use a 12-volt booster battery.
b. After connecting battery cables, ensure that they are
tightly clamped to battery terminals for good contact.
c. Never add distilled water through the hole used to check
speci®c gravity.
How to Handle Battery
METHODS OF PREVENTING OVER-DISCHARGE
The following precautions must be taken to prevent over-discharg-
ing a battery.
+The battery surface (particularly its top) should always be kept
clean and dry.
+The terminal connections should be clean and tight.
+At every routine maintenance, check the electrolyte level.
This also applies to batteries designated as ``low maintenance''
and ``maintenance-free''.
+When the vehicle is not going to be used over a long period of
time, disconnect the negative battery terminal.
+Check the charge condition of the battery.
Periodically check the speci®c gravity of the electrolyte. Keep
a close check on charge condition to prevent over-discharge.
CHECKING ELECTROLYTE LEVEL
WARNING:
Do not allow battery ¯uid to come in contact with skin, eyes,
fabrics, or painted surfaces. After touching a battery, do not
touch or rub your eyes until you have thoroughly washed your
hands. If acid contacts eyes, skin or clothing, immediately
¯ush with water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention.
MEL040F
MEL041F
MEL042F
BATTERY
EL-37
Voltage check method
1. Remove the blown fuse and disconnect all loads (i.e. SW1 open, relay disconnected and solenoid discon-
nected) powered through the fuse.
2. Turn the ignition key to the ON or START position. Verify battery voltage at the B
+side of the fuse ter-
minal (one lead on the B
+terminal side of the fuse block and one lead on a known good ground).
3. With SW1 open and the DMM leads across both fuse terminals, check for voltage.
voltage; short is between fuse block and SW1 (point A).
no voltage; short is further down the circuit than SW1.
4. With SW1 closed, relay and solenoid disconnected and the DMM leads across both fuse terminals, check
for voltage.
voltage; short is between SW1 and the relay (point B).
no voltage; short is further down the circuit than the relay.
5. With SW1 closed, relay contacts jumped with fused jumper wire check for voltage.
voltage; short is down the circuit of the relay or between the relay and the disconnected solenoid
(point C).
no voltage; retrace steps and check power to fuse block.
GROUND INSPECTION
Ground connections are very important to the proper operation of electrical and electronic circuits. Ground
connections are often exposed to moisture, dirt and other corrosive elements. The corrosion (rust) can become
an unwanted resistance. This unwanted resistance can change the way a circuit works.
Electronically controlled circuits are very sensitive to proper grounding. A loose or corroded ground can dras-
tically affect an electronically controlled circuit. A poor or corroded ground can easily affect the circuit. Even
when the ground connection looks clean, there can be a thin ®lm of rust on the surface.
When inspecting a ground connection follow these rules:
1. Remove the ground bolt screw or clip.
2. Inspect all mating surfaces for tarnish, dirt, rust, etc.
3. Clean as required to assure good contact.
4. Reinstall bolt or screw securely.
5. Inspect for ``add-on'' accessories which may be interfering with the ground circuit.
6. If several wires are crimped into one ground eyelet terminal, check for proper crimps. Make sure all of the
wires are clean, securely fastened and providing a good ground path. If multiple wires are cased in one
eyelet make sure no ground wires have excess wire insulation.
SGI853
HOW TO PERFORM EFFICIENT DIAGNOSIS FOR AN ELECTRICAL INCIDENT
Circuit Inspection (Cont'd)
GI-26
