Suzuki Katana 1100 Service Manual page 202

8-5 SERVICING INFORMATION
BATTERY
Sympton Probable cause Remedy
"Sulfation", acidic 1. Not enough electrolyte. Add distilled water, if the battery has not ­
white powdery sub­ been damaged and "sulfation" has not
stance or spots on sur advanced too far, and recharge.
faces of cell plates. 2. Battery case is cracked. Replace the battery.
3. Battery has been left in a run-down
Replace the battery.
condition for a long time.
4. Contaminated electrolyte (Foreign mat ­ If "sulfation" has not advanced too far, try
ter has entered the battery and become to restore the battery by replacing the
mixed with the electrolyte). electrolyte, recharging it fully with the bat­
tery detached from the motorcycle and then
adjusting electrolyte S.G.
1. The charging method is not correct. Battery runs down Check the generator, regulator/rectifier
quickly and circuit connections, and make neces­
sary adjustments to obtain specified charg­
2. Cell plates have lost much of their
ing operation.
active material as a result of Replace the battery, and correct the charg­
overcharging. ing system.
3. A short-circuit condition exists within
the battery due to excessive accumula ­ Replace the battery.
tion of sediments caused by the high
electrolyte S.G.
4. Electrolyte S.G. is too low.
Recharge the battery fully and adjust elec­
5. Contaminated electrolyte. trolyte S.G.
Replace the electrolyte, recharge the bat­
6. Battery is too old. tery and then adjust S.G.
Replace the battery.
Reversed battery The battery has been connected the Replace the battery and be sure to connect
polarity. wrong way round in the system, so that it the battery properly.
is being charged in the reverse direction.
Battery "sulfation", 1. Charging rate too low or too high. Replace the battery.
(When not in use batteries should be
recharged at least once a month to
avoid sulfation.)
2. Battery electrolyte excessive or insuffi ­ Keep the electrolyte up to the prescribed
cient, or its specific gravity too high or level, or adjust the S.G. by consulting the
too low.
battery maker's dire ­
ctions.
3. The battery left unused for too long in Replace the battery, if badly sulfated
cold climate.
Battery discharges
1. Dirty container top and sides. Clean.
too rapidly. 2. Impurities in the electrolyte or electro­ Change the electrolyte by consulting the
lyte S.G. is too high. battery maker's direction.