Battery Charging; Selecting A Replacement Battery; Jump Starting - Fleetwood Bounder 1987 Owner's Manual

To prevent the battery from shaking in its carrier,
be sure the hold-down strap is properly installed,
Check it often, Keep the carrier and cover clean and
free of corrosion and chemical accumulation,
If you ever have to remove the auxiliary battery,
remember that it is very heavy, Before you loosen Or
remove the battery carrier bracket bolts, support the
battery carrier tray with a floor jack,
Battery Charging
Normally the battery will be kept charged by either
the motor home charging sysetem while on the road,
or by the
AC/DC
power converter when plugged into
AC service, On those occasions when the battery
needs to be charged from a different charging source,
please follow these safety guidelines:
WARNING: NEVER EXPOSE THE BATTERY TO OPEN
FLAME OR ELECTRIC SPARK, CHEMICAL ACTION IN
THE BATTERY GENERATES HYDROGEN GAS WHICH
IS FLAMMABLE AND EXPLOSIVE,
• Do not smoke near batteries being charged or
which have been recently charged,
• Do not break live circuits at the terminals of the
battery. Use care when connecting or discon-
necting booster leads or cables on fast chargers.
Poor connections are a common cause of .elec-
trical arcs which can cause explosions.
• Check and adjust the electrolyte level before
charging. Fill eachcell to the indicator with dis-
tilled water.
• Do not charge the battery at a rate that causes
the electrolyte to spew out the vent caps. Always
remove vent caps before charging the battery,
Selecting 'a Replacement Battery
When the battery requires 'replacement, always
choose a battery with the same physical and electrical
characteristics as the or,!ginal equipment. Your dealer
oran
authori~edFI.~etwp,od
Service
CEjnter
cal) !ldvise
.
yoL(I~nprB.~er:d:~!~ptioHf6r:botli'tt18 autqrn9~iVt1,a.:~~
, 'aUXI lary uattery. . , ' , ' " ,
WhE!n t)andling a battery, observe the following
safety precaUtions: . ,
,.IO;;':"·;·\!';'J(Jjiq.ill' ','-;',
!~'-;
')-Ilif" \ '!Y'-f'I:';),("
1. Hydrogen gas is produced by the battery. A flame
, .or spark nearthe battery may cause the gas to
i g n i t e . ' ,
2. Battery fluid is highly
aiM.
Avoid spilling battery
fluid on clothing or other fabrics. Flush any spilled
electrolyte with large quantities of water
immediately.
Jump Starting
NOTE: Do not push or tow the vehicle to start.
There are no provisions in the GM automatic
transmission for engagement of the transmission
to turn over the engine. Efforts to push or tow
the vehicle to start it will have no effect.
Both booster and discharged battery should be
treated carefully when using jumper cables, Follow
the conditions and procedure outlined below, being
careful not to cause sparks, Departure from these con-
ditions or procedure could result in a) serious personal
injury (particularly to eyes) or property damage from
such causes as battery explosion, battery acid, or elec-
trical burns; andlor b) damage to electronic com-
ponents of either vehicle.
56
CAUTION:
*
Be sure the jumper cables and clamps to be used
for jump starting do not have loose or miSSing
insulation. Do not proceed if suitable cables are
not available.
*
If either battery has filler caps, check the fluid
level. (Do not check with an open flame.) If low,
fill to the proper level with clear drinking water.
Replace all caps before jump starting.
*
Do not route the cable (or attach the clamp) on
or near pulleys, fans, or other parts that will move
when the engine is started.
1. Set the parking brake firmly and place the
automatic transmission in PARK. Turn off the ig-
nition, turn off lights, and all other electrical
loads.
2. Only 12-volt batteries can be used to start the
engine. Do not use 24-volt charging equipment.
Using such equipment can ,cause serious dal\lage
to the electrical system or electronic parts.
3. Attach the end of one jumper cable' to the
positive terminal of the booste.r battery and the
other end of. the same cable;to the PQsitive ter-
'mlnal onhe,
~i~Chllrged
,b,at,tiily, .. Do.{\o,tp.errnit
vehicles.tcHil"iich ellcli
ot11efi3s
tHiSb'6'u!d'ca'use
a'ground 'c'onnectlon'ilhd' counteract the,benefits
,
,o,tthi~.pro~,?,~~re.,
" ' , '
'4';.Attabhoneend onhe remainingtlEig'ative'cable
, to the negative terminal of the booster battery,
and the othe'r end to a solid engine ground (such
as,A/C compressor bracket or generator mount-,
ing bracket) at least 1 B inches from the battery
,of the Vehicle being started. DO NOT'CONNECT
DIRECTLY TO THE NEGATIVE TERNIMAL OF, '
THE DEAD BATTERY.