GMC 1976 ZEO 6083 Maintenance Manual page 394

6Y- 1 4 ENGINE ELECTRICAL
*0
ELECTROLYTE
ELECTROLYTE
LEVEL TOO AT CORRECT
LOW
LEVEL
1 1853
Figure 17-View Inside Vent Well
Electrolyte Level - Battery with Flame Arrestor
Vent Caps
To check the electrolyte level, remove the vent
plug and visually observe the electrolyte level in the
vent well. The bottom of the vent well features a split
vent which will cause the surface of the electrolyte to
appear distorted when it makes contact. The elec-
trolyte level is correct when the distortion first ap-
pears at the bottom of the split vent (figure 17).
The electrolyte level in the battery should be
checked regularly. In hot weather, particularly dur-
ing trip driving, checking should be more frequent
because of more rapid loss of water. If the electrolyte
level is found to be low, then colorless, ordorless,
drinking water should be added to each cell until the
liquid level rises to the split vent located in the bot-
tom of the vent well . DO NOT OVERFILL because
this will cause loss of electrolyte resulting in poor
performance, short life, and excessive corrosion.
Figure 18-Removing MotorHome Living Area Battery
Access Cover
Figure 19-Checking and Adding Water to Living
Area Battery
CAUTION : During service only water should
be added to the Battery, not electrolyte.
The liquid level in the cells should never be al-
lowed to drop below the top of the plates, as the
portion of the plates exposed to air may be perma
nently damaged with a resulting loss in performance.
To service MotorHome auxiliary (living area)
battery located in motor generator compartment, use
a 1/2-inch wrench or socket to remove four bolts
from safety access cover as shown in Figure 18.
Remove cover. Position flashlight, mirror, water
container, and hose as shown in Figure 19 . Check
fluid level and add water as required.
Water Usage
Excessive usage of water indicates the battery is
being overcharged. The most common causes of
overcharge are high battery operating temperatures,
too high a voltage regulator setting, poor regulator
ground wire connection. Normal battery water usage
is approximately one to two ounces per month per
battery.
Charge Indicator - Maintenance-Free Batteries
When reading the charge indicator on a mainte-
nance-free battery while installed in the vehicle, a
small hand mirror may be helpful. Hold the mirror
as shown in Figure 20.
a. GREEN DOT VISIBLE-Figure 21. If
the charge indicator is dark and has a green dot in
the center, the battery is sufficiently charged.
b. DARK-GREEN DOT NOT VISIBLE
-Figure 21 . If the charge indicator is dark and the