Buick LeSabre 1965 Service Manual page 576

1 0 - 6 BATTERY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
SECTION 10-B
BATTERY AND CABLES
CONTENTS OF SECTION 10-B
Paragraph
Subject
10-7 General Battery Information . . .
10-8 Periodic Battery Inspection
and Service
10-9 Light Load Test of Battery . . . .
10-10 Full Charge Hydrometer Test of
Battery and Use of Hydrometer
Page
10-6
10-7
10-8
10-9
Paragraph Subject
10-11 Testing and Cleaning Battery
and Cranking Motor Cables .
10-12 Battery Recharging
10-13 Battery and Cables - Trouble
Diagnosis .
Page
10-10
10-11
10-11
10-7 GENERAL BATTERY
INFORMATION
Delco-Remy 12-volt storage bat-
tery model 570 is used in a l l
models. This battery has 6 cells
with 11 plates per cell, a capacity
of 70 ampere-hours at a 20 hour
rate, and a rating of 840 watt-
hours.
The battery is mounted on the
left front fender skirt under the
hood. The battery negative (-)
post is grounded to the engine
cylinder head by a copper cable.
The positive (+) post is connected
by an insulated copper cable to a
junction block on the fender skirt.
a. Registration of Battery
Delco-Remy Battery dealers and
distributors are prepared to
carry out terms of the manufac-
turer's warranty on Delco-Remy
batteries. In order that Buick
owners shall have the protection
and benefit of this warranty, it is
necessary for the dealer or car
owner to register his battery with
the local Delco-Remy Battery
dealer or distributor on all new
car deliveries, and on all deliv-
eries of new replacement Delco-
Remy batteries. The Battery
Owner's Certificate is located in
the Owner's P r o t e c t i o n Plan
Booklet.
b. Care of Wet Batteries
in Storage
Batteries in stored new cars, as
well as batteries in stock, must be
given regular attention to prevent
sulphation of plates that may re-
sult from inactivity and self-
discharge. All automotive wet
batteries will slowly discharge on
standing idle, whether in stored
vehicles or in stock, and will self-
discharge much faster when warm
than when cold. Batteries in stock
should be rotated and the older
ones used first.
Figure 10-1—Battery
To minimize the extent of self-
discharge always store batteries
fully charged and in cool place
where the temperature does not
go below freezing. Every 30 days
check the level of electrolyte, add
water as required and charge the
batteries at a 5 ampere rate until
fully charged.
Batteries used for display pur-
poses or standing in cars in stor-
age must be treated in the same
manner as batteries in stock.
When a new car, or a new re-
placement battery is delivered,
make certain that it is fully
charged and the electrolyte is at
proper level. This is extremely
important because the delivery
of a partially discharged battery
may not only lead to its return
for charging but may also result
in shortened life of battery.
c. Importance of Maintaining
Electrolyte at Proper
Level
Water is. the only component of
the battery which is lost as the
result of charging and discharg-
ing, and it must be replaced
before the electrolyte level falls
to the tops of the separators. If
the water is not replaced and the
plates become exposed, they may
become permanently sulphated,
which would impair the perform-
ance of the plates. Also, the
plates cannot take full part in the
battery action unless they are
completely c o v e r e d by t h e
electrolyte.
d. Importance of Keeping
Battery Properly Charged
The battery has three major func-
tions: (1) It provides a source of
energy for cranking the engine.
(2) It acts as a stabilizer to the
voltage in the electrical system.
(3) It can for a limited time fur-
nish energy when the demands of
the electrical units in operation
exceed the output of the generator.