Buick LeSabre 1965 Service Manual page 581

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
BATTERY RECHARGING 1 0 - 1 1
b. Cleaning Cable Terminals
If loose connections are found by
inspection, or high resistance is
found by voltage test, disconnect
the cable for thorough cleaning of
terminals. When removing a cor-
roded cable terminal from bat-
tery p o s t do not pry against
battery case or hammer on ter-
minal to break it loose, since
either practice will result in
broken cell covers. Use a screw
type terminal puller if terminal
cannot be loosened by hand after
clamp bolt is fully loosened.
Thoroughly clean all corrosion
from disconnected battery cable
terminals and terminal posts,
using suitable wire brushes. If
wire brushes are not available,
c o r r o d e d terminals may be
cleaned by brushing with a strong
soda solution, using care not to
get solution into battery cells.
To prevent corrosion of battery
terminals and connections, apply
a coating of petroleum jelly over
the battery post and cable ter-
minals after cables have been in-
stalled on terminals.
1 0 - 1 2 BATTERY
RECHARGING
There are two separate methods
of recharging batteries which dif-
fer basically in the r a t e of
BATTERY
TERMINAL
PULLER
Figure 10-6—Using a Battery
Terminal Puller
charge. In the slow- charge meth-
od, the battery is supplied a rela-
tively small amount of current for
an extended period of time. In the
quick-charge method, the battery
is supplied with a high current
for a short period of time.
a. Slow-Charging
Slow charging is the best and only
method of completely charging a
battery. The slow-charge method,
properly applied, may be safely
used under all possible conditions
of the battery, provided electro-
lyte is at proper level in all cells.
The battery may be fully charged
by this method, unless the battery
is not capable of taking a full
charge. The normal slow charg-
ing rate for the 12-volt battery is
5 amperes.
Full charge of battery is indicated
when all cell specific gravities do
not increase when checked at
three intervals of one hour and
all cells are gassing freely.
Due to the low rate during slow
charging, plenty of time must be
allowed. Charge periods of 24
hours or more are often required.
b. Quick-Charging
Since time is often of most im-
portance to the battery owner,
quick- charging must sometimes
be used to partially charge the
battery so that the engine will
start and the owner can be on his
way.
Charge at 50 amperes for 20
minutes (50 x 20 = 1000 ampere
minutes). If charger will not give
this rate, charge for an equal
number of ampere minutes at the
best rate available. For purposes
of charging for the light load test,
do not boost battery more than
the amount indicated.
CAUTION: Too high a current
during quick-charging will dam-
age battery plates.
A battery cannot be brought up to
a fully charged condition by the
quick-charge method. The battery
can be substantially recharged or
boosted, but in order to bring the
battery to a fully charged con-
dition, the charging cycle must be
finished by charging at a low or
normal rate. Some quick-chargers
have a provision for finishing the
charging cycle at a low rate so
that the battery can be brought up
to a fully charged condition.
Used with care, and employing all
safeguards provided by the manu-
facturer, a quick-charger will not
damage a battery which is in good
condition.
1 0 - 1 3 BATTERY AND
CABLES-TROUBLE
DIAGNOSIS
a. Quick Check of Battery
and Cables
Whenever electrical trouble de-
velops it is desirable to make a
quick check of the battery and
cables to make certain that this
source of current is in good con-
dition, securely connected, and is
functioning properly. This check
will also give a good check on the
cranking system.
1. Turn on the lights. They
should burn steadily and with nor-
mal brilliance.
2. With lights burning, operate
the cranking motor. Either have
the headlights shining on a wall
so their brilliance can be noted,
or have someone watching the
headlights.
3. When cranking motor solenoid
switch is closed, one of the fol-
lowing conditions w i l l occur:
(1) Lights will stay bright or will
dim slightly if temperature is
cold, and engine will be cranked
at normal speed; (2) Lights will
go out; (3) Lights will dim con-
siderably; (4) Lights w i l l stay