Battery Care; Preventive Maintenance; Self-Discharge; Electrolyte Level - Club Car IQ Plus 2008 Maintenance And Service Manual Supplement

14
BATTERIES

BATTERY CARE

See General Warning, Section 10, Page 10-1.
ý
WARNING
• Ensure battery connections are clean and properly tightened.
• Use only 4-gauge (AWG) wires with low-resistance terminals to replace battery wires on IQ
Plus models.
• If battery wire terminals are damaged or corroded, they should be replaced or cleaned as
necessary. Failure to do so may cause them to overheat during operation and could result in a
fire, property damage, or personal injury.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

To keep batteries in sound operating condition, follow these steps on a regular basis.
1. Any corrosion build-up on or around batteries should be removed immediately. Terminal connections
should be clean and tight. Any frayed or worn wires should be replaced. After all cables have been con-
nected, coat all terminals with Battery Terminal Protector Spray (CC P/N 1014305) to help prevent future
corrosion.
2. Batteries should be clean and free of corrosion. Wash tops and terminals of batteries with a solution of
baking soda and water (1 cup (237 mL) baking soda per 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water). Rinse solution off bat-
teries. Do not allow this solution to enter the batteries. Be sure terminals are tight. Let the terminals dry
and then coat them with Battery Terminal Protector Spray (CC P/N 1014305). See Self-Discharge on
page 14-4.
3. Maintain proper electrolyte level. See Electrolyte Level on page 14-4.
4. Batteries should be properly charged every day they are used. Check the batteries periodically to see
that they are in a full state of charge. See Battery Charging on page 14-7.
5. Keep hold-downs tight. See Vibration Damage on page 14-6.

SELF-DISCHARGE

Contaminants on dirty batteries can provide a path for a small current draw that can slowly discharge batter-
ies, thus wasting valuable energy. To prevent self-discharge, batteries should always be kept clean.
Hot weather also has an effect on a battery's self-discharge rate. The higher the temperature, the quicker a
set of batteries will discharge. In hotter climates, batteries should be checked more often. When storing bat-
teries, keep in a cool place. See Battery Storage on page 14-15.

ELECTROLYTE LEVEL

CAUT ION
• Do not allow battery acid from battery caps or hydrometer to drip onto the front or rear body
of the vehicle. Battery acid will cause permanent damage. Wash immediately.
Page 14-4 2008-2011 IQ Plus Electric Vehicle Maintenance and Service Supplement
Battery Care