GMC G VAN Manual page 21

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G V GMT 600
AN
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9. Freedom Battery – The hold-down must be able to prevent the battery movement relative to the mounting base or hold-down.
Torque at the battery hold-down shall be 15/20 N•m (133-177 lbs. in) at the base clamp or 2.3/4.5 N•m (20-40 lbs. in.) at the
top bar. A bottom hold-down centrally located at the sides of the battery is recommended.
10. Location – The battery should be located in a well ventilated area where a temperature buildup does not occur. The location
should also provide protection to the battery to prevent damage from foreign objects. The ends of the battery in the area of the
vent ports should be free of obstructions so that the gasses generated during charging can be freely dissipated into the
atmosphere.
11. Accessibility – The hold-down should be convenient for tools and hands so that personal injury does not occur. There should
be clearance at the insulated and grounded terminals so that wrenches can be used without accidental grounds or shorts
occuring. Terminal polarity markings, warning labels and test hydrometer should be visible. The battery "ground" connection
must be readily accessible for disconnection, as required for vehicle electrical service requirements.
12. Tilt Angles – For normal vehicle operation (at GVW), the battery should not be tilted (0º). For installation or removal, it should
not be necessary to tip or tilt the battery in excess of 40º. This is to prevent acid spillage. For short duration vehicle shipment,
do not tilt the battery more than 19º from the horizontal.
13. Temperature – The temperature of the electrolyte should not exceed 52ºC. Infrequent peak temperatures to 75ºC can be
tolerated in soak situations only. Shielding may be required to protect the battery from a source of excessive heat.
14. Battery Storage – Today's vehicles have several electronic devices which result in very small but continuous current drains on
their batteries, commonly referred to as "parasitic" loads. Vehicles that are not used for an extended period of time may
develop extremely discharged and/or permanently damaged batteries resulting from these parasitic loads. Discharged
batteries can freeze at temperatures as high as 20ºF causing permanent damage.
To alleviate this condition, check to make sure the green dot is visible, recharge as necessary, then disconnect the negative
battery cable on vehicles which are not going to be in service within a 30 day period. If this is not possible, batteries should be
periodically recharged (every 30-60 days) until the green dot is visible.
NOTE: The ignition switch must be off when connecting or disconnecting battery cables or hangers (jumper cables). Failure to do so may
overstress or damage the ECM/PCM/TCM, VCM or other electronic components.
Modifications/add-on wiring must be carefully reviewed to ensure compatibility with the base vehicle wiring by reviewing system
schematics, wire routing paths, harness connections, etc. Due to the wide range of modifications that may be required for vocational
needs, it is not feasible for the O.E.M. to take into account all potential revisions. For this reason, any person modifying existing vehicle
wiring must assume responsibility that the revisions have not degraded the electrical system performance. Any add-on wiring must be
properly fused and routed to prevent cut, pinch, chafe problems, and exposure to excessive heat. Care must be exercised that existing
G Van (GMT 600) 2002
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(Section 12 — continued on next page)
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