Checking Battery Exterior; Checking Battery Fluid - Toyota RAV4 1997 Owner's Manual

—Checking battery exterior

Check the battery for corroded or
loose terminal connections, cracks, or
loose hold-down clamp.
a. If the battery is corroded, wash it off with
a solution of warm water and baking soda.
Coat the outside of the terminals with
grease to prevent further corrosion.
b. If the terminal connections are loose,
tighten their clamp nuts—but do not over-
tighten.
c. Tighten the hold-down clamp only
enough to keep the battery firmly in place.
Overtightening may damage the battery
case.
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NOTICE
_ Be sure the engine and all acces-
sories are off before performing
maintenance.
_ When checking the battery, re-
move the ground cable from the
negative terminal ("-" mark) first
and reinstall it last.
_ Be careful not to cause a short cir-
cuit with tools.
_ Take care no solution gets into the
battery when washing it.
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—Checking battery fluid

There are two types of batteries: Main-
tenance type and non-maintenance
type.
A non-maintenance battery has "MAIN-
TENANCE FREE BATTERY" on its top. A
maintenance type battery does not have
such indication.
Maintenance type battery—
Check the fluid condition by the fluid level
lines on the side of the battery. Or if the
battery has a hydrometer on its top, you
can also check the hydrometer.
Non-maintenance battery—
Check the battery condition by the
hydrometer on the top of the battery.