Opel 1900 1973 Service Manual page 27

1973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
Do not overfill, as electrolyte may be sprayed out by
gassing or may overtlow due to heat expansion dur:
ing charging.
If distilled water is not available, it is better to add
clean, mineral-free tap water than to allow the elec2
trolyte level to remain below the top of the plates:
In freezing weather the water should be added just
before using the car or otherwise charging the
tery so that the water will be mixed with the acid
before it is allowed to stand in freezing temperatures.
If it is found necessary to add water to the batteri
more frequently than about every 1,ooO miles and the
quantity of water added per cell is' excessive, check
setting of voltage regulator and adjust, if necessary:
Abnormal water loss is an indication that the battery
is being overcharged.
Inspect Battery, Mounting and Cables
Check outside of battery for damage or signs of se&
Check inside of battery by removing the vent caps
and inspecting for signs of abuse stich as electrolyte
level too low to see, or bad or unusual odors. If
battery shows signs of serious damage or abuse, it
should be replaced.
Check the battery hold down bolts to make certain
that battery is securely held in place. The nut should
be drawn up to 20 lbs. in.; excessjve tightening may
distort or crack the battery case.
If the top of battery is dirty or the hold down str?e
is corroded, clean thoroughly with a brush dipped IF
ammonia or soda solution. Care must be used td
prevent any solution from getting into battery cellsl
After the foaming of solution stops, flush off witli
clean water and dry thoroughly. If hold down strap
is corroded it should be painted with acid-resisting
paint after cleaning.
Check battery cables to make certain they are tight
at bracket and junction block. If a connection is
found loose it should be cleaned before being tight;
in the loose connection. Check condition of cables
and replace if badly corroded or frayed.
Special attention must be given to,the battery posi-
tive cable position to eliminate the possibility of con-
tact with the exhaust manifold on the 1.1 liter engine.
The cable clamp must be rotated clockwise as neces-
sary for the cable to run at a 45 degree angle toward
the right wheelhouse panel.
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 corroded cable terminal from battery
post, do not pry against battery case or hammer on
terminal to break it loose, since either practice will
result in broken cell covers. Use a screw-type termi-
nal puller if terminal cannot be loosened by hand.
Thoroughly clean all corrosion from disconnected
battery cable terminals and terminal posts, using
bat-
suitable wire brushes. If wire brushes are not availa-
ble, corroded terminals may be cleaned by brushing
with a strong soda solution, using care not to get
solution into battery cells.
If cabbz strands are broken, corroded, or loose in
terminals, the cable should be replaced with the cor-
rect cable to insure ample capacity.
To prevent corrosion of battery terminals and con-
nections, apply a coating of petroleum jelly over the
battery post and cable terminals after cables have
been installed on terminals.
421 BATTERY TEST
421 Battery Testers, manufactured and sold by a
number of companies, are the only battery testers
approved by Delco-Remy Division for testing one-
piece cover batteries. They are also used by United
Motors Service to determine whether or not a battery
is defective.
Figure lA-3 421 Battery Tester-Charger
The 42,l Battery Tester shows, in a few minutes, the
state-of-charge of the battery and whether it is good
or bad. The tester can be used with any 12 volt
battery, in or out of the car. The test can be made
regardless of the state of charge of the battery; it can
also be made when the electrolyte level is low - even
below the top of the plates.