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ENGINE-EIECTRICAI 6Y-3
PERIODIC SERVICING
Since the Battery is a perishable item which requires
periodic servicing, a good maintenance program will
insure the longest possible Battery life.
COMMON CAUSES OF FAILURE
If the Battery tests good but fails to perform satis-
factorily in service for no apparent reason, the following
are some of the more important factors that may point to
the cause of the trouble.
1. Vehicle accessories inadvertently left on overnight to
cause a discharged condition.
2. Slow speed driving of short duration, to cause an
3.
undercharged condition.
A vehicle
capacity.
electrical load exceeding the generator
4. Defect in the charging system such as high resist-
ance, slipping fan belt, faulty generator or voltage
regulator.
5. Battery abuse, including failure to keep the Battery
top clean, cable clamps and posts clean and tight,
and improper addition of water to the cells.
LEVEL INDICATOR
The Battery features an electrolyte level indicator,
which is a specially designed vent plug with a transparent
rod extending through the center (fig. 5b). When the elec-
trolyte is at the proper level, the lower tip of the rod is
immersed, and the exposed top of the rod will appear
very dark; when the level falls below the tip of the rod,
the top will glow.
,
The Indicator reveals at a glance if water is needed,
without the necessity of removing the vent plugs (fig. 6b).
The Level Indicator is used in only one cell (second
cell cap from positive Battery post) because when the
electrolyte level is low in one cell, it is normally low in
all cells. Thus when the Indicator shows water is needed,
check the level in all six cells.
An alternate method of checking the electrolyte level is
to remove the vent plug and visually observe the electro-
lyte level in the vent well. The bottom of the vent well
features a split vent which will cause the surface of the
electrolyte to appear distorted when it makes contact.
The electrolyte level is. correct when the distortion first
appears at the bottom of the split vent (fig. 4b).
ELECTROLYTE LEVEL
The electrolyte level in the Battery should be checked
regularly. In hot weather, particularly during trip driv-
ing, checking should be more frequent because of more
rapid loss of water. If the electrolyte level is found to be
low, then colorless, odorless, drinking water should be
added to each cell until the liquid level rises to the split
vent located in the bottom of the vent well. DO NOT
OVERFILL because this will cause loss of electrolyte
resulting in poor performance, short life, and excessive
corrosion.
CAUTION: During service only water should be
added to the Battery, not electrolyte.
The liquid level in the cells should never be allowed to
drop below the top of the plates, as the portion of the
INDICATOR
ELECTROLYTE LEVEL
CORRECT
Fig. 5b—Cut-Away View Showing Electrolyte at Proper Level
with Indicator Having Dark Appearance
plates exposed to air may be permanently damaged with a
resulting loss in performance.
WATER USAGE
Excessive usage of water indicates the Battery is being
overcharged. The most common causes of overcharge
are high Battery operating temperatures, too high a volt-
age regulator setting, poor regulator ground wire con-
nection. Normal Battery water usage is approximately
one to two ounces per month per battery.
INDICATOR
Fig. 6b—Cut-Away View Showing Electrolyte at Low Level
with Indicator Having Light Appearance
CHASSIS SBtVKZ MANUAL
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