Dodge 2000 DURANGO Service Manual page 264

8A - 18 BATTERY
SERVICE PROCEDURES (Continued)
• Temperature
A longer time will be needed to charge a battery at
-18° C (0° F) than at 27° C (80° F). When a fast bat-
tery charger is connected to a cold battery, the cur-
rent accepted by the battery will be very low at first.
As the battery warms, it will accept a higher charg-
ing current rate (amperage).
• Charger Capacity
A battery charger that supplies only five amperes
will require a longer charging time. A battery charger
that supplies twenty amperes or more will require a
shorter charging time.
• State-Of-Charge
A completely discharged battery requires more charg-
ing time than a partially discharged battery. Electro-
lyte is nearly pure water in a completely discharged
battery. At first, the charging current (amperage) will
be low. As the battery charges, the specific gravity of
the electrolyte will gradually rise.
WARNING: NEVER EXCEED TWENTY AMPERES
WHEN CHARGING A COLD (-1° C or 30° F) BAT-
TERY. THE BATTERY MAY ARC INTERNALLY AND
EXPLODE. PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR VEHICLE
DAMAGE MAY RESULT.
Battery Charging Timetable
Charging 5
Amperage Amperes
Open
Circuit Hours Charging at 21° C (70° F)
Voltage
12.25 to 6 hours
12.49
12.00 to 10 hours
12.24
10.00 to 14 hours
11.99
*Below 18 hours
10.00
*Refer to Charging A Completely Discharged Battery
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
BATTERY HOLD DOWNS
REMOVAL
(1) Turn the ignition switch to the Off position. Be
certain that all electrical accessories are turned off.
(2) Loosen the battery negative cable terminal
clamp pinch-bolt hex nut.
(3) Disconnect the battery negative cable terminal
clamp from the battery negative terminal post. If
10 20
Amperes Amperes
3 hours 1.5 hours
5 hours 2.5 hours
7 hours 3.5 hours
9 hours 4.5 hours
necessary, use a battery terminal puller to remove
the terminal clamp from the battery post.
(4) Disconnect the battery positive cable terminal
clamp from the battery positive terminal post. If nec-
essary, use a battery terminal puller to remove the
terminal clamp from the battery post.
(5) Remove the two hold down bolts that secure
the hold down strap/battery thermoguard unit to the
U-nuts in the battery tray (Fig. 18).
Fig. 18 Battery Hold Downs Remove/Install
1 – CLIPS
2 – BOLT
3 – TRAY
4 – BATTERY
5 – HOLD DOWN STRAP AND THERMOGUARD
6 – POSITIVE CABLE
7 – NEGATIVE CABLE
(6) Remove the hold down strap/battery thermo-
guard unit from the top of the battery case.
INSTALLATION
(1) Clean and inspect the battery hold down hard-
ware. Refer to Battery in the index of this service
manual for the location of the proper battery hold
down hardware cleaning and inspection procedures.
(2) Install the hold down strap/battery thermo-
guard unit over the top of the battery case.
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