Dodge Dakota (ND). Manual - part 233
BATTERY SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION
This vehicle is equipped with a single 12-volt battery.
All of the components of the battery system are
located within the engine compartment. The battery
system for this vehicle covers the following related
components:
•
Battery (3) - The storage battery provides a reli-
able means of storing a renewable source of
electrical energy within the vehicle.
•
Positive Battery cable (2) - The positive battery
cable connects the battery positive terminal post
to the vehicle electrical system, starter and alter-
nator.
•
Negative Battery Cable (4) - The negative bat-
tery cable connects the battery negative terminal
post to the vehicle electrical system through
body, chassis and engine grounding points.
•
Battery Thermal Guard (6) - A thermal guard
wraps around the battery case to enclose the
sides of the battery. The thermal guard consists
of a heavy black plastic outer skin and two lighter plies of plastic that have been formed into a sheet with
hundreds of small air pockets entrapped between them.
•
Battery Holddown - The battery holddown hardware secures the battery in the battery tray in the engine com-
partment.
•
Battery Tray (7) - The battery tray provides a secure mounting location in the vehicle for the battery and an
anchor point for the battery holddown hardware as well as a mounting location for the Integrated Power Mod-
ule (IPM).
For battery system maintenance schedules (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/MAINTENANCE SCHED-
ULES - DESCRIPTION). (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/JUMP STARTING - STANDARD PROCE-
DURE - JUMP STARTING) for the proper jump starting procedure. The battery must be fully-charged before any
battery system diagnosis or testing procedures can be performed.
OPERATION
The battery system is designed to provide a safe, efficient, reliable and mobile means of delivering and storing
electrical energy. This electrical energy is required to operate the engine starting system, as well as many of the
other vehicle accessory systems for limited durations while the engine and/or the charging system are not operating.
The battery system is also designed to provide a reserve of electrical energy to supplement the charging system for
short durations while the engine is running and the electrical current demands of the vehicle exceed the output of
the charging system. In addition to delivering, and storing electrical energy for the vehicle, the battery system serves
as a capacitor and voltage stabilizer for the vehicle electrical system. It absorbs most abnormal or transient voltages
caused by the switching of any of the electrical components or circuits in the vehicle.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
BATTERY SYSTEM
The battery, starting, and charging systems in the vehicle operate with one another and must be tested as a com-
plete system. In order for the engine to start and the battery to maintain its charge properly, all of the components
that are used in these systems must perform within specifications. It is important that the battery, starting, and
charging systems be thoroughly tested and inspected any time a battery needs to be charged or replaced. The
cause of abnormal battery discharge, overcharging or early battery failure must be diagnosed and corrected before
a battery is replaced and before a vehicle is returned to service. The service information for these systems has
been separated within this service manual to make it easier to locate the specific information you are seeking. How-
8F - 2
BATTERY SYSTEM
ND