BATTERY SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION
A single 12-volt battery is standard factory-in-
stalled equipment on this model. All of the compo-
nents of the battery system are located within the
engine compartment of the vehicle, except on vehicles
equipped with a diesel engine. Vehicles equipped
with a diesel engine have the battery mounted under
the passenger front seat. The battery system for this
vehicle covers the following related components,
which are covered in further detail later in this sec-
tion of the service manual:
• Battery - The storage battery provides a reli-
able means of storing a renewable source of electrical
energy within the vehicle.
• Battery Cables - The battery cables connect
the positive and negative charged battery terminal
posts to the vehicle electrical system.
• Battery Holddown - The battery holddown
hardware secures the battery in the battery tray.
• Battery Thermal Guard - The battery thermal
guard insulates the battery to protect it from engine
compartment temperature extremes.
• Battery Tray - The battery tray provides a
secure mounting location in the vehicle for the bat-
tery and an anchor point for the battery holddown
hardware (some models) and battery temperature
sensor (if equipped).
• Battery Tray Support Bracket - The battery
tray support bracket provides additional support for
the battery and battery tray.
For battery system maintenance schedules and
jump starting procedures, see the owner’s manual in
the vehicle glove box. Optionally, refer to the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section of this manual for
the recommended battery maintenance schedules and
for the proper battery jump starting procedure. While
battery charging can be considered a maintenance
procedure,
the
battery
charging
procedure
and
related information are located later in this section of
this service manual. This was done because the bat-
tery 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 to operate many of the other vehicle acces-
sory 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 sys-
tem for short durations while the engine is running
and the electrical current demands of the vehicle
that exceed the output of the charging system. In
addition to delivering, and storing electrical energy
for the vehicle, the battery system serves as a capac-
itor and voltage stabilizer for the vehicle electrical
system. It absorbs most abnormal or transient volt-
ages 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 complete 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 thor-
oughly tested and inspected any time a battery needs
to be charged or replaced. The cause of abnormal bat-
tery 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 eas-
ier to locate the specific information you are seeking.
However, when attempting to diagnose any of these
systems, it is important that you keep their interde-
pendency in mind.
The diagnostic procedures used for the battery,
starting, and charging systems include the most
basic conventional diagnostic methods, to the more
sophisticated On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) built into
the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Use of an
induction-type milliampere ammeter, a volt/ohmme-
ter, a battery charger, a carbon pile rheostat (load
tester) and a 12-volt test lamp may be required. All
OBD-sensed systems are monitored by the PCM.
Each monitored circuit is assigned a Diagnostic Trou-
ble Code (DTC). The PCM will store a DTC in elec-
tronic memory for any failure it detects. Refer to
Charging System for the proper charging system on-
board diagnostic test procedures.
MICRO 420 BATTERY TESTER
The
Micro
420
automotive
battery
tester
is
designed to help the dealership technicians diagnose
the cause of a defective battery. Follow the instruc-
tion manual supplied with the tester to properly
diagnose a vehicle. If the instruction manual is not
available refer to the standard procedure in this sec-
tion, which includes the directions for using the
Micro 420 battery tester.
8F - 2
BATTERY SYSTEM
PT