ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
Battery
2005 FE290 Gasoline Vehicle Maintenance and Service Supplement
Page 12-31
12
A
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WARNING
• If the battery case feels hot (approximately 125 °F (52 °C) or more), emits gases, or fluid boils
from vents, stop charging immediately. Failure to stop charging battery when any of these
conditions are present could result in an explosion, personal injury and/or damage to the
battery.
• Do not disconnect the charger DC leads from the battery when the charger is on. The
resulting arcing between the DC leads and battery post could cause an explosion.
• If the charger must be stopped, disconnect the AC supply cord from the wall outlet before
disconnecting the DC leads from the battery. Allow the battery to cool to room temperature
and resume charging battery at a lower amp rate.
Battery Installation
See General Warning, Section 10, Page 10-1. See also DANGER on page 12-28.
1. Place the battery into the vehicle. Make sure the battery posts are facing the engine.
2. Secure the battery to the vehicle with the clamp. Install bolt, washer and lock nut and tighten to 12 ft-lb
(16.3 N·m).
3. Connect battery cables, positive (+) cable first, and tighten hardware to 12 ft-lb (16 N·m).
See Figure 10-1, Section 10, Page 10-3.
Coat terminals with Battery Terminal Protector Spray (CCI P/
N 1014305) to minimize corrosion.
Battery Storage
See General Warning, Section 10, Page 10-1. See also DANGER on page 12-28.
1. Keep the battery clean and free of corrosion.
See Preventive Maintenance on page 12-28.
2. The battery cables should be disconnected from the battery so the battery can be connected to the
charger. The battery can be left in the vehicle.
3. Fully charge the battery prior to storage.
4. Store in a cool area. The colder the area in which the battery is stored, the less the battery will self-dis-
charge. A battery stored at 0 °F (-17.8 °C) will discharge very little over a four-month period. A battery
stored at 80 °F (27 °C) will have to be recharged every few weeks.
5. Check the state of charge periodically. A battery that is discharged and left in a cold environment can
freeze and crack. If the specific gravity drops below 1.220, the battery should be recharged.
See follow-
ing WARNING.
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WARNING
• If the battery is frozen or the container is bulged, discard battery. A frozen battery can
explode.
6. The frequency of recharging required depends on the temperature of the storage area, but it is recom-
mended that the battery be monitored for state of charge every month. Also, if the storage area is
unheated in a cold climate and recharging is required, it is recommended that the area be heated to at
least 60 °F (16 °C) prior to charging. The battery will not charge effectively in cold temperatures for the
same reasons that it does not discharge as rapidly in cold temperatures.