ELECTRICAL
PART 8: MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE
– 196 –
Y53-6032
(R05/10)
Recharging Batteries
Except for using small trickle chargers to maintain battery
condition, you should have your vehicle’s batteries
charged by a qualified service facility. To help reduce the
risk of personal injuries, follow these guidelines carefully
when recharging a battery:
WARNING!
Batteries can kill or injure you
severely. They contain acid, produce poisonous
and explosive gases, and supply levels of elec-
tric current high enough to cause burns. A spark
or flame near a battery on charge may cause it to
explode with great force.
• Allow no sparks or open flame anywhere near the
charging area.
• Charge a battery only in a well-ventilated area, such
as outdoors or in a fully open garage which contains
no pilot lights or other flames.
• Always make sure the battery charger is OFF before
connecting or disconnecting the cable clamps.
WARNING!
Always shield your eyes, your skin
and painted surfaces to from contact with batt-
tery fluid. Batteries contain a corrosive fluid
which can cause death or severe personal
injury.
• Use protective eyewear.
CAUTION: Never use a metallic funnel to add
distilled water. It could come in contact with a
terminal, creating a short circuit, resulting in
severe injury or damage to your vehicle.
• Maintain the full level of electrolyte in the batteries.
This reduces the volume of gas in the cells. The elec-
trolyte level should always be between 0.4–0.6 in.
(10–15mm) above plates.
Fill with distilled water
only.
After distilled water has been added, wait at
least a half hour to measure solution density (specific
gravity). The specific gravity should be between
1.258–1.265 or the electrolyte level within “MIN” and
“MAX” marks.
Y53-6032.book Page 196 Monday, May 24, 2010 3:37 PM
Summary of Contents for Peterbilt 587
Page 1: ......