Check

Essential special tools
Ele. 1593	Battery tester.

Midtronics R 330

Tightening torques
battery hold-down clamp	0.7 daN.m
terminal nuts	1.2 daN.m

I - BATTERY CHECK

1 - Visual check of the mounting

• Check that the battery is correctly secured (battery hold-down clamp (0.7 daN.m)):

• over-tightening the battery hold-down clamp is dangerous, the battery tray may deform or break,
• under-tightening the battery hold-down clamp leaves play, the battery tray may wear from the induced friction or break on impact.

2 - Visual check of cleanliness

• Make sure there is no creeping salt (sulfation) on the battery terminals.
• Clean the battery terminals.
• Grease the battery terminals if necessary.
• Check the tightness of the terminal nuts (1.2 daN.m) on the terminals

IMPORTANT

• Poor contact can cause starting or charging faults, create sparks and cause the battery to explode.
• In case of acid splashes, flush all affected parts thoroughly with water.
• In case of contact with skin or eyes, seek medical advice.

WARNING

These vehicles are fitted with a low-maintenance battery. Topping up the electrolyte is prohibited.

II - BATTERY CHARGING

• The battery check is carried out using tool (Ele. 1593).

1 - Reminder of the charger validation test

• A constant-voltage charger must be used to prevent overheating, which is proportional to the charging current.

2 - Test

• Set the charging current adjustment potentiometer to maximum.
• Read the voltage displayed on your charger or across the battery terminals.

WARNING

If the displayed voltage is above 15 V, the charger is not constant-voltage (dangerous for the battery).

• Stop charging immediately if the charger is not constant-voltage.

III - TEST PROCEDURE

1 - Battery check

• Make sure the problem does not come from:

• due to an abnormal consumer,
• due to an alternator charging problem.

• Replace any battery that is three years old or older.

2 - Test conditions

• The test must be carried out with the vehicle at rest and the ignition off.
• Prepare the battery for testing if the engine has run within the previous hour:

• engine off,
• switch on the dipped headlights for two minutes,
• set the cabin fan to maximum for two minutes,
• switch off the dipped headlights, sidelights and cabin fan,
• wait two minutes,
• switch off the ignition.

• Switch off all electrical consumers.

3 - Display

• During the test, six messages can be displayed:

a - " battery good "

Note: The problem does not come from the battery.

• Check the charging circuit and make sure there is no abnormal consumer.

b - " batt. OK + charge "

Note: The battery is probably good but needs a top-up charge.

• Charge the battery.
• Repeat the test.
• Charge the battery using a constant-voltage charger.

c - " charge + retest "

• Charge the battery, then repeat the test.
• Replace the battery if the message displayed after charging is the same.
• Repeat the test on the new battery.

d - " Replace batt. "

• Replace the battery.
• Repeat the test on the new battery.

e - " Bad cell "

• A battery cell is short-circuited.
• Replace the battery.
• Repeat the test on the new battery.

f - " Test not possible "

• Make sure the ignition is off and all electrical accessories are switched off.
• Make sure the tool (Ele. 1593) is connected directly and correctly to the battery terminals.
• Repeat the test. If the message is the same, carry out the test with the battery disconnected.