7/24/12 Printer Friendly

1/5 www.tirereview.com/Controls/PrinterFriendly/PrinterFriendly.aspx
Print Close Window
Battery 411: Testing, Charging and
Replacing a Battery
In recent years, the electronic content in vehicles has
multiplied several times over. More electronics means
more demand on the battery and charging system. A
weak battery or low system voltage due to a charging
problem can cause all kinds of havoc with the on-board
electronics.
Larry Carley
6/12/2012
In recent years, the electronic content in vehicles has multiplied several times over. More
electronics means more demand on the battery and charging system. A weak battery or
low system voltage due to a charging problem can cause all kinds of havoc with the on-
board electronics.
For example, low voltage may cause the airbag or ABS warning lights to come on. The
turn signals may not blink normally when the switch is flipped to either side. Electronic
gauges may give strange or erratic readings. The engine may lack power, misfire or stall.
Any of these things may occur if the battery is low or the alternator is not producing its
normal charging output.
Many so-called battery problems are not the battery, but a charging fault. The alternators
job is two-fold: to supply current for the vehicles electrical system and to maintain the
battery at full charge. Normally, the battery is only used to crank the engine, to provide
7/24/12 Printer Friendly
2/5 www.tirereview.com/Controls/PrinterFriendly/PrinterFriendly.aspx
power for lights and accessories when the engine is not running and provide supplemental
power when the demands of the vehicles electrical system exceed the output of the
alternator.
The alternators output is lowest at idle, and increases with engine speed. The powertrain
control module in most late-model vehicles controls charging output, so the PCM can
boost the charging curve a bit when demands are high at low engine speed. Even so, most
alternators cant achieve maximum output until engine speed reaches about 3,000 RPM or
higher. Consequently, if the engine is left idling for a long period of time with the
headlights, A/C, defrosters, radio or other accessories on, it can overtax the charging
system and drain the battery.
Police cars are murder on alternators and batteries because they spend so much time idling
with high electrical loads on the charging system (lights, radios, heater or A/C, etc.).
If the battery is low when a vehicle is first started, it takes some time for the charging
system to bring the battery back up to full charge. It might take 20 to 30 minutes or more
of normal driving to fully recharge the battery.
Lead-acid battery technology is actually ancient. But it is simple, cost-effective and
generally provides an adequate power for most automotive applications. But automotive
lead-acid batteries must be maintained at or near full charge for the cells to last. If the
battery is allowed to run down or discharge excessively and is not fully recharged within a
few days, the lead plates inside the battery can become permanently sulfated. This will
reduce the batterys ability to accept and hold a charge, and drastically shorten the
batterys life.
The average service life of a conventional lead-acid car battery is only about four to five
years, and typically a year or so less in extremely hot climates. Gel-cell batteries that do
not contain liquid acid electrolyte are better in this respect because they are less affected by
evaporation. Even so, their average service life is typically five to six years depending on
use.
Battery Power Drains
Allowing a vehicle to sit for a long period of time without being driven (say a week or
more) can allow the battery to run down. The electronic modules in todays vehicles draw
a small amount of power from the battery to keep their memories alive when the vehicle
isnt running. Many go into sleep mode and shut down after a certain period of time to
reduce the power draw, but others (such as the antitheft system, keyless entry system and
PCM keep-alive memory) are always on. Because of this, the key-off power drain can be
fairly high in many late model vehicles (80 milliamps to several hundred milliamps). This
can run the battery down fairly quickly if the vehicle sits for long periods of time, is driven
only infrequently or for short trips, or has a weak battery or low charging system output.
Abnormal key-off power drains can also run down a battery. Leaving the lights on can
drain a battery fairly quickly. Interior lights, or a trunk or underhood light that fails to go
out can also sap power from the battery when a vehicle sits overnight. Sometimes a power
relay may stick on, or a module may fail to go to sleep after the engine has been turned
off, causing a higher than normal key-off power drain. Any of these can run the battery
down and increase the load on the charging system when the engine is first started. The
result can be a chronic undercharging condition if the vehicle isnt driven long enough to
7/24/12 Printer Friendly
3/5 www.tirereview.com/Controls/PrinterFriendly/PrinterFriendly.aspx
fully recharge the battery, and shortened battery life.
Any problems in the charging system itself can also allow the battery to run down and/or
shorten battery life. A bad alternator, voltage regulator, faults in wiring harness or PCM
voltage control circuit, or even a slipping alternator drive belt can all cause low or no
charging output.
Charging Checks
The output of the charging system can be easily checked with a voltmeter while the engine
is idling. The actual output voltage produced by the charging system will vary depending
on temperature and load, but will typically be about 1-1/2 to 2 volts higher than battery
voltage. At idle, most charging systems will produce 13.8 to 14.8 volts with no lights or
accessories on.
If the current produced by the charging system is not sufficient to recharge a low battery,
the battery may never achieve full charge. This can lead to a permanent loss of voltage
capacity inside the battery as the plates become sulfated.
The current (amperage) produced by the charging system is also important to maintain a
fully charged battery. Not long ago, an 80-amp alternator was considered a high-output
unit. Now, alternators that produce up to 120 to 155 amps are used in many vehicles. The
current output can be measured with a charging system tester, or on a test bench if the
alternator has been removed from the vehicle.
Alternator power ratings can also be given in watts (which is volts times amps). Many
alternators in foreign vehicles are rated in watts rather than amps. The important point here
is to make sure a replacement alternator has the same power rating (in amps or watts) as
the original so the charging system can maintain the same power output as before, should
the alternator need to be replaced.
If your store has a bench tester or a portable charging system tester, you should always
recommend testing a customers alternator if their battery keeps running down, is dead or
has failed prematurely. This can prevent unnecessary battery warranty claims if they buy a
new battery only to have it run down or fail due to a charging fault.
Battery Tests
Batteries need to be tested for two things: state of charge (a base voltage measurement that
shows if the battery is low or fully charged), and capacity (a load or conductance test that
checks the condition of the plates inside the battery).
Connecting a voltmeter to the batterys positive and negative terminals (key off and all
lights and accessories off) will reveal the charge level of the battery. A reading of 12.66
volts indicates a fully charged battery. If the reading is 12.45 volts or less, the battery is
low and needs to be recharged.
Some batteries have a built-in charge indicator. A green dot tells you the battery is 75
percent or more charged. A dark indicator (no dot visible), means the cell is low and the
battery needs to be recharged. A yellow or clear indicator tells you the electrolyte level
inside the cell is low and the battery needs water. If the battery has a sealed top and water
cannot be added to the cells, do not attempt to recharge the battery. The battery must be
replaced.
7/24/12 Printer Friendly
4/5 www.tirereview.com/Controls/PrinterFriendly/PrinterFriendly.aspx
If a battery is low, use a charger to bring it back up to full charge. Alternators are designed
to maintain the battery charge, not to recharge dead batteries. A heavier than normal
charging load on an alternator may overheat and damage the diode trio (rectifier) in the
alternator, causing it to fail.
When charging a battery, do not turn the charger on until after the charger has been
connected to the battery. Sparks can be very dangerous around a car battery because lead-
acid batteries give off hydrogen gas, which is highly flammable. Also, if a battery is
frozen, do not attempt to jump it or recharge it. Remove the battery from the vehicle, bring
it indoors and allow it to thaw before recharging it.
Slow-charging is usually better than fast charging. Fast-charging saves time, but risks
overheating the battery. Slow-charging at 6 amps or less develops less heat inside the
battery and breaks up the sulfate on the battery plates more efficiently to bring the battery
back up to full charge. Smart Chargers automatically adjust the charging rate. Most start
out with a charging rate of 15 amps or higher, then taper off the charging rate as the
battery comes up.
The time it takes to recharge a battery will depend on the batterys reserve capacity (RC)
rating, its state of discharge, and the output of the battery charger. The charging rate (in
amps) multiplied by the number of hours of charging time should equal the reserve
capacity of the battery. For example, a dead battery with a RC rating of 72 will take about
12 hours to fully recharge with a 6 amp charger.
Testing Battery Condition
A load test will tell you if a battery is good or bad. The test is done by applying a
calibrated load to the battery and noting how much battery voltage drops. The test requires
a carbon pile load tester, a volt/amp meter (if not part of the load tester), and a battery that
is 75 percent or more charged. If the battery is low it must be recharged prior to load
testing.
The test requires loading the battery to 1/2 of its CCA rating for exactly 15 seconds. This
is done by adjusting the carbon pile setting on the tester. The battery must maintain a
minimum post voltage of 9.6 Volts at 70 degrees F during the test to pass. If the voltage
drops below 9.6 volts, the battery is bad and needs to be replaced.
A faster and easier method to check the condition of a battery is to use an electronic
battery conductance tester. Conductance is how much current the battery can conduct
internally. Conductance is determined by sending an alternating frequency signal through
the battery. The main advantage with this method is that the battery does NOT have to be
fully charged for accurate test results.
Battery Replacement
If a battery tests bad, or it will not accept or hold a charge, it will have to be replaced.
There is no way to rejuvenate an old sulfated battery or a battery with internal shorts,
opens or cell damage.
A replacement battery must be the same group size (dimensions and post configuration) as
the original, and should have the same or higher Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) rating as the
original battery. Most V6 and V8 engines require 600 CCA for reliable cold weather
7/24/12 Printer Friendly
5/5 www.tirereview.com/Controls/PrinterFriendly/PrinterFriendly.aspx
starting. Many diesel pickup trucks have a dual battery setup for added cranking power, so
if one battery has failed it is usually a good idea to replace both batteries at the same time.
Replacing a battery in some vehicles can be difficult because of the batterys location. It
may be sealed up inside a fender panel (many Chrysler cars) or in the trunk or under the
back seat. If the vehicle is a hybrid, it may require a special gel cell 12-volt battery rather
than a wet cell lead-acid battery. Also, use extreme caution around high-voltage hybrid
batteries. Follow the vehicle manufacturers safety precautions. The high voltage hybrid
battery is usually covered by a 10-year warranty and is a dealer-only replacement item.
Heres another precaution that is often overlooked: Disconnecting a battery that still has
voltage can wipe the memory in some modules in many late model vehicles. The resulting
memory loss in the affected modules may prevent certain systems from functioning until a
special relearn procedure has been performed (some of which may require using a scan
tool to reset the module).
To prevent unwanted memory loss in modules, connect a memory saver to the electrical
system before the battery is disconnected. These devices typically plug into the cigarette
lighter or power outlet, or attach to the battery cables, and use a 9-volt battery to supply
power to the modules. Another option is to connect a low amperage (3 amps) battery
charger to the battery cables while the battery is being replaced.
Be extra careful when reconnecting battery cables to not reverse polarity. Reversing the
connections can damage the battery, charging system, and on-board electronics (including
the PCM). Except for some antique vehicles, all modern vehicles have a negative ground
electrical system. The negative battery post is marked with a minus (-) sign, while the
positive battery post is marked with a plus (+) sign. The battery cables may be color coded
red for positive and black for negative (but not always, so watch out!).
Finally, batteries should be fully charged before they are installed (to reduce the initial load
on the charging system). Batteries are dry charged at the factory, but can discharge over
time as they sit on the shelf. Your battery inventory should be arranged so your oldest
batteries are the first on the shelf, with the newest batteries in the back. Use a voltmeter to
check the charge level on your batteries, and use a charger to bring any low batteries up to
full charge before they go out the door.
Battery customers should also be reminded to check the condition of the battery cables on
their vehicle. A new battery cant crank the engine normally or maintain its charge if the
battery cables are loose, badly corroded or undersized. Watch out for cheap replacement
battery cables that have undersized wire inside. It takes heavy gauge wire to handle all the
amps that many starting systems require.
Tire Review | Copyright 2012 Tire Review All Rights Reserved.