Note: See safety precautions when working with electrical equipment:
- Do not disconnect the battery while the engine and/or accessories are running. Turn the ignition switch to the "OFF" (LOCK) position and turn off all auxiliary electrical equipment.
- When checking, disconnect the negative battery cable first and reconnect it last.
- Be careful not to short-circuit the terminals with tools.
1. Visual inspection of the battery condition.
Note: If there is corrosion from the electrolyte, wash the damaged areas with a solution of clean warm water and soda, then wipe dry with a cloth. Do not allow the cleaning solution to get into the battery.
a) Check the charge level of the standard battery by the color of the indicator on its cover. If the indicator is blue, the charge level is normal; if the indicator is white, the level is low and charging is required.
b) Check the battery posts and tray for corrosion damage caused by possible electrolyte leakage.
c) Check the battery case and cover for cracks and damage that could cause electrolyte leakage. Replace the battery if necessary.
Caution: If there are electrolyte leaks from the battery, use suitable rubber gloves when removing the battery (do not use household gloves).
d) Check the strength of the battery terminals. If the terminal connections are loose, tighten the clamp nuts.
d) Check the terminals for damage and corrosion, if necessary, clean the terminals and apply a special consistent grease to them.
Caution: Do not overtighten the terminal retainer nuts.
e) Tighten the retaining clip only enough to hold the battery securely in place. Overtightening may damage the battery case.
2. If necessary, check the level and density of the electrolyte in the battery (serviced).
a) Check that the electrolyte level in the battery is between the maximum level marks (UPPER LEVEL) and minimum level (LOWER LEVEL).
Note: It is recommended to check the electrolyte level regularly depending on operating conditions, but not less than once every four weeks.
b) Using a hydrometer and a thermometer, measure the density of the electrolyte in the battery.
Nominal value - 1.22-1.29 g/cm³ (at 20°C)
c) The density of the electrolyte depends on the temperature, therefore, to convert the measured value to the density at a temperature of 20°C, use the following formula:
D20 = Dt + 0,0007 (t - 20),
where D20 is the reduced density of the electrolyte at 20°C; Dt - actually measured density; t - actual temperature in 'C.
3. Checking the electrolyte level in the standard battery.
a) Using a flat-head screwdriver, remove the center battery cover.
Note: The battery cell plugs are rigidly connected to the center cap and will be removed along with it when it is removed.
b) Check that the electrolyte level in each battery jar reaches the lower edge of the indicator. If necessary, add distilled water to the jar, without exceeding the specified level.
Attention: if the electrolyte level exceeds the level specified above, electrolyte may leak from the battery while the vehicle is moving.
c) Install the center battery cover securely.
4. Checking the output voltage of the battery.
a) Turn on the headlights for 15 seconds.
b) Turn off the headlights and wait 2 minutes for the battery voltage to stabilize.
c) Turn off the ignition and disconnect the wires from the battery terminals.
The article is reprinted from this source mitsubishiman.ru
Note: To access the positive battery terminal, you must lift the cover.
d) Measure the voltage at the battery terminals (open circuit voltage).
Voltage over - 12.4V (at 20°C)
d) If the voltage does not correspond to the nominal value, charge the battery.
e) If necessary, load the battery with the recommended load for 15 seconds. Read the battery voltage at the terminals after 15 seconds, then remove the electrical load.
Recommended load:
- Battery type 44B20L — 150 A
- Battery type 75D23L — 275 A
g) Compare the obtained values with the values given in the battery load characteristic table.
Table. Load characteristic of the storage battery.
| Minimum voltage (V) | Temperature (°C) |
| 9,6 | 21 and above |
| 9,5 | 16-20 |
| 9,4 | 10-15 |
| 9,3 | 4-9 |
| 9,1 | -1-3 |
| 8,9 | -7 - -2 |
| 8,7 | "12" -8 |
| 8,5 | "18" -13 |
5. Charging the battery.
a) When charging a battery installed in a vehicle, first disconnect the cable from the negative terminal of the battery, and then disconnect the cable from the positive terminal to prevent damage to the vehicle's electrical components.
b) The charging current is usually 1/10 of the battery capacity.
c) In case of fast charging (due to lack of time, etc.), the charging current should never exceed the battery capacity value indicated in amperes.
Charging current:
For battery type 44B20L:
- Normal charging - 3.4A
- Fast charging - 34A
For battery type 75D23L:
- Normal charging - 5.2A
- Fast charging - 52A
d) Determining the moment of completion of charging:
- - If the electrolyte density has reached 1.25 - 1.29 and remains constant for an hour.
- - If the voltage of each battery cell has reached 2.5 - 2.8 V and remains constant for one hour.
Attention:
- Be careful and monitor the electrolyte level, which may increase during charging.
- - Do not charge near fire sources due to the risk of explosion.
- - While charging, do not perform nearby work that may cause sparks.
- - After charging is complete, close the lids of the jars, wash the battery from the outside with clean water to remove any remaining acid and wipe dry.