Chrysler RG Voyager. Manual - part 703

tery. All of the components of the battery system are
located within the engine compartment. The battery
system for this vehicle contains the following related
components:

• Battery - The storage battery provides a reli-

able means of storing a renewable source of electrical
energy within the vehicle.

• Battery Cable - The battery cables connect the

battery terminal posts to the vehicle electrical sys-
tem.

• Battery Holddown - The battery holddown

hardware secures the battery in the battery tray in
the engine compartment.

• Battery Thermowrap - The battery thermow-

rap insulates the battery to protect it from engine
compartment temperature extremes.

• Battery Tray - The battery tray provides a

secure mounting location in the vehicle for the bat-
tery and an anchor point for the battery holddown
hardware.

ENGINE SYSTEMS

8F - 1

OPERATION

The battery system is designed to provide a safe,

efficient, reliable and mobile means of delivering and
storing electrical energy. This electrical energy is
required to operate the engine starting system, as
well as to operate many of the other vehicle acces-
sory systems for limited durations while the engine
and/or the charging system are not operating. The
battery system is also designed to provide a reserve
of electrical energy to supplement the charging sys-
tem for short durations while the engine is running
and the electrical current demands of the vehicle
exceed the output of the charging system. In addition
to delivering, and storing electrical energy for the
vehicle, the battery system serves as a capacitor and
voltage stabilizer for the vehicle electrical system. It
absorbs most abnormal or transient voltages caused
by the switching of any of the electrical components
or circuits in the vehicle.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

BATTERY SYSTEM

The battery, starting, and charging systems in the

vehicle operate with one another and must be tested
as a complete system. In order for the engine to start
and the battery to maintain its charge properly, all of
the components that are used in these systems must
perform within specifications. It is important that
the battery, starting, and charging systems be thor-
oughly tested and inspected any time a battery needs
to be charged or replaced. The cause of abnormal bat-
tery discharge, overcharging or early battery failure

must be diagnosed and corrected before a battery is
replaced and before a vehicle is returned to service.
The service information for these systems has been
separated within this service manual to make it eas-
ier to locate the specific information you are seeking.
However, when attempting to diagnose any of these
systems, it is important that you keep their interde-
pendency in mind.

The diagnostic procedures used for the battery,

starting, and charging systems include the most
basic conventional diagnostic methods, to the more
sophisticated On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) built into
the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Use of an
induction-type milliampere ammeter, a volt/ohmme-
ter, a battery charger, a carbon pile rheostat (load
tester) and a 12-volt test lamp may be required. All
OBD-sensed systems are monitored by the PCM.
Each monitored circuit is assigned a Diagnostic Trou-
ble Code (DTC). The PCM will store a DTC in elec-
tronic memory for any failure it detects. (Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/CHARGING

DIAGNOSIS

AND

TESTING) for the proper charging system on-board
diagnostic test procedures.

MICRO 420 BATTERY TESTER

The

Micro

420

automotive

battery

tester

designed to help the dealership technicians diagnose
the cause of a defective battery. Follow the instruc-
tion manual supplied with the tester to properly
diagnose a vehicle. If the instruction manual is not
available refer to the standard procedure in this sec-
tion, which includes the directions for using the
Micro 420 battery tester.

8F - 2

BATTERY SYSTEM

BATTERY SYSTEM (Continued)

BATTERY SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS

CONDITION

POSSIBLE CAUSES

CORRECTION

THE BATTERY SEEMS
WEAK OR DEAD WHEN
ATTEMPTING TO START
THE ENGINE.

1. The electrical system
ignition-off draw is excessive.

1. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/BATTERY
SYSTEM/BATTERY - STANDARD PROCEDURE
- IGNITION-OFF DRAW TEST) for the proper test
procedures. Repair the excessive ignition-off
draw, as required.

2. The charging system is
inoperative.

2. Determine if the charging system is performing
to specifications. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
CHARGING - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING) for
additional charging system diagnosis and testing
procedures. Repair the inoperative charging
system, as required.

3. The battery is discharged.

3. Determine the battery state-of-charge using the
Micro 420 battery tester. Refer to the Standard
Procedures in this section for additional test
procedures. Charge the inoperative battery, as
required.

4. The battery terminal
connections are loose or
corroded.

4. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/BATTERY
SYSTEM/CABLES - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING)
for the proper battery cable diagnosis and testing
procedures. Clean and tighten the battery
terminal connections, as required.

5. The battery has an
incorrect size or rating for
this vehicle.

5. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/BATTERY SYSTEM
- SPECIFICATIONS) for the proper size and
rating. Replace an incorrect battery, as required.

6. The battery is inoperative.

6. Test the battery using the Micro 420 battery
tester. Refer to the Standard Procedures in this
section for additional test procedures. Replace
the inoperative battery, as required.

7. The starting system is
inoperative.

7. Determine if the starting system is performing
to specifications. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
STARTING - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING) for the
proper starting system diagnosis and testing
procedures. Repair the inoperative starting
system, as required.

8. The battery is physically
damaged.

8. Inspect the battery for loose terminal posts or a
cracked and leaking case. Replace the damaged
battery, as required.

BATTERY SYSTEM

8F - 3

BATTERY SYSTEM (Continued)

BATTERY SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS

CONDITION

POSSIBLE CAUSES

CORRECTION

THE BATTERY STATE OF
CHARGE CANNOT BE
MAINTAINED.

1. The battery has an
incorrect size or rating for
this vehicle.

1. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/BATTERY SYSTEM
- SPECIFICATIONS) for the proper specifications.
Replace an incorrect battery, as required.

2. The battery terminal
connections are loose or
corroded.

2. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/BATTERY
SYSTEM/CABLES - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING)
for the proper cable diagnosis and testing
procedures. Clean and tighten the battery
terminal connections, as required.

3. The electrical system
ignition-off draw is excessive.

3. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/BATTERY
SYSTEM/BATTERY - STANDARD PROCEDURE
- IGNITION-OFF DRAW TEST) for the proper test
procedures. Repair the inoperative electrical
system, as required.

4. The battery is inoperative.

4. Test the battery using the Micro 420 battery
tester. Refer to Standard Procedures for
additional test procedures. Replace the
inoperative battery, as required.

5. The starting system is
inoperative.

5. Determine if the starting system is performing
to specifications. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
STARTING - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING) for the
proper starting system diagnosis and testing
procedures. Repair the inoperative starting
system, as required.

6. The charging system is
inoperative.

6. Determine if the charging system is performing
to specifications. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
CHARGING - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING) for
charging system diagnosis and testing
procedures. Repair the inoperative charging
system, as required.

7. Electrical loads exceed the
output of the charging
system.

7. Inspect the vehicle for aftermarket electrical
equipment which might cause excessive electrical
loads.

8. Slow driving or prolonged
idling with high-amperage
draw loads in use.

8. Advise the vehicle operator, as required.

THE BATTERY WILL NOT
ACCEPT A CHARGE.

1. The battery is inoperative.

1. Test the battery using the Micro 420 battery
tester.. Charge or replace the inoperative battery,
as required.

8F - 4

BATTERY SYSTEM

BATTERY SYSTEM (Continued)

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