BATTERY SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION
This vehicle is equipped with a single 12-volt battery located in the rear floor area near the spare tire. The battery
system for this vehicle covers the following related components:
•
Battery - The storage battery provides a reliable
means of storing a renewable source of electrical
energy within the vehicle.
•
Battery Cables - The battery cables connect the
positive and negatively charged battery terminal
posts to the vehicle electrical system.
•
Battery Holddown - The battery holddown hard-
ware secures the battery in the battery tray.
•
Battery Retention Strap - The battery retention
strap securely holds the battery in place in the
event of a rear impact collision.
•
Battery Tray - The battery tray provides a
secure mounting location in the vehicle for the
battery and an anchor point for the battery hold-
down hardware.
For battery system maintenance schedules (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/MAINTENANCE SCHED-
ULES - DESCRIPTION). (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/JUMP STARTING - STANDARD PROCE-
DURE) for the proper jump starting procedure. The battery must be fully-charged before any battery system
diagnosis or testing procedures can be performed.
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 many of the
other vehicle accessory 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 system 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 com-
plete 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 thoroughly tested and inspected any time a battery needs to be charged or replaced. The
cause of abnormal battery 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 easier to locate the specific information you are seeking. How-
ever, when attempting to diagnose any of these systems, it is important that you keep their interdependency 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/ohmmeter, 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
8F - 2
BATTERY SYSTEM
LX