A single 12-volt battery is standard factory-installed equipment on this model. All of the components of the battery
system are located within the engine compartment of the vehicle. The battery system for this vehicle covers the
following related components, which are covered in further detail later in this section of the service manual:

•

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 battery terminal posts to the vehicle electrical system.

•

Battery Hold-down - The battery hold-down hardware secures the battery in the battery tray in the engine
compartment.

ENGINE SYSTEMS

8F - 1

•

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 and jump starting procedure, see the owner’s manual in the vehicle
glove box. Optionally, refer to the Lubrication and Maintenance section of this manual for the recommended battery
maintenance schedules and for the proper battery jump starting procedure. While battery charging can be consid-
ered a maintenance procedure, the battery charging procedures and related information are located later in this
section of this service manual. This was done because 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 to operate 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 sys-
tem serves as a capacitor and voltage stabilizer for the vehicle electrical system. It absorbs most abnormal or tran-
sient 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
monitored circuit is assigned a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC). The PCM will store a DTC in electronic memory for
any failure it detects. Refer to Charging System (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/CHARGING - DIAGNOSIS AND TEST-
ING) for the proper charging system on-board diagnostic test procedures.

MICRO 420 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TESTER

The Micro 420 automotive battery tester is designed to
help dealership technicians diagnose a defective bat-
tery. Follow the instruction manual supplied with the
tester to properly diagnose a vehicle. If the instruction
manual is not available, refer to the standard proce-
dure in this section, which includes the directions for
using the Micro 420 electrical system tester.

8F - 2

BATTERY SYSTEM

Content .. 181 182 183 184 ..