Electrical System Preventive Maintenance
– 188 – Y53-6008
Medium Duty (R10/06)
If the engine fails to start, do not continue to crank the
starter but contact the nearest Authorized Service
Center.
Remove jumper cables:
WARNING! When disconnecting jumper cables,
make sure they do not get caught in any moving
parts in the engine compartment. You could be
seriously injured.
Reverse the above procedure exactly when removing the
jumper cables. With engine running, disconnect jumper
cables from both vehicles in the exact reverse order (Steps 4
– 1), making sure to first remove the negative cable from the
vehicle with the discharged battery.
Battery Charging
Except for using small trickle charges (as explained on Page
190) to maintain battery condition, you should have your
vehicle's batteries charged by a qualified service facility.
WARNING! Batteries can injure you severely.
They contain acid, produce poisonous and
explosive gases, and supply levels of electric
current high enough to cause burns. A spark or
flame near a battery on charge may cause it to
explode with great force.
To help reduce the risk of personal injuries, follow these
guidelines carefully when recharging a battery:
• Before attempting any service in the electrical installa-
tion, disconnect the battery negative cable.
• Allow no sparks or open flame anywhere near the charg-
ing area.
• Charge a battery only in a well-ventilated area, such as
outdoors or in a fully open garage which contains no pilot
lights or other flames. Gases generated during the
charging process must be allowed to escape.
• Maintain the full level of electrolyte in the batteries. This
reduces the volume of gas in the cells. The electrolyte
level should always be between 0.4–0.6 in. (10–15mm)
above plates. Fill with distilled water only. After dis-
tilled water has been added, wait at least a half hour to
measure solution density (specific gravity). The specific
gravity should be between 1.258–1.265 or the electrolyte
level within “MIN” and “MAX” marks.
