Battery System: Battery: Description
This vehicle is equipped with a single, 12-volt, maintenance-free battery located in the rear floor area near the spare tire. The battery is comprised of the following components:
- Positive Post (1)
- Vent (2)
- Cell Cap (3)
- Vent (4)
- Cell Cap (5)
- Vent (6)
- Negative Post (7)
- Indicator Eye (8) if equipped
- Electrolyte Level (9)
- Plate Groups (10)
- Maintenance Free Battery assembly (11)
This battery is designed to provide a safe, efficient and reliable means of storing electrical energy in a chemical form. This means of energy storage allows the battery to produce the electrical energy 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 is made up of six individual cells that are connected in series. Each cell contains positively charged plate groups that are connected with lead straps to the positive terminal post, and negatively charged plate groups that are connected with lead straps to the negative terminal post. Each plate consists of a stiff mesh framework or grid coated with lead dioxide (positive plate) or sponge lead (negative plate). Insulators or plate separators made of a non-conductive material are inserted between the positive and negative plates to prevent them from contacting or shorting against one another. These dissimilar metal plates are submerged in a sulfuric acid and water solution called an electrolyte.
The battery Group Size number, the Cold Cranking Amperage (CCA) rating, and the Reserve Capacity (RC) rating or Ampere-Hours (AH) rating can be found on the original equipment battery label. Be certain that a replacement battery has the correct Group Size number, as well as CCA, and RC or AH ratings that equal or exceed the original equipment specification for the vehicle being serviced. (Refer to ELECTRICAL/BATTERY SYSTEM - SPECIFICATIONS) for the proper factory-installed battery specifications.