Battery design features
The vehicle is equipped with a lead starter storage battery with a capacity of 55 Ah. Batteries of this capacity are produced by many different manufacturers, but the characteristics of these batteries are similar.
Battery Care
At least once every two weeks, remove dust and dirt from the surface of the monoblock and the battery cover with a dry rag. If electrolyte is accidentally found on the battery cover, remove it with a clean rag moistened with a 10% solution of ammonia or soda. Then wipe the surface of the cover on the battery dry.
Make sure that the corks are always tightly wrapped in the necks of the battery cans. At least once every two weeks, check the cleanliness of the gas outlet holes in the plugs, as clogging of these holes will cause an increase in gas pressure inside the accumulator, which can lead to battery damage.
To prevent oxidation of battery terminals and cable lugs, clean and lubricate them regularly with petroleum jelly. Watch tightness of connection of tips of wires and conclusions.
Periodically check the reliability of the battery on the car and tighten it if necessary to avoid cracks on the monoblock.
The wires to the battery terminals must be connected with slack, as the tension of the wires can lead to loosening of the terminals in the cover and leakage of electrolyte from the battery.
Checking the electrolyte level in the battery
Periodically, at least once every two weeks, check the electrolyte level in the battery cells.
The electrolyte level in all cells must be between the marks «MIN» And «MAX», applied to the translucent battery case. If there are no marks, then the electrolyte level should be 5-10 mm above the upper edge of the separators.
To restore the electrolyte level, add only distilled water to the battery. If it is determined that the cause of the low level is sloshing, then add electrolyte of the same density as that remaining in the battery cell. If the level is above normal, pump out the electrolyte with a rubber bulb with an ebonite tip.
Checking the state of charge of the battery
If during operation there are difficulties with starting the engine, check the degree of charge of the battery by the density of the electrolyte or the voltage at its terminals in an unloaded state (tab. 9.1). Use a hydrometer or a commercially available electrolyte density float indicator to check the electrolyte density. The voltage at the battery terminals can be measured with any DC voltmeter with a measurement limit of 20 V (a similar voltmeter is included in all commercially available autotesters).
If the battery state of charge is 75% or less, the battery must be removed from the vehicle and charged using a charger Removing and installing the battery
To remove and install the battery on the car you will need: keys «on 10», «at 13».
1. Open the hood.
2. Loosen the ferrule pinch nut and remove the wire from the terminal «minus» battery.
3. Move aside the rubber protective cover of the terminal «plus», loosen the lug tie bolt nut and disconnect the wire from the terminal «plus» battery.
4. Loosen the nuts of the battery bar tie rods, unscrew one of the nuts and remove the mounting bar assembly from one of the tie bars, disengaging the tie bar from the loop.
5. Remove the battery.
6. Install the battery in the vehicle in the reverse order of removal. Before connecting the wires, clean the battery terminals and the inside surfaces of the wire lugs with fine sandpaper. Connect the wires in the reverse order of removal, observing polarity. After connecting the wires to the terminals, apply a thin layer of grease Litol-24 or similar to the wire lugs and exposed surfaces of the terminals (copper-containing conductive lubricants are most preferred).
Accumulator charging
Carefully clean the battery removed from the car, especially its upper part, check the electrolyte level (see above «Checking the electrolyte level in the battery») and adjust if necessary.
The battery is charged with a current of 5.5 A with the plugs turned out. The battery is charged until the onset of abundant gas evolution and the achievement of a constant voltage and electrolyte density for 3 hours. The electrolyte density of a charged battery at 25°C should correspond to the data in Table. 9.2 for each climatic region.
When charging the battery, periodically check the temperature of the electrolyte and do not allow it to rise above +40°C. When the temperature reaches +40°C, reduce the charging current by half or interrupt charging and cool the battery down to +27°C.
Battery charging is stopped when abundant gas evolution begins in all cells, and the voltage and density of the electrolyte during the last three measurements (carried out 1 hour after disconnecting the battery) will remain constant.
If at the end of charging the density of the electrolyte (determined taking into account the temperature correction) differs from that indicated in the table. 9.2, correct it. With increased density, remove some of the electrolyte and add distilled water. If the density of the electrolyte is below normal, then remove it from the cell and add electrolyte of increased density (1.4 g/cm. cube).
After adjusting the density of the electrolyte, continue charging the battery for another 30 minutes to mix the electrolyte. Then disconnect the battery and after 30 minutes measure the electrolyte level in all cells. If the electrolyte level is below normal, add electrolyte, the density of which corresponds to the given climatic region (see table. 9.2). If the electrolyte level is above normal, remove excess electrolyte with a rubber bulb.
Battery Specification
Battery type Rated voltage, V Rated capacity at 20-hour discharge and electrolyte temperature (27±2) °C at the beginning of the discharge, Ah Discharge current at 20-hour discharge mode, A Discharge current at starter mode and electrolyte temperature minus 18°C, A | 6ST-55P 12 55 2,75 255 |
Table 9.1. Parameters for checking the state of charge of the battery
Voltage at battery terminals, V Electrolyte density, g/cm. cube The degree of battery charge,% | 12,65 1,27 100 | 12,45 1,23 75 | 12,24 1,20 50 | 12,06 1,17 25 | 11,80 1,12 0 |
Table 9.2. Electrolyte density at 25°С, g/cm3
climatic region (average monthly air temperature in January),°C | Season | Fully charged battery | Battery is charged | |
by 25% | by 50% | |||
Very cold (-50 to -30) Cold (from -30 to -15) Moderate (-15 to -8) warm humid (from 0 to +4) hot dry (+4 to +15) | Winter Summer All year round Same >> >> | 1,30 1,28 1,28 1,28 1,23 1,23 | 1,26 1,24 1,24 1,24 1,19 1,19 | 1,22 1,20 1,20 1,20 1,15 1,15 |
Possible malfunctions of the battery on the car, their causes and solutions
Cause of malfunction | Remedy |
Battery drains while driving | |
Alternator drive belt slip Faulty generator Damage to the insulation in the electrical system Connection by the owner of the car of new consumers in excess of permissible limits Excessive contamination of the battery surface The electrolyte level in the battery is below the top edge of the plates Short circuit between battery plates Battery not warmed up due to low ambient temperature (-20°C and below) | Adjust alternator belt tension Check the generator Locate the current leakage and repair the damage Turn off new consumers of electricity Clean the surface of the battery Restore the normal electrolyte level in the battery Replace battery Warm up the battery in a warm room to a temperature of + 10-30°C and charge |
electrolyte on the surface of the battery | |
Elevated battery electrolyte level leading to sloshing Electrolyte leakage through cracks in the battery case Electrolyte boiling due to very high alternator voltage Electrolyte boiling and battery overheating due to plate sulfation | Set the normal electrolyte level in the battery Replace battery Replace alternator voltage regulator Replace battery |