Smart on Battery

1. Before Buying A Battery

Most of the Asian vehicles use the standardization of Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) battery. While most of European vehicles use the standardization of Deutch Industrie Normug (DIN). You can cross-check those two standards with your vehicle needs, simply by viewing our battery specification

What things you should know when you need a new battery?

  1. Type: What is the type (JIS, DIN or others) of your original battery? How many voltage and ampere do you need?
  2. Power: What are the Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) required to power your vehicle
  3. Size: What are the dimensions (Length, width and total height) of your original battery?
  4. Warranty: What is the sufficient warranty for your vehicle’s needs?

SMART FACTS
~ The weight of a battery could not guarantee its performance. Some people think that the heavier the better. The performance of a battery is determined by the purity of its lead.

 

2. Battery Removal & Installation

Tools and Materials:
1. New Automotive Battery
2. 1 unit of 10 mm wrench and 1 unit of 12 mm wrench
3. Screwdriver
4. Wire brush
5. Grease
6. Google
7. Gloves
Step by step instruction
1
Wear the Glove and Google for protection, sulfuric acid is contagious for eye and skin contact. Do this procedure in the well-ventilated area, away from the fire/heat source.
2
First thing of all, note and mark which terminal (+) and (-) cable are, and remember the position of the battery, so you will be aware in reconnect the cables during the installation process. Turn off all the ignition switches, and all electrical appliances in the car.
3
Always disconnect grounded or negative (-) cable first (in some old type vehicles, the ground is the positive cable), followed by the positive (+) cable. This is to prevent and minimize the short circuiting accident. Release the battery from any hold downs. Gently remove the old battery from the vehicle. (Do not drop the old battery for it can cause an explosion or wreckage). Dispose or put out the old battery in a safe place (or to the recycling store).
4
Inspect any cables, clamps and battery tray and remove any corrosion from those connected items to the battery using the wire brush and the baking soda (if needed only). Dry them instantly. The cleaning ensures good electrical contact.
5
Carefully place the new battery in the tray*, make sure the terminal position is exactly in the same position as the old battery (point no. 2) and according to the cable connection. Reversing the battery terminals can damage the vehicle electrical system and moreover, it can cause the battery to explode.
6
Tighten the hold downs brackets (if any).
7
Connect the positive cable first, and followed by the negative cable. Tighten the cables against the terminal, but do not over tighten, as it may cause damage or leakage in the battery container. Coat both terminals and its clamps with grease or petroleum jelly to prevent any corrosion. Place the clamp and terminal covers.
8
Battery removal and installation is complete. To ensure the battery is installed properly, turn the ignition key on. 
*
In case if you use the dry-charged lead acid battery, please make sure its freshness. Open the seals of the top-off battery and fill-in the proper sulfuric acid (BD 1,260). The liquid level should not exceed the Upper Level (marked at the outside of battery container), and must not lower than the Lower Level. The plates (inside the battery container) must always be covered with electrolyte at all times.

 

3. During/Maintenance Period

  1. Fluid Level
    2. Check the level of the fluid every couple of months. Only the low maintenance or the conservative battery are requiring top up. Use the distilled water and do it in the right way. Tap or rain water are strongly prohibited to be use as they can contain high level of minerals which will impair battery performance.

    battery maintenance

  2. Terminal maintenance
    3. Clean the terminal periodically with a wire brush to ensure a good connectivity.

  3. Detect the performance of your battery
    4. Check the battery if problems occur (the engine won’t start) or if you are doing lots of traveling, cross-check with the battery age. Replace your battery with the new one before it fails. Especially, if you plan on doing long trip, assure that your vehicle is in a good state. It could save your time and money down the road.

 

4. Safety Precautions:

Sulfuric Acid is highly caustic, it could cause burn and irritate to the skin and eyes. There is also a slight danger of explosion in certain cases.

When dealing with electrolyte and automotive batteries, protect yourself with safety glasses, face shield or goggles. Wear proper clothing to protect your face, hands and body.

Apart from that, pay extra attention to the precaution action bellow:

  1. Always work on the battery in a well-ventilated area.
  2. Make sure the working area is free from flames or sparks source, even the cigarettes. They can cause the battery explosion.
  3. Always keep vent caps tight and level.
  4. Keep out of reach of children.
  5. Always disconnect the negative cable first and reconnect it last.
  6. Never lean over a battery when charging, testing, or jump-starting an engine.
  7. Switch off current before making or breaking electrical connection.
  8. Before using conductive tools on a battery, remove metallic personal adornments from the hands and wrists.