Checking the battery (Opel Kadett D)

The electrolyte level should be 5 mm above the plates including the separators. If there is an electrolyte level mark, then you should be guided by it. Only distilled water should be used for topping up.



Batteries with very high electrolyte levels when heavily charged (long trip) may boil. A very low electrolyte level will greatly reduce the life of the battery.

Checking the density of the electrolyte

The density of the electrolyte together with the voltage measurement allows us to draw a conclusion about the battery charge level. A hydrometer is used to check the density. The higher the density, the more the float rises. The scale can be used to determine the density value in g/mm³ or degrees (+°Be). The following values should be present.

Cleaning the battery terminals

During regular inspection of the car, you should also clean the terminals and connecting terminals of the battery and lubricate them with a special lubricant (acid-resistant).

[Original posted on the website: www.OPELBOOK.ru]

Caution: When not in use, the battery discharges itself.

If the battery is not checked and recharged in time, irreparable damage may appear on the plates. If the car is not moving for a long time, the battery should be discharged and charged every month.

Checking the battery under load

Connect the voltmeter to the vehicle's terminals.

Start the engine and read the voltmeter readings.

When starting the engine, the voltage with a fully charged battery should not be below 10 V (electrolyte temperature ~20°C).

If the voltage drops immediately and the electrolyte density in the cells is different, then we can conclude that the battery is faulty.

The total voltage can be measured with a battery tester.

Caution: A freshly charged, maintenance-free battery must have its surface charge removed. To do this, apply 300 A to the battery for 15 seconds. Allow the battery to rest for 15 seconds before the second test. If the voltage drops below the specified value during this measurement, the battery is either discharged or faulty.