Mopar BA094R730W Battery-Storage

A routine preventive maintenance program for the battery in your vehicle is essential to ensure quick and reliable starts. Before performing any battery maintenance, make sure you have the proper equipment necessary to work safely around the battery. Take precautions when servicing the battery, such as turning off the engine and all accessories and disconnecting the cable from the negative terminal. The battery produces flammable and explosive hydrogen gas, so never create a spark or light a match near it. Charge the battery in a ventilated area. The electrolyte contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid, so avoid contact with your eyes, skin, or clothes, and never ingest it. Wear protective safety glasses when working near the battery and keep children away. Check the external condition of the battery for any torn or damaged rubber protectors, corroded or loose connections, cracks in the case or cover, or loose hold-down clamps. If corrosion is evident, remove the battery for cleaning by loosening the cable clamp bolts and disconnecting the hold-down clamp bolt and nut. Clean the cable clamps thoroughly with a battery brush or terminal cleaner and a solution of warm water and baking soda. Wash the terminals and top of the battery case with the same solution, being careful not to let it get into the battery. Clean the battery posts with a terminal cleaner if extensively corroded. Thoroughly wash all cleaned areas with plain water. Ensure the battery tray is in good condition and the hold-down clamp fasteners are tight. If the battery is removed from the tray, make sure no parts remain in the bottom when reinstalling. When reinstalling the hold-down clamp bolts, do not over-tighten them. Corrosion on the hold-down components, battery case, and surrounding areas can be removed with a solution of water and baking soda, followed by rinsing with plain water. Any metal parts damaged by corrosion should be covered with a zinc-based primer and painted. Slow-rate charging is recommended to restore a discharged battery or maintain battery charge in a vehicle driven only a few miles between starts. A one or two-amp battery charger is the safest and least straining option. For a faster charge, a higher amperage charger can be used, but not one rated more than 1/10th the amp/hour rating of the battery. Rapid boost charges should only be used in emergency situations. The average time to charge a battery is typically 12 to 16 hours with a trickle charger.

To check the battery state of charge, inspect the indicator eye on the top of the battery, where a green color indicates 75 to 100 percent charge, black signifies 0 to 75 percent charge, and a clear or bright appearance indicates low electrolyte level. Maintenance-free factory-installed batteries cannot have water added, but if a low-maintenance battery with removable cell caps is used, add water to the correct level. Overcharging may cause low-electrolyte conditions, so after recharging, check the alternator charging voltage and replace it if necessary. Perform an open-voltage circuit test using a voltmeter to ensure the battery charge is correct. For a battery load test, use a battery load tester to evaluate its ability to handle heavy amperage draw. Disconnect the battery cables starting with the negative terminal, remove the battery hold-down bolt and clamp, then lift out the battery for replacement. Inspect the battery tray for corrosion and clean it as needed. For battery tray removal, disconnect wiring harness clips, remove the fuse and relay box, ABS controller, left front wheel, and wheelhouse splash shield if necessary, and then unbolt and remove the battery tray. The right-side battery tray removal process is similar, with additional steps for air filter housing and relay bracket removal.

To check the battery state of charge, look at the indicator eye. A green eye means 75-100% charged, black 0-75%, and clear/bright low electrolyte. Maintenance-free batteries with clear eyes should be replaced, while low-maintenance batteries can have water added. Perform an open-voltage circuit test and a battery load test to assess the battery's ability to handle amperage draw. For battery removal/installation on 2010 and earlier models, disconnect the cable from the negative terminal first. On 2011 and later models, remove the battery access cover and disconnect the cables starting with the negative. For the auxiliary battery on 2016 and later models, unplug the IBS connector and disconnect the cables from the negative and positive terminals. For the battery tray, remove the battery, wiring harness, and fasteners. Installation is the reverse of removal.

Slow-rate charging with a one or two-amp battery charger is recommended for restoring a deeply discharged battery or maintaining its charge, especially during the winter. High-amperage chargers that exceed 1/10th of the battery's amp/hour rating should be avoided except in emergencies.

When replacing the battery, it is important to ensure that you get an identical unit with the same dimensions, amperage rating, cold cranking rating, etc.

Some specific systems that may require recalibration after reconnecting the battery include the front window express-up/express-down system, power sunroof initialization, and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) recalibration.

You can determine the state of charge of the battery by measuring the specific gravity with a hydrometer or checking the built-in hydrometer (if applicable), or by using a digital voltmeter to check the charge. A fully charged battery should read 12.6 volts or higher.

Start by removing the battery hold-down clamp. Unscrew the hold-down bolt and remove the clamp. Carefully lift out the heavy battery.

Check the alternator charging voltage and replace it if necessary. Perform an open-voltage circuit test using a voltmeter to ensure the battery charge is correct.

Make sure you get one that's identical, with the same dimensions, amperage rating, cold cranking rating, etc.

Remove corrosion with a water and baking soda solution and coat damaged metal parts with a zinc-based primer and paint.

Inspect the indicator eye on the top of the battery, where a green color indicates 75 to 100 percent charge, black signifies 0 to 75 percent charge, and a clear or bright appearance indicates low electrolyte level.

If corrosion is evident, the battery should be removed for cleaning by loosening the cable clamp bolts and disconnecting the hold-down clamp bolt and nut. The cable clamps should be thoroughly cleaned with a battery brush or terminal cleaner and a solution of warm water and baking soda. The terminals and top of the battery case should be washed with the same solution, being careful not to let it get into the battery. The battery posts should be cleaned with a terminal cleaner if extensively corroded. All cleaned areas should be thoroughly washed with plain water.

Inspect the indicator eye on the top of the battery, where a green color indicates 75 to 100 percent charge, black signifies 0 to 75 percent charge, and a clear or bright appearance indicates low electrolyte level.

If corrosion is evident, the battery should be removed for cleaning by loosening the cable clamp bolts and disconnecting the hold-down clamp bolt and nut. The cable clamps should be thoroughly cleaned with a battery brush or terminal cleaner and a solution of warm water and baking soda. The terminals and top of the battery case should be washed with the same solution, being careful not to let it get into the battery. The battery posts should be cleaned with a terminal cleaner if extensively corroded. All cleaned areas should be thoroughly washed with plain water.

The external condition of the battery should be checked for any torn or damaged rubber protectors, corroded or loose connections, cracks in the case or cover, or loose hold-down clamps.