Electrical - 12 Volt Battery Storage and Maintenance Info.
Classification:
EL09-004f
Reference:
NTB09-022f
Date:
April 29, 2015
12 VOLT BATTERY STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE FOR NEW VEHICLES IN DEALER INVENTORY
This bulletin has been amended. Several changes were made throughout this bulletin. Please discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
APPLIED VEHICLES:
All new (unsold) Nissan vehicles in dealer inventory
SERVICE INFORMATION
Design and process changes have been made to improve battery voltage at dealer receipt. Our goal is to deliver vehicles to customers with a 12 volt battery in excellent condition. Proper dealership storage and maintenance of vehicle 12 volt batteries is essential to insuring good battery operating life and customer satisfaction.
Dealers are responsible for maintaining vehicles in their inventory. 12 volt batteries in vehicle inventory should always be kept at a full charge to prevent excessive discharge during storage and so they are ready for delivery to customers at any time.
If 12 volt batteries in new vehicles are allowed to discharge for a prolonged period of time, battery life may be drastically reduced which can lead to premature replacement and customer dissatisfaction.
It is expected that each dealer will have a process to monitor and maintain battery State Of Charge (SOC) for vehicles in dealer inventory. NNA field representatives may request dealers to demonstrate their battery maintenance process and confirm its effectiveness.
The Midtronics EXP-800 or Midtronics GR8 must be used to obtain the Check-In printout. Refer to EXP-800 or GR8 for Check-In Test procedure.
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Effective 4/1/2015, testers must have SD cards installed to perform battery tests. Prior to this date, SD cards were not needed. After this date, testers will not perform without a SD card installed. For this reason, standard 4GB SD cards have been distributed to all dealers.
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Make sure the ignition is OFF, all doors closed, and then wait at least 30 seconds before starting battery testing.
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Make sure both tester cable clamps are securely attached to clean exposed battery terminals or connectors, ensuring a good electrical connection.
NOTE : In some instances when the tester cables do not have a good connection, or there is interference from the vehicle electrical systems, the testers can give a result showing good voltage (greater than 12.5V) and 0 CCA. If this result is observed and there are no signs of a weak battery when starting the vehicle, reattach the tester leads making sure they have a good connection, and recheck the battery. If subsequent testing provides the same result, replace the battery as directed.
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Testing a "cold" battery (below freezing) may result in incorrect test decisions. If a "REPLACE" decision is reached yet the vehicle starts without hesitation, perform a re-test after the vehicle (or battery only) has been in the shop overnight (to ensure the battery is warm enough [above freezing]).
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The EXP-800 is the first tool of choice for checking battery SOC due to its portability and ease of use. The GR8 may also be used.
Make sure both tester cable clamps are securely attached to clean exposed battery terminals or connectors, ensuring a good electrical connection.
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If the tester indicates that the battery requires a charge, use the GR8 and allow the tester to complete the charging process.
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A "REPLACE" decision after a long charging session may indicate the battery did not reach the SOC threshold (typically 80%) within the allocated time, not that it is a failed battery. Retesting the battery is likely to provide a more accurate result the second time.
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The use of the "customer override" function in Midtronics' diagnostic test mode is not permitted for batteries that are identified as needing a recharge during Pre Delivery Inspection (PDI) nor an option for PDI battery claims.
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The time allowance for the Check-In battery check is included in the total PDI flat rate time and will be reimbursed as part of the current PDI payment, even though the remainder of PDI activities may take place at a later time.
Negative battery cable disconnected: every 90 days.
NOTE :
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If a vehicle is moved, it will affect the battery SOC (very short drives reduce the battery SOC while long drives increase it).
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Anytime an engine is started, test the battery to confirm the SOC. If needed, charge the battery to replenish the power consumed when starting.
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Dealers should discontinue the practice of starting an engine to see if the battery is "good." Batteries may still start an engine even with a low SOC and the battery may be further damaged if the battery is not recharged after starting. Battery checks should always be performed with one of the approved testers.
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Disconnecting the negative battery cable reduces the chance of battery damage due to low SOC.
IMPORTANT : The battery must be fully charged before disconnecting the negative cable.
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For display vehicles, be sure to check and charge daily to avoid low voltage conditions.
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For accurate battery testing, use the EXP-800 or the GR8.
Battery charging should be done with an appropriate battery charger:
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The GR8 is recommended for charging Nissan batteries.
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The GR8 Diagnostic Charging program provides the best charging results for Nissan batteries.
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Any automotive battery charger set to a low charge rate can be used.
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Intelligent chargers with low charge rate and "pulsing" technology are preferred. Any charger used should have an automatic shut-off to prevent overcharging.
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Make sure both cable clamps are securely attached to clean exposed battery terminals/clamps, ensuring a good electrical connection.
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Idling the engine to charge the battery is NOT recommended since effectiveness is highly dependent on vehicle storage conditions such as temperature, vehicle type, and initial SOC.
NOTE :
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After any of the above charging methods, test the battery, using the EXP-800 or the GR8 "OK Verify" function, to confirm it is fully charged.
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Any time a battery is recharged or replaced; the EXP-800 or the GR8 "OK Verify" function should be run to confirm that the battery is returned to specification and that there are no other underlying vehicle issues. Retain the printout of these test results in the vehicle folder for future reference.
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A "REPLACE" decision after a long charging session may indicate the battery did not reach the SOC threshold (typically 80%) within the allocated time, not that it is a failed battery. Retesting the battery is likely to provide a more accurate result the second time.
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Make sure the ignition is OFF (dash lights are out) before exiting the vehicle.
Midtronics GR8 and EXP-800 Information
IMPORTANT :
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A feature was added to the Midtronics GR8 and EXP-800 testers to ensure the latest software is installed.
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Throughout the year, the testers will inform the user if an update is due and a warning countdown will be displayed (approximately a 5 day period).
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If updates are not performed within the countdown timeframe, the battery service functions will stop working until the update is installed.
Record Keeping
CLAIMS INFORMATION
Reference the current Nissan Assurance Products Resource Manual and the latest claims bulletins for battery claims procedures.
