Opel Astra, Zafira

Since 1998 of release

Repair and car operation

The storage battery - the general information, condition check, replacement, storage and commissioning

The general information

Established on the car 12-voltnaja the storage battery consists of six банок, containing positive and negative plates (ламели), lowered in a solution of sulfuric acid. The battery problem includes production of a current for start of the car, ignition, illumination, and also for other consumers of the electric power.

The battery possesses 100 percent efficiency at air temperature 27°С. At temperature-18°S efficiency falls to 40 percent, - start of the engine will demand twice more energy, than is spent at 27°С.

Starting capacity (starting current) shows ability of the accumulator to start the engine in the conditions of very cold weather. It is accepted to understand as the given characteristic a current in amperes which the battery is capable to give within 30 seconds at air temperature - 18°С without a power failure more low 7.2 In (a minimum level demanded for reliable start). The above this indicator, the more starting capacity of the accumulator.

Reserve capacity shows time in minutes during which the battery gives a current force 25 And at temperature 27°С, i.e. time during which the accumulator ensures functioning of all auxiliary consumers of the electric power of the car at night and in the conditions of bad weather at the faulty generator.

In winter conditions at air temperature-18°S and more low efficiency of additional charge of the battery sharply falls in connection with increase of internal resistance. At short trips in the winter the energy spent for start, is not restored, therefore the battery starts to work on deterioration, eventually, completely spending the charge.

In summer months after long trips the engine strongly heats up, and often happens that it is difficult for starting anew. Such «hot starts» sometimes demand as much capacity, how many and at cold weather, and sometimes even it is more. In a special measure the told concerns to высококомпрессионным to engines with the big working volume and the equipped conditioner of air to models.

Told once again underlines importance of correctness of a choice of the battery according to the requirements shown by the engine established on the car.

Check

Measurement of target pressure of the disconnected battery by means of the voltmeter

Replacement

Battery switching-off

On the car some systems demanding constant power supply are established. Switching-off of the storage battery inevitably leads to deleting of a control system stored in memory by the engine the information on optimum options, to switching-off of hours, to destruction of the security code entered into a radio receiver, etc. Before to make battery switching-off attentively familiarise with the recommendations resulted more low:

• On the models equipped with the uniform lock, do not forget to take from the lock of ignition and to put in a pocket a key, - at battery connection there will be an automatic lock-out of all doors.
• Battery switching-off will lead to deleting from memory ECM of all turned out adjusting parametres (except base installations). Number of such parametres concern: size of turns of idling, the maximum frequency of turns and codes of malfunctions of system of self-diagnostics. Before battery switching-off make reading diagnostic (the Electronic control system of ignition (and injection) petrol engines see). After connection all lost turned out options will be restored automatically, however for this purpose some time during which the engine can work astably in various modes is required to a control system. For acceleration of process of restoration, start the engine and warm up it to normal working temperature on single turns, then for 2 minutes lift frequency of rotation of the engine to 1200 rpm, then make a short trip (about 7 kilometres), constantly changing power setting, - as a result all options should be restored.
• If the storage battery has been disconnected at the included anticreeping alarm system, the system remains in the same mode and after battery connection, - at a corresponding complete set told equally concerns also to regular иммобилизатору the engine.
• On the models equipped with the travelling computer battery switching-off will lead also to removal of all user data brought while in service the computer.
• If the stereosystem established on the car is equipped by a security code before to disconnect the battery make sure that have a correct combination for equipment introduction in action. Details of introduction of a code and the instruction on using a radio tape recorder are resulted in the Head the Operation manual. In case of combination loss address for the help to experts of firm car repair shop Opel.

To avoid unpleasant consequences of switching-off of the storage battery it is possible by means of the external power supply, - detailed instructions for use are usually resulted by similar devices in the instruction on their operation. As a rule, such power supplies are connected to a nest прикуривателя then the regular battery can be easy disconnected. A current developed by a source should suffice for a food of memory of the module of management, prevention of blocking of a radio tape recorder and preservation of working capacity of hours.

Acquisition of the new battery

Probably, the most important, on what the buyer should pay attention, are performance data of the battery. Such characteristics three.

• The first - rated voltage, - it at all batteries identical, and it is impossible to be mistaken. At purchase it is desirable to check up the battery a loading plug.
• The second - the capacity measured in amperes/hours (Ach — А/h), and, roughly speaking, defining quantity of the electric power reserved in the battery. On capacity depends, as it is long possible to turn the engine a starter, more precisely, - how many can be made attempts of start of the engine. The battery price is mainly defined by its capacity.
• And the third characteristic - a starting current (it is measured in Amperes), i.e. a current submitted on a starter at start of the engine. The given parametre can be specified on batteries in four various ways: according to requirements of domestic standards (GOST), under standards of Uniform Europe (EN), under the American standard (SAE), or under the German standard (DIN). Standard DIN is closest to domestic STATE THAT and on the majority of batteries of the European manufacture is used "by default", i.e. without system instructions. The above the size of a starting current, the faster and with higher twisting moment a starter will turn the engine.

Most correctly to get the battery with those characteristics which are specified in the car maintenance instruction: so, - in this case it will serve longer and with the minimum expenses. It is possible to get from economy reasons the battery underestimated against demanded in the capacity, it however will serve less and will bring much more efforts at cold starts in a winter season. Battery acquisition большей in comparison with nominal capacity does not give a prize on term of its service since constant недозаряд will lead сульфатации plates. Use of the battery with excessively high starting current is fraught with burning of windings of a starter, - is much more effective in struggle against the complicated starts elementary replacement of impellent oil is.

Lately the country market is overflowed by the poor-quality goods and fakes. Storage batteries are not an exception. There are some signs on which it is possible to distinguish with enough split-hair accuracy the original from a fake. The first and, perhaps, the main thing: on the battery the country-manufacturer and letting out factory should be necessarily specified, it is better, if with the address. The second: the date of issue should be specified that in a special measure concerns batteries of the tight not requiring service. Characteristics sheet, and here instruction presence should be applied on each battery it is unessential. It is connected by that in the West batteries almost do not sell at retail, - they are established by experts on car repair shops. The third: the qualitative battery is inconceivable without the qualitative case, good stoppers and smooth выводных the plugs quite often covered with special greasing for protection against oxidation and covered from above with colour plastic caps.

Removal and installation

Removal

Installation

Installation is made in an order, the return to an order of dismantle of components.

Storage and commissioning

If refusal of using the car for the term of more than two months is planned, the storage battery should be removed and cleaned on storage. The optimum temperature of storage of the battery makes from 0 to +27°С. At these temperatures the battery self-category is minimum. In order to avoid irreversible destruction ламелей it is necessary to make gymnastics of the battery cleaned on storage not less often than once a month.

Besides a discharge not used battery is subject сульфатации. If to make gymnastics of such battery the device for a fast charge, she will not perceive зарядный a current, or as a result сульфатации is recharged also to the further use is not subject.

Before to refuse use by the failed battery, make following checks:

• Measure electrolit density (Routine maintenance see the Head), - if the difference between density in separate banks does not exceed 0.04 g/ml it is necessary to charge the battery normal зарядным the device.
• After a charge check up the battery under loading, - if characteristics of the battery below nominal (Specifications see), the battery is subject to replacement.
• If the electrolit density in one or in two next banks considerably differs (for example, in five sections it makes 1.16 g/ml, and in the sixth - 1.08 g/ml), in the battery take place short circuit and its further use is inexpedient.