32-009 FSB Battery Care and Maintenance

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Service Bulletin
32-009

Section
Cranking - 32

Description
Battery Care and Maintenance (Stock Trucks)

Release Date
11/6/2018

Introduction
Batteries in stock vehicles need the same care as batteries that are stored on the shelf of your Parts department. This information
applies to standard lead-acid 12 Volt starter batteries. Batteries stored for long periods of time without proper care may have reduced
performance, including reduced service life span.
This bulletin does not apply to the battery pack that powers Eaton's Hydrid drive systems, optional Optima Brand starter batteries, or
ComfortClass batteries made by Optima. Please refer to Peterbilt's warranty bulletin for Optima Batteries for their service information.
Preventive Maintenance Tips
The following preventive maintenance practices will help extend the battery's life.
A battery contains gas that is explosive and flammable which could
result in death or serious injury. A spark or flame near a battery on
charge may cause it to explode with great force. Follow these
guidelines carefully when recharging a battery:
Allow no sparks or open flame anywhere near the charging
area.
Charge a battery only in a well-ventilated area, such as
outdoors or in a fully open garage that contains no pilot
lights or other flames.
Always make sure the battery charger is OFF before
connecting or disconnecting the cable clamps.
Maintain the full level of electrolyte as recommended by the
battery manufacturer. This reduces the volume of gas in the
cells.
Batteries in storage should be tested at least every 30 days for state of charge.
For optimum performance, keep battery terminals and connections clean. Wash off acid deposits with a baking soda & water
solution, then rinse well with clear water.

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32-009 FSB Battery Care and Maintenance

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To avoid possible damage when cleaning the battery, do not allow
the soda/water solution to enter the battery cells.

Visually inspect the battery for broken or damaged covers, case, terminals, etc. Gas exit ports or manifolds on the cover should
be free of dirt & debris.
When charging a battery, disconnect the charger from the battery once the battery has attained full charge. Overcharging and
Excessive charging will shorten the battery life.

Starting a truck periodically in an effort to charge the batteries may not
fully restore the state of charge for the batteries.

Minimize key-off loads:
Turn off lights, radios, and other loads when the engine is off
Minimize inverter use
Connect aftermarket devices to the accessory or ignition busses when possible, instead of the battery
bus. Examples include telematics systems and creature comforts in the sleeper.
If the battery bus must be used, use the Battery LVD bus if this is safe. The LVD bus allows the
truck electrical system to protect the batteries by disconnecting loads as voltages drop.
Maintain battery connections regularly:
Clean connections that show signs of corrosion
Coat unsealed battery connections with a dielectric grease
Have a qualified technician make all electrical system modifications. Incorrect installation can result in excessive parasitic
draws on the batteries, leading to battery failure.
Ensure the charging system is functioning properly. A charging system with low output cannot maintain battery voltage,
resulting in shortened battery life. The reverse is also true, operating a chassis with poorly maintained/charged batteries
creates an excessive load on the charging system, resulting in shortened charging system life.

Situations to Avoid
Damaged batteries have less capacity, so they store less energy. This means fewer engine cranks, less power for
key-off loads, and a greater chance of a dead truck. Battery capacity can be measured with the Midtronics battery
tester available at all Peterbilt dealerships. See Midtronics DSS-5000 Battery Tester Kit to ensure the Midtronics
software is up-to-date. See the Midtronics DSS-5000 Battery Tester Kit tool page for additional details.
A well maintained battery will lose capacity slowly over time:
Battery Capacity VS. Time (Well Maintained)

However, some situations and conditions can rapidly damage a battery, causing accelerated loss of capacity:
Battery Capacity VS. Time (With a Rapid Damage Event)

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32-009 FSB Battery Care and Maintenance

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Avoid the situations below because they can accelerate the loss of capacity in standard 12V truck
batteries:
Leaving batteries in a discharged state. The lower the voltage, the faster
degradation occurs. Charge those batteries! A failing alternator can also cause
this condition.

Allowing system voltage to rise above 14.5V. Higher voltages increase gassing
within the battery. A failing alternator, or a battery charger set above 14.5V,
can both push system voltage above safe limits.

NOTE
AGM batteries are more sensitive to high voltages.
Allowing battery temperature to rise above 122°F (50°C). Higher temps accelerate
battery degradation. Very high temperatures can lead to excess water loss.

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NOTE
AGM batteries are more sensitive to high temperatures.
Allowing battery temperature to drop below freezing when the battery is deeply
discharged. Water in the discharged battery can freeze, and cause major
internal damage.

NOTE
AGM batteries are more resistant to freeze damage.

Warranty
Proper maintenance of batteries is a dealer’s responsibility while a vehicle is in stock, and the customer’s responsibility after the
vehicle is in service. In cold weather, it is important to ensure that batteries in new vehicles are fully charged before parking them
outside in the sales lot. Failed batteries in new vehicles that are not maintained as outlined in this bulletin are not warrantable.

Attachments
Use the links below to review the warranty on these different batteries:
East Penn (PACCAR Branded) Battery Warranty
NorthStar Battery Warranty Information
Mitsubishi (PACCAR branded) Starter Warranty
Odyssey Battery (EnerSys) Warranty Information
Optima Battery Warranty (non-PACCAR branded)
PACCAR Brand Products (Alternators, Batteries and Starters)

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