Battery - Maintenance Program: Overview
SI No. 311-2009PI No.
Date: March 1999
Distr. not SE
900, 9-3, 9000, 9-5
Battery maintenance program
Cars affected
9-3, 9-3CV and 9-5 from M1999 inclusive.
Background
This SI replaces all previously published information pertaining to battery maintenance.
If a battery is not maintained over a long period of time, its level of charge will gradually drop. The rate at which the level of charge drops depends mainly on how much current is being used by the car's electrical system. There is a certain amount of self-discharge even when the battery has been disconnected. This will increase with temperature.
If the battery is left with too low a level of charge for long periods, a chemical process will commence in which the battery acid gradually changes to water, corroding the battery plates. This corrosion process starts to be critical if the battery is left for about 2 weeks at a charge level below 65-75 % (corresponding to an unloaded battery voltage lower than approx. 12.4 volts). A battery with a low charge level can freeze even at 32°F (0°C), which will also damage the battery plates.
The damage that is then caused is permanent and cannot be corrected with normal battery recharging. As a result, the capacity and service life of the battery will be permanently impaired.
The objective of this maintenance program is to prevent this type of damage to the battery from ever occurring and thereby increasing the service life of the battery and, above all, to ensure the customer receives a battery that is in perfect condition.
Materials
Saab Battery Tester 311 P/N 86 12 525 $203.00
This tester will be issued as an essential special tool by Kent-Moore/SPx Corporation during March, 1999. You will be billed against your April parts statement.
Additional testers can be ordered directly from KentMoore at 1-800-345-2233 at this essential tool price while supplies last. When supplies are depleted, the price will be raised to $810.00 (non-essential price).
Parts required
Saab Battery tester 311.
The tester is available in two language versions:
Brief summary of the battery maintenance program
This program is a procedure for documenting the condition of the battery from the factory to the final customer.
Each car is provided with a battery card at the factory. After being approved for delivery, the battery is tested and the results entered on the battery card. The battery is tested using a new type of battery tester that can measure and assess its current capacity as well as its voltage.
A similar tester (Battery tester 311) will be delivered to all dealers as an essential tool and is to be used at every link in the distribution chain. This tester provides a read-out of the test results as well as a test code containing all the test values.
The battery should be tested once a month during the distribution phase from the factory to the dealer as well as when the car is in storage at the dealer. The test code results are to be entered on the battery card, along with odometer reading and date..
Demonstration cars (e.g. in showrooms, etc.) should be tested once a week.
If the battery requires charging, Battery tester 311 will indicate this. The battery should be charged as soon as possible and then the battery card should be updated with new test values.
When the car is delivered to the final customer at the Dedicated Delivery, the battery status should be registered in the customer's Warranties and Service Record Booklet in the form of a code together with the odometer reading and date.
NOTE:
In the event of a warranty claim, the test code from Battery tester 311 must be entered on the warranty claim in the SysID/diagnostic code fields for the claim to be processed.
Battery tester 311
Battery tester 311 is manufactured by Midtronics Inc. in the USA and uses a patented method of conductance measurement-with the ability of measuring not only the battery voltage but also the current capacity of the battery. Saab Automobile AB has judged this tester to be the most suitable test instrument available on the market for this type of maintenance program. By using this tester, a uniform battery test method can be achieved on Saab markets all over the world.
Battery tester 311 is available in two language versions (see Parts required), each with six languages to facilitate handling.
Handling is simple as only four keys are used:
Through a specially adapted Saab measuring program, the tester presents the test results in the form of a test code consisting of 8 characters.
The tester requires no power source of its own but is supplied by the battery it is connected to while testing.
Only 12 V starting batteries can be tested. The tester can also be used to test batteries in the Saab 900 and 9000. Saab warranties the tester for a period of one year. During this warranty period, a defective instrument can be sent to Kent-Moore/SPx Corporation following normal tool warranty rules.
Important
Test cables must not be repaired or replaced with other cables as the instrument and its test cables have been calibrated as a unit.
Incorrect values will be obtained if other test cables are used, for example from another battery tester.
If the test cables or the instrument are in need of repair, both items must be returned at the same time.
Due to this calibration, tester connections must be made at the battery terminals or posts. Any other connecting points will result in a false reading.
Battery card
The objective of the battery card is to enable the condition of the battery to be documented from the factory to the final customer. The card is identified with the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and is placed in the glove compartment when the car leaves the assembly line. The first test is registered on the battery card after the car has been approved for delivery from the factory and then it accompanies the car until it reaches the final dealer. On delivery to the final customer, the card should be retained by the dealer together with the other vehicle documents.
The battery card must be updated each time the battery is checked at each link in the distribution chain as described below. The number refers to the corresponding area on the battery card, see illustration.
1 Vehicle (Dealer Reference No.)
For the dealer's use (Stock No., location, etc.).
2 VIN
The Vehicle Identification Number printed at the factory.
Factory
This section is completed at the factory once the battery has been approved for delivery.
3 Battery OK Date
The date the battery was checked and confirmed to be OK in the factory prior to delivery (Customer Care).
4 Code
Battery test code according to the battery test conducted at the factory. Initially, this code will be replaced with the recorded CCA value. Once the second generation of test equipment has been introduced in the factory, this test code will fully correspond with the test code obtained from Battery tester 311.
5 Battery type - CCA(SAE)
The marked box indicates the size of the Factory-fitted battery in CCA ("Cold Cranking Amps") according to the SAE standard.
Distribution (Ports-of-Entry)
This section is used for battery tests carried out between the time that the car received delivery approval at the factory until the point in the distribution chain when the dealer takes over responsibility for maintaining the battery.
6 Date
The date the battery was tested is entered here. Normally, the battery is tested once a month.
7 Code
The test code obtained from Battery tester 311 is entered here.
8 Message - Action
The test message obtained from the Battery tester 311 is entered here together with any action that has been taken.
Note
If charging is necessary - Test the battery and update the battery card with the test code and message when the battery has been charged.
Pre Delivery Inspection (PDI)
The result from the battery test when the dealer takes over responsibility for maintaining the battery is registered on this line. This stage in the distribution chain varies slightly depending on the market but normally takes place in connection with the predelivery inspection. (See also under the heading "Pre Delivery Inspection (PDI)".)
9 Date
The date the battery was tested is entered here. Normally, the battery is tested once a month. Demonstration vehicles in showrooms or similar vehicles should be tested weekly.
10 Code
The battery test code obtained from the Battery tester 311 is entered here.
11 Message - Action
The test message obtained from the Battery tester 311 is entered here together with any action that has been taken.
Note
If charging is necessary - Test the battery and update the battery card with the test code when the battery has been charged.
Note
The battery test code is required for all battery replacements during the warranty period.
Dealer
The result from each battery test carried out while the dealer is responsible for maintaining the battery is registered in this section, i.e. until the car is delivered to the final customer.
12 Date
The date the battery was tested is entered here. Normally, the battery is tested once a month. Demonstration vehicles in showrooms or similar vehicles should be tested weekly.
13 Code
The test code obtained from the Battery tester 311 is entered here.
14 Message - Action
The test message obtained from the Battery tester 311 is entered here together with any action that has been taken.
Note
If charging is necessary - Test the battery and update the battery card with the test code and message when the battery has been charged.
Note
The test code is required for warranty claims.
Battery card filing system
Besides the Battery tester 311 and the battery card, each dealer is required to have a system for keeping track of which cars require testing or charging respectively. We recommend a loose-leaf binder system with four sections marked as follows:
1. CHARGE
For battery cards from cars requiring charging according to the test message obtained from the Battery tester 311.
2. SHOWROOM
For battery cards from cars displayed in showrooms, etc. These cars have a noticeably higher current consumption and therefore require weekly testing.
3. UNEVEN MONTH
4. EVEN MONTH
These files are used for cars in storage. When the car has arrived at the dealer, the battery is tested and the result entered on the battery card, which is placed in the file corresponding to the next battery test (within one month).
It is important that every dealer has a functional system so that the car (and its respective key) containing the battery that is next in turn to test/charge can be found easily.
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