Introduction

Introduction

This information sets out, for the benefit of importers and dealers worldwide, requirements for the care and maintenance of batteries, from the vehicles despatch from the factory to its hand-over to the customer.

The clearly laid out and illustrated information guide importers and dealers through each stage of the vehicles receipt, storage, pre-delivery and customer hand-over. Like-wise this information can be used has a guide to the handling and care of batteries in service. It is vital to appreciate that unless each process is rigorously applied on all vehicles, the customer will receive a vehicle with a battery which will not provide a satisfactory service life.

It is very important that open circuit voltage and all other test results are adhered to. If they are applied incorrectly batteries could be scrapped unnecessarily.

It is equally important therefore to note the following key points:
- All new vehicles leave Jaguar Cars fitted with a transit relay and on certain models have fused circuits disabled. The transit relay must be removed and the fuses (where applicable) refitted
NOT MORE THAN 24 HOURS before the customer takes delivery.
- The battery will be damaged if it is allowed to slowly discharge over a number of weeks/months, or is left in a discharged state for a lengthy or indeterminable time period. For this reason the battery must be tested/re-charged if necessary every month, and MUST BE re-charged after every three month period of storage and update the vehicle history sheet.
- The battery, under no circumstances should be disconnected with the engine running because under these conditions the alternator can give a very high output voltage. This high transient voltage will damage the electronic components in the vehicle. Loose or incomplete battery connections may also cause high transient voltage.
- Ignition keys must not be left in the ignition lock barrel when the transit relay has been removed and the fuses re-installed, other wise quiescent current will increase and the battery will discharge more rapidly.

Both importers and dealers will appreciate their responsibility to ensure that only vehicles having a fully satisfactory battery may be processed further through the distribution selling chain.