General Information

The battery, starting, and charging systems operate with one another, and must be tested as a complete system. In order for vehicle to start and charge properly, all of components involved in these systems must perform within specifications.

See WIRING DIAGRAMS  for complete circuit descriptions and diagrams. When diagnosising any of these systems, it is important that you keep their interdependency in mind.

The diagnostic procedures used, include most basic conventional diagnostic methods to more sophisticated On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) built into Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Use of an induction ammeter, volt/ohmmeter, battery charger, carbon pile rheostat (load tester), and 12-volt test lamp may be required.

All OBD-sensed systems are monitored by PCM. Each monitored circuit is assigned a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC). The PCM will store a DTC in electronic memory for any failure it detects. See On-Board Diagnostic System Test  .