The battery load management feature is designed to monitor the vehicle's electrical load and determine when the battery is in a heavy discharge condition. During times of high electrical loading, the engine may idle at a higher RPM setting than normal to make sure the battery charges. High electrical loads may occur when several of the following are on: headlamps, high beams, rear window defogger, fan at high speed, heated seats (if equipped), and engine cooling fans.

If your vehicle's battery remains in a heavy discharge condition for a long period of time, the fan, rear defogger, heated seats, and heated mirrors will be disabled and the DIC will display SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM. This can happen either under long periods of idling or low speed driving with high electrical loading, or in the event of a charging system fault. See DIC Warnings and Messages for more information.