WARRANTY PURPOSE BATTERY CHARGING AND TESTING
MODELS/YEARS 1988-1989 ALL MODELS
This bulletin supersedes Dealer Management Bulletin 89-I-13 which may be discarded. Beginning with the 1989 model year, the dealer's responsibility for inspection and maintenance of batteries was revised. These revisions were communicated to all dealers in the 1989 Oldsmobile Service Policies and Procedures Manual. The following information will highlight the dealer's responsibility regarding battery inspection and maintenance.
NEW VEHICLE RECEIVING
Dealers are to check each vehicle's battery for the "green eye" as part of the new vehicle receiving inspection procedure. If the "green eye" is not visible, and physical damage is not evident, a notation is to be made on the Carriers Delivery Receipt in the "Underhood" battery box area using Damage Notation Code 02 36 6. The explanation "green eye not visible" must be written in the REMARKS section. If the cause of the discharged battery is other than an electrical problem covered by warranty, the battery is to be recharged and a Transportation Claim submitted for charging using labor operation number N0100 (Battery Test and Charge). Otherwise, the electrical repair is to be handled as explained later in this letter.
All GM Assembly Plants are taking necessary steps to assure that all vehicles leaving the plant have a properly charged battery and that the "green eye" shows.
NEW VEHICLE STORAGE AND BATTERY MAINTENANCE
Parasitic loads (drains) from the radio, clock, ECM, etc., will discharge batteries in vehicles not used for an extended period of time. Discharged batteries can freeze at temperatures as high as 32 Degrees F, resulting in permanent battery damage. Other permanent damage may also result from allowing batteries to stand discharged for extended periods.
To alleviate battery discharge, the negative battery cable should be disconnected on vehicles which are not going to be in service within 20-day period from the date the vehicle was shipped. If this is not possible, batteries should be recharged, every 20-45 days, until the "green eye" is visible. Immediately prior to delivery, the battery "eye" is to be checked once again and the battery recharged if the "green eye" is not visible. In addition, any electrical connections or fuses removed or disconnected to reduce parasitic loads should be reinstalled or connected just prior to delivery.
Disconnected batteries will slowly discharge, especially in higher ambient temperatures; therefore, even disconnected batteries should be checked for a "green eye" every four months and recharged, if necessary. Vehicles on display are subject to battery discharge due to drains from courtesy lights and other accessories. Provision to maintain a proper battery state of charge for these vehicles is necessary.
NOTES:
1. The ignition switch must be off when connecting battery cables or chargers. Failure to do so may overload or damage the ECM or other electronic components from voltage spikes which can occur during these operations.
2. Information concerning proper battery testing and charging procedures can be found in Dealer Technical Bulletin 89-T-39 and the Oldsmobile Service Guild, August, 1986.
3. Battery recharging, replacement or swapping of batteries due to damage or lack of maintenance are not covered by the vehicle warranty during the period of dealer inventory/storage.
Effective with dealer repair orders dated March 13, 1989 or later, Oldsmobile will no longer accept warranty claims for battery maintenance (Labor Operation Number N0100) while in dealer inventory/storage. If battery charging is necessary due to a drain caused by an electrical problem, the labor allowance (no more than .3 hour) for recharging the battery should be included as Other Labor Hours, on the claim line submitted for repair of the electrical problem. Authorization would not be required on this claim.
For example, a customer complaint of a dead battery may result from an inoperative door jamb switch that allowed the courtesy lamps to stay on. A proper claim submission would be N2174, "Right Front Door Jamb Switch-Replace", accompanied by .3 "Other Labor Hours" for battery charge and test if applicable.
Please communicate this information to your New Vehicle Receiving personnel, Sales Manager, Service Manager, PDI personnel, Claims Clerks and any other involved dealership personnel.
General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.
