October 2018 | VehicleServicePros.com 19
Th e specifi c gravity of a battery refers to the
state of the electrolyte, which is a solution of 65
percent water and 35 percent sulfuric acid. Th is
solution is aff ected linearly by state of charge or
discharge, as well as temperature. Th e specifi c
gravity requires a proper ratio in order for the
chemical reaction to take place, so keeping the
electrolyte in balance is imperative to battery
health during temperature fl uctuation.
Another way to support
battery life is to simply use
less power. An easy way to do
this is to switch all incandescent
lights to LEDs. Today’s
LED lamps use only 10 to 30
percent of the amps needed
to illuminate incandescent
lamps, depending on the
application, Johnson says.
Additionally, LEDs require less
maintenance since they have
a much longer life cycle than
incandescent bulbs.
Maintaining batteries is a
large step in keeping electrical
systems in working order,
but electrical connections,
cables, wires and harnesses
should not be neglected. As
vehicles drive through road
salts and other chemicals
used to keep roads free from
ice, these substances spray up
and coat any exposed components,
leading to accelerated
corrosion of any connections
that have not been properly
prepared.
“Lighting and harness
maintenance will maximize
system utility and minimize
a fl eet’s exposure to failure,”
Johnson says.
Connection points are the
weakest locations in an electrical
system, and each one is a
potential avenue for moisture
to enter the system. A good
way to protect these weak
spots is to apply heat-shrink
moisture barriers to all electrical
connections upon taking
delivery of the vehicle.
Wiring and harness connectors
are commonly located in
areas exposed to high levels
of moisture, Johnson adds. If a
fl eet fi nds connectors in places
like just above or behind tires,
it is a good idea to add supplemental
protection like plastic
looms, moldings or tubing.
Technicians should pay
close attention to cables and
wiring that have been bent
during installation, since this
can cause fatigue in the protective
insulating layers. Cables
and wiring that make contact
with sharp metal edges, such
as when wires and cables pass through walls or
into body cavities, should be protected from fraying
and wearing through over time.
Finally, electrical connectors should all be
inspected regularly and the grease replenished
when required. Technicians should also apply
dielectric grease to grounding ring terminals that
are improperly connected to a frame member to
prevent a reaction between two diff erent metals.
Fuels and fluids
A major concern for all fl eets operating in
cold climates is how fl uids react to changes in
temperature. For diesel-powered engines, fuel
gelling, which clogs fuel lines and fi lters and
can completely disable a vehicle, is a major
concern. Other fl uids such as engine oil, transmission
fl uid and power steering fl uid become
more viscous in cold weather, making the engine
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