Q: How Can a Routine Preventive Maintenance Program Ensure Quick and Reliable Battery Starts in Your Mercury Mariner?
A: It is very important to have a proper routine maintenance program for your vehicle's battery in order to guarantee that the engine starts quickly and dependably. The appropriateness of the equipment used for safe working must be verified before starting any battery maintenance work. Before you start, turn off all accessories and then switch off the engine. While servicing, make sure you disconnect the cables from the negative terminal of the battery and close it. Also, it produces hydrogen gas which is explosive and flammable hence one must keep away lighting matches; avoid smoking or even sparking around it. Charge battery in a well-ventilated area; be cautious with electrolyte containing poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid; do not let eyes or skin get into contact with it as well as prevent ingestion. Put on safety goggles and keep children away from area. The external condition of a battery should be checked up upon ensuring that there are intact protective covers while connections are not corroded or loose. When corrosion is present particularly around terminals, remove battery by first disconnecting ground cable. Rinse properly with water after scrubbing cable clamps & terminals using a warm water baking soda solution. During cleaning put on safety goggles as well as rubber gloves so that they don't touch corrosive cleaner solution inside them Ensure good condition of the battery tray & hold-down clamp and tighten securely clamps too where necessary when reinstalling a battery but don't over tighten hold down clamp bolts After reconnecting battery, idle strategy fuel trim has to be learned again by powertrain control module so that optimal performance can be achieved Spray these areas with a mixture of baking soda and water until bubbling ceases, rinse thoroughly, then apply zinc primer followed by paint to rusty body components Replaceable 1 or 2 amp slow-rate chargers are recommended for recharging batteries because it places minimal load on them when vehicles are driven less frequently For faster charging use charger at higher amperage, but not more than 1/10th of the amperage/hour rating of the battery although it may damage it if used in rapid boost charges; these are meant for an emergency only Trickle charger takes about 12 to 16 hours to charge a battery.