1. Introduction

This document sets out the requirements for care and maintenance of batteries and thereby the standard of battery care at dealers and retailers for new vehicles

This applies to all types of 12 Volt Lead Acid Batteries used in Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles whether they are conventional flooded technology or Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM - also known as Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA)) technology and also applies to both Primary and Auxiliary Batteries. AGM batteries offer improved resistance to cycling as seen in stop start applications.

In order to prevent damage to the battery and ensure a satisfactory service life, all processes detailed within this document must be rigorously adhered to.

It is very important that all tests quoted throughout this publication are adhered to. If they are applied incorrectly batteries could be scrapped unnecessarily. Refer to the battery testing section for detailed information.

It is equally important therefore to note the following key points:

All new vehicles leave the factory with either a transit relay installed and/or have a transit mode programmed into the vehicle control modules. The transit relay must be removed and the transit mode disabled (where applicable) using an approved diagnostic system, NOT MORE THAN 24 HOURS before the customer takes delivery.
The battery can be discharged by the following mechanisms:
Self Discharge: -A lead acid battery will very slowly discharge itself due to its own internal chemical processes whether it is connected to a vehicle or not.
Quiescent Discharge: - The vehicle electrical systems when connected to the battery will draw charge from the battery.

12 Volt Lead Acid Batteries rely on internal chemical processes to create a voltage and deliver current. These processes and the internal chemical structure of the battery can be damaged if the battery is allowed to discharge over a number of weeks / months, or is left in a discharged state for a lengthy time period.

On vehicles with conventional ignition keys , these must not be left in the ignition lock barrel when the transit relay has been removed, otherwise quiescent current will increase and the battery will discharge more rapidly.
For keyless vehicles , the Smart Key must be stored at least 5m away from the vehicle when the vehicle is parked or stored.
AGM Batteries are fully sealed and cannot have the electrolyte level topped up.

NOTE: Dealers and retailers involved in the storage / handling of vehicles and replacement batteries have a responsibility to ensure that only a fully charged battery may be processed through the distribution selling chain.