Battery Maintenance How do I maintain my battery?

Depends how long the unit has been just 'sitting' without being used! My neighbour had a similar problem after leaving his for over a year unused. The battery that's in it simply died. In order to maintain these units in good working order they need to be used regularly - that is charged and discharged. The unit may need a new battery I'm afraid!

The only thing which comes to my mind is BAD fuel.

I would recommend having the battery tested to see if you don't have a dead cell or something. Also, if you filled the battery with distilled water, it is not a gel cell, or a maintenance free battery. The life of these "maintenance" batteries are typically 1 year, and would be best to replace every season. Furthermore, to extend the life of your battery, I strongly suggest getting a BATTERY MAINTAINER from either your local parts store, harbor freight tools, or motorcycle shop. These are not very expensive, and usually run about $40.00-$60.00. Much cheaper than replacing batteries all the time. I have a gel-cell that I run in my 1989 Yamaha Virago, and using the maintainer, it's going on the 3rd year in the bike. My battery stays so hot, that I can jump other bikes with ease. Hope this helps.

Sometimes it is more expensive to fix the problem with the generator charging system than purchase a small 12v battery charger. I would purchase a 12v small battery charger (5A) that you can keep plugged into your house hold power. This will maintain the battery at full charge so it is ready to start when you need it.

Check your main egnie ground (block to frame) for corrosion. You can get a battery tender float charger to maintain the perfect charge on the battery but it sounds like you may have a ground problem.

· Automatically switches from full charge to maintenance mode to maintain batteries during prolonged periods of storage without overcharging or damaging the battery

[CHANGE YOUR CMOS BATTER WHICH IS INSIDE YOUR CPU CASE]
I do not think you fixed the CMOS battery - (backup battery = CMOS battery)
According to the error codes, you have a dead backup battery and the time is not set. Makes sense?
161
(Dead battery.) 1. Go to Checking the Backup Battery
2. Backup battery.
3. System board.
163
(Time and date were not set.) 1. Set time and date.
2. System board.


Go to www.ibm.com Find and download the user manual, and the "hardware maintenance manual."
Do you know how to get into bios/setup?

Start with the machine OFF. HOLD DOWN and CONTINUE TO HOLD THE "F1" key.
WHILE STILL HOLDING "F1", turn the power on, and CONTINUE TO HOLD "F1"
This will get you into the bios "setup." You should check the date, bootup order, etc, and reset.
I would check the "wire" you think you reconnected---you may just not have actually reconnected it.
The "hardware maintenance manual" shows you how to maintain this machine, and it explains the meaning of the error codes.

This will get you started on looking for the manual:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/multiplefiledownload.do?validate=true

If you had the choice and are sure that the maintainer will last till you're back, then I would recommend the maintainer as it would be a hasle to reprogram all your settings if you disconnect your battery.
Cheers.

Is there something in the way of the battery that would make it more difficult to remove and replace than normal. If not NO. Most auto part stores offer free instalation now. Also if you are not going to maintain your battery yourself, get a sealed battery or no maintenance battery.

tepfy

Follow these guidelines every three to six months to extend the life of your low-maintenance Interstate battery: 1) Maintain Water Level. If your battery has removable vent caps, you should regularly check the water level and add water when it is low. 2) Keep Terminals Clean. Visually inspect the terminals and cables at least once a year, especially in hot temperatures, for signs of corrosion. If dirty or corroded, clean the connections with a scraper and wire brush. This will ensure a good connection and proper starting. 3) Keep Case Clean. Keep the top of the battery clean of heavy dirt and oil with a cloth dampened by ammonia or a 50/50 solution of baking soda and water. Then rinse with clear water and allow to thoroughly dry. 4) Keep Battery Charged. If your vehicle is not driven weekly, it may be necessary to charge your battery before use. Lack of use is hard on a battery, especially an automotive battery which is designed to be charged regularly by an alternator. Any unused battery, regardless of its chemistry, will self-discharge over time and, if allowed to remain discharged, will undergo severe positive grid corrosion and battery failure. The rate of discharge depends on the type of battery and the storage temperature. So, it's important to keep your battery charged. If you prefer that your mechanic take care of your battery, be sure to ask him to maintain the water level and to keep the connections and case clean of corrosion and dirt.