1997 Lexus SC 400 Owners Manual - Page 242

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS Checking battery exterior NOTICE S Make sure the engine and all accessories are turned off before performing maintenance. S When checking the battery, remove the ground cable first and reinstall it last. S Be careful not to cause a short circuit with tools. S Take care no solution gets into the battery when washing it. Check the battery for corroded or loose connections, cracks, or loose hold-down clamps. 1. If the battery is corroded, wash it off with a solution of warm water and baking soda. Coat the terminals with grease to prevent further corrosion. 2. If the connections are loose, tighten the clamp bolts - but do not overtighten. 3. Tighten the hold-down clamp only enough to keep the battery firmly in place. Overtightening may damage the battery case. Checking battery fluid There are 2 types of batteries: maintenance type and non-maintenance type. A non-maintenance battery has "MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY" on its top. A maintenance type battery does not have such indication. Maintenance type battery Check the fluid condition by the fluid level lines on the side of the battery. Or if the battery has a hydrometer on its top, you can also check the hydrometer. Non-maintenance battery Check the battery condition by the hydrometer on top of the battery. 233