1998 Toyota Camry Owners Manual - Page 218

-Checking battery exterior Terminals Ground cable -Checking battery fluid NOTICE z Be sure the engine and all accessories are off before performing maintenance. z When checking the battery, remove the ground cable from the negative terminal ("-" mark) first and reinstall it last. z Be careful not to cause a short circuit with tools. z Take care no solution gets into the battery when washing it. CHECKING BY THE HYDROMETER Check the battery hydrometer color. Hydrometer color Condition Type A GREEN DARK CLEAR or LIGHT YELLOW Type B BLUE WHITE Good Charging necessary. Have battery checked by your Toyota dealer. Have battery checked by your Toyota dealer. Type A Green Dark Clear or light yellow Type B Blue White Red Hold−down clamp Check the battery for corroded or loose terminal connections, cracks, or loose hold−down clamp. a. If the battery is corroded, wash it off with a solution of warm water and baking soda. Coat the outside of the terminals with grease to prevent further corrosion. b. If the terminal connections are loose, tighten their clamp nuts-but do not overtighten. c. Tighten the hold−down clamp only enough to keep the battery firmly in place. Overtightening may damage the battery case. condition by the RED 219