Title: Module 5: Battery Maintenance & Replacement - Quiz
Course: ASE A6 Battery Service > Section: Module 5: Battery Maintenance & Replacement

Q: When removing a battery from a vehicle, which cable should be disconnected first?
- Positive cable
- Negative cable
- Either cable — the order does not matter
- The smaller of the two cables
A: Negative cable
Feedback: Always disconnect the negative cable first. This de-energizes the chassis ground, preventing accidental shorts if a wrench contacts the body/frame while removing the positive cable.

Q: Technician A says white powder on a battery terminal is copper sulfate. Technician B says green powder on a battery cable clamp is copper sulfate from acid reacting with the copper. Who is correct?
- Technician A only
- Technician B only
- Both Technician A and Technician B
- Neither Technician A nor Technician B
A: Technician B only
Feedback: White powder on the terminal is lead sulfate (PbSO4) from acid reacting with the lead post. Green/blue powder on cable clamps is copper sulfate from acid reacting with the copper in the clamp. Technician B is correct; Technician A has the substance wrong.

Q: What fluid should be added to a flooded battery when the electrolyte level is low?
- Tap water
- Sulfuric acid
- Distilled water
- Electrolyte replacement solution
A: Distilled water
Feedback: Only distilled water should be added. Tap water contains minerals that contaminate the plates. Acid should never be added because only water is lost during electrolysis — the acid remains. Adding acid would over-concentrate the electrolyte and damage the plates.

Q: The maximum acceptable voltage drop across the positive battery cable during cranking is:
- 0.1V
- 0.3V
- 0.5V
- 1.0V
A: 0.5V
Feedback: The maximum acceptable voltage drop across the entire positive cable (battery post to starter terminal) is 0.5V. The negative cable maximum is 0.3V. Any single connection point should not exceed 0.1V.

Q: Technician A says a missing battery hold-down can cause the battery case to crack from vibration. Technician B says a missing hold-down can cause internal plate welds to break from vibration. Who is correct?
- Technician A only
- Technician B only
- Both Technician A and Technician B
- Neither Technician A nor Technician B
A: Both Technician A and Technician B
Feedback: Both are correct. Without a hold-down, the battery vibrates during driving. This vibration can crack the case externally and break the internal connections (plate-to-strap welds) that link the plates within each cell group.

Q: When installing a replacement battery, the correct cable connection order is:
- Negative cable first, then positive cable
- Positive cable first, then negative cable
- Either cable — the order does not matter
- Connect both cables simultaneously
A: Positive cable first, then negative cable
Feedback: Connect the positive cable first, then the negative. With only the positive connected, if a wrench accidentally contacts the frame while connecting the negative, you are simply completing the normal ground path — no dangerous short occurs.

Q: A technician is testing the negative battery cable with a voltage drop test during cranking. The reading is 0.6V. What should the technician do?
- This reading is acceptable — no action needed
- Clean or replace the cable — the reading exceeds the 0.3V maximum
- Recharge the battery and retest
- Replace the starter motor
A: Clean or replace the cable — the reading exceeds the 0.3V maximum
Feedback: The maximum acceptable voltage drop on the negative cable is 0.3V. A reading of 0.6V indicates excessive resistance in the ground circuit. The technician should isolate the resistance by testing individual connection points and clean or replace the cable as needed.

Q: Technician A says baking soda solution can be poured directly into a flooded battery cell to clean internal corrosion. Technician B says baking soda should never enter a battery cell because it neutralizes the sulfuric acid electrolyte. Who is correct?
- Technician A only
- Technician B only
- Both Technician A and Technician B
- Neither Technician A nor Technician B
A: Technician B only
Feedback: Baking soda must never enter a battery cell. It neutralizes the sulfuric acid electrolyte, permanently reducing that cell's ability to produce voltage. Baking soda is only used externally to clean terminal and case corrosion.

Q: A vehicle's battery tray is corroded and rusted through. Technician A says this is caused by acid overflow from overfilling the battery. Technician B says the corroded tray should be replaced because it cannot properly support the battery. Who is correct?
- Technician A only
- Technician B only
- Both Technician A and Technician B
- Neither Technician A nor Technician B
A: Both Technician A and Technician B
Feedback: Both are correct. Acid overflow from overfilling (or overcharging) is a common cause of battery tray corrosion. A rusted-through tray cannot safely support the battery's weight (30-50 lbs) and should be replaced.

Q: On modern vehicles with a Battery Management System (BMS), what must be done after installing a new battery?
- Disconnect and reconnect the battery three times to reset the BMS
- Drive the vehicle for at least 30 minutes to allow the BMS to adapt
- Use a scan tool to register the new battery with the vehicle's control module
- No additional steps are required — the BMS detects the new battery automatically
A: Use a scan tool to register the new battery with the vehicle's control module
Feedback: Many modern vehicles (2008+) require battery registration using a scan tool. The BMS must be informed that a new battery is installed so it can reset its charging strategy. Without registration, the module may overcharge or undercharge the new battery based on the old battery's degradation profile.

Q: A customer's vehicle has an AGM battery in a start-stop system. The battery has failed and the customer asks to install a less expensive flooded battery instead. What should the technician advise?
- A flooded battery is an acceptable substitute and will work fine
- A flooded battery should not be used because it cannot handle the deep cycling demands of a start-stop system
- A flooded battery is better because it can be serviced with distilled water
- Any battery with the correct CCA rating will work regardless of type
A: A flooded battery should not be used because it cannot handle the deep cycling demands of a start-stop system
Feedback: Start-stop systems require AGM batteries because they handle deep cycling, recover charge faster after engine restart, and resist vibration. A flooded battery cannot withstand the frequent charge/discharge cycles of a start-stop system and will fail prematurely.

Q: The correct electrolyte level in a flooded battery cell is:
- Completely full to the top of the cell opening
- At the bottom of the fill ring (split ring), approximately 1/4 inch above the plates
- Halfway between the plates and the vent cap
- Just barely covering the tops of the plates
A: At the bottom of the fill ring (split ring), approximately 1/4 inch above the plates
Feedback: The correct level is at the bottom of the fill ring (split ring) visible inside the cell opening, approximately 1/4 inch above the plate tops. Overfilling causes electrolyte overflow during charging; underfilling exposes the plates to air and heat damage.

Q: A technician finds a battery with a swollen case and acid residue around the vent caps. The battery reads 12.8V. What is the most likely cause?
- The battery is undercharged
- The battery has been overcharged, causing excessive gassing and internal pressure
- The battery is the wrong group size for the vehicle
- The hold-down is too tight
A: The battery has been overcharged, causing excessive gassing and internal pressure
Feedback: A swollen case with acid residue around the vent caps indicates overcharging. Overcharging causes excessive electrolysis (gassing), which increases internal pressure and forces acid out through the vents. The voltage may read normal or high. The charging system should be tested, and the battery should be replaced.

Q: A memory saver (KAM saver) is used during battery replacement to:
- Charge the new battery while the old one is being removed
- Provide backup power to preserve electronic module settings and learned values
- Protect the vehicle from voltage spikes during cable connection
- Test the alternator output before connecting the new battery
A: Provide backup power to preserve electronic module settings and learned values
Feedback: A memory saver provides low-voltage backup power through the OBD-II port or cigarette lighter while the battery is disconnected. This preserves radio presets, power window positions, idle adaptation, transmission shift values, and security codes that would otherwise be lost.

Q: Technician A says the typical torque for a top-clamp style battery hold-down is 3-5 ft-lbs. Technician B says over-tightening the hold-down can crack the battery case. Who is correct?
- Technician A only
- Technician B only
- Both Technician A and Technician B
- Neither Technician A nor Technician B
A: Both Technician A and Technician B
Feedback: Both are correct. Top-clamp style hold-downs are typically torqued to 3-5 ft-lbs — firm enough to prevent movement but not so tight that the clamp deforms or cracks the battery case. Over-tightening is a common cause of case damage.