Service Manual

Page 6
BaTTerY inforMaTion - general
The following procedure should be used to test the current draw from any battery
used in our vans.
1) Insure the battery is fully charged.
2) Remove the key from the ignition switch.
3) Close all the doors including the sliding doors and the rear tailgate.
4) Close all the windows including the rear vent windows.
5) Remove the negative (Black) cable from the battery and move it to a safe location
away from both the positive (Red) and negative terminals of the battery.
6) Acquire a Digital Multimeter with a 20 Amp current range function. NOTE: A
standard van can draw between 15 and 17 amps of current when it is first powered
up (When the battery is reconnected). You must use a multimeter with a 20 Amp
range. Using a Multimeter with a lower current range function will damage the
meter if it does not have an internal fuse. If it has an internal fuse, it will be blown.
NOTE: DO NOT RUN THE ROLLX VANS OTC OR TRY TO START THE VAN WHEN
YOU HAVE THE METER CONNECTED! YOU WILL DAMAGE THE METER!
7) Place the function switch of the Multimeter in the 20 Amp Current Measurement
position.
8) Connect the negative (black) probe (wire lead) to the black jack on the multimeter.
9) Most multimeters have more than one red jack for the positive (red) probe. They
usually have one jack for measuring AC & DC voltage and resistance, along with a
second Jack for measuring AC & DC Current. Some multimeters have more than
one red jack for measuring current (three red jacks total). As an example a meter
might have two red jacks, one rated for 200 Milliamps and a second for 20 Amps.
You should use the 20 Amp plug (or the one with the largest rating).
10) Acquire two test jumpers with alligator clips (Radio Shack # 278-002). Attach one
jumper to the positive (Red) probe and the other to the negative( Black) probe.
11) Turn the multimeter on.
12) Attach the other end of the jumper clipped on the positive (red) meter probe to the
disconnected battery cable.
NOTE: Polarity does not matter much when measuring current. A positive current
is the same as negative current. Disregard the polarity indicator on the multimeter
during these tests.
13) Attach the jumper on the negative (black) meter probe to the negative terminal of
the battery.
NOTE: YOU MAY GET A SPARK WHEN YOU ATTACH THE JUMPER. THIS IS
NORMAL. ALL THE CURRENT BEING USED BY THE VAN IS NOW RUNNING
THROUGH THE METER. AS MUCH AS 15-17 AMPS).