How to Check/Refill the Battery Electrolyte in a Kia Spectra
- 1). Park your Spectra and turn the engine off. Pull the hood release handle located inside the vehicle under the instrument panel. Push the hood latch located under the hood to open the hood.
- 2). Locate the Spectra's battery, which is on the driver's side in the middle of the engine.
- 3). Determine whether you have a maintenance-free battery or a low-maintenance battery. They're easy to tell apart. While the maintenance-free battery is sealed, the low-maintenance battery contains six individual cells with removable vent caps.
- 4). Check the maintenance-free battery by using its hydometer. The readings may vary with the manufacturer, but typically a green eye means that the battery is properly charged with plenty of fluid, while a black eye means that the battery is low in charge and low in electrolyte fluid. A yellow eye means that the electrolyte and charge is so low that you'll need to replace your maintenance-free battery.
- 5). Remove the vent caps to check the battery electrolyte levels on the low-maintenance battery. You'll find an indicator line on the side of each of the six cells, and you should check each one. If the fluid isn't up to the indicator line, add distilled water to that cell.
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