
Midtronics Inc. 7000 Monroe Street Willowbrook, IL 60527
www.midtronics.com 7
Chapter 1: IntroductionDSS-5000 HD
Test Preparation
Inspecting the Battery
Before starting the test visually inspect the battery for:
•Cracked, buckled, or leaking case. If you see any of these
defects, replace the battery.
•Corroded, loose, or damaged cables and connections. Re-
pair or replace them as needed.
•Corrosion on the battery terminals, and dirt or acid on the
case top. Clean the case and terminals using a wire brush
and a mixture of water and baking soda.
•Low electrolyte level. If the electrolyte level is too low, add
distilled water to ll up to ½ above the top of the plates
and fully charge the battery. Do not overll.
•Corroded or loose battery tray and hold-down xture.
Tighten or replace as needed.
Testing Out-of-Vehicle
The preferred battery test location is in the vehicle. However, if
you plan to test out of the vehicle:
•Always disconnect the negative cable from the battery
rst and reconnect it last.
•Always use a carry tool or strap to lift and transport the
battery.
Failure to properly install lead terminal adapters,
or using adapters that are dirty or worn, may
cause false test results.
When testing side-post or Group 31 batteries, always use lead
terminal adapters provided with the tester—do not test at
the battery’s steel bolts. To avoid damage, never use a wrench
to tighten the adapters more than ¼ turn.
Testing In-Vehicle
The preferred test position is at the battery posts. If you must
test at a remote-post location, it should have both a positive
and negative post. Otherwise, you must remove the battery
and perform an out-of-vehicle test.
At the start of the test, make sure all vehicle accessory loads
are o, the key is not in the ignition, and the doors are closed.
Connecting to a Battery
Do not connect the tester to a voltage source
greater than 30 Vdc.
Testing Individual Batteries
1. If the batteries have threaded studs, screw the negative (–)
stud adapter onto the negative terminal, and the positive
(+) adapter onto the positive terminal.
2. Connect the red clamp to the positive (+) terminal or
adapter.
3. Connect the black clamp to the negative (–) terminal or
adapter.
4. For a proper connection, rock the clamps back and forth.
Both sides of the clamp must be rmly connected before
testing. If the message CHECK CONNECTION appears,
clean the terminals and/or reconnect the clamps
Clamp connection to stud adapter
Clamp connection to stud pad
Testing A Battery Pack
1. At the start of the test, make sure all vehicle accessory
loads are o, the key is not in the ignition, and the doors
are closed.
2. Connect the clamps to the positive (+) and negative (–) ca-
bles that lead to the starter and chassis ground as shown. If
there are multiple cables, re-test for each cable connection.
3. For a proper connection, rock the clamps back and forth.
Both sides of the clamp must be rmly connected before
testing. If the message CHECK CONNECTION appears,
clean the terminals and/or reconnect the clamps.