Battery Maintenance

Content Source: 2021 550 Indy 144 Owner’s Manual (9931273 R01) > Maintenance Chapter

IMPORTANT

The Owner's Manual for this vehicle contains warnings, instructions and other information you must read and fully understand before safely riding or performing maintenance on this vehicle.Always follow the warnings and instructions in Owner's Manual.

Click the CONTENTS link above for the Table Of Contents, or download a full PDF of the Owner Manual in the Owner Support area of Polaris.com

Battery Maintenance

Keep battery terminals and connections free of corrosion. If cleaning is necessary, remove the corrosion with a stiff wire brush. Wash with a solution of one tablespoon baking soda and one cup water. Rinse well with tap water and dry off with clean shop towels. Coat the terminals with dielectric grease or petroleum jelly.

WARNING

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65 WARNING:

Batteries, battery posts, terminals and related accessories can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

WARNING

Battery electrolyte is poisonous. It contains sulfuric acid. Serious burns can result from contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Antidote:

External: Flush with water.
Internal: Drink large quantities of water or milk. Follow with milk of magnesia, beaten egg, or vegetable oil. Call physician immediately.
Eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes and get prompt medical attention.

Batteries produce explosive gases.

Keep sparks, flame, cigarettes, etc. away. Ventilate when charging or using in an enclosed space. Always shield eyes when working near batteries.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Battery Removal

Remove the right side panel to access the battery. See Hood/Side Panel.
Disconnect the black (negative) battery cable first.
Disconnect the red (positive) battery cable last.
Remove the battery.

Battery Installation

When installing a new battery, make sure it's fully charged prior to its initial use. Using a new battery that has not been fully charged can damage the battery and result in a shorter life. It can also hinder vehicle performance. Follow the battery charging instructions outlined in this owner’s manual before installing the battery.

Ensure that the battery is fully charged.
Set the battery in the battery holder.
Connect and tighten the red (positive) cable first.
Connect and tighten the black (negative) cable last.
Verify that cables are properly routed.
Reinstall the side panel.

Battery Identification

IMPORTANT

It is important to identify what type of battery is installed in the vehicle. Different types of batteries require different service procedures. Proper servicing and upkeep of the battery is very important for maintaining long battery life.

The types of batteries are:

Lead Acid Conventional
Dry Shipped Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)
Lead Acid Low Maintenance
AGM Low Maintenance

Refer to the examples below to identify the type of battery in your vehicle.

LEAD ACID CONVENTIONAL / DRY SHIPPED AGM BATTERY

The battery is NOT activated when packaged
A removable cap plugs / strip is located on top of the battery
Distilled water is added as required (Lead Acid only)
A vent tube is located on the side of battery (Lead Acid only)

LOW MAINTENANCE BATTERY

The battery is activated when packaged
Non removable cap(s) is / are located on top of the battery
Distilled water or electrolyte is NEVER added

Battery Charging

To ensure your battery maintains its level of charge, the battery should be connected to a battery tender/trickle charger using the battery tender port

Check the battery voltage with a voltmeter or multimeter. A fully charged battery will register 12.8 V or higher.
If the voltage is less than 12.8 volts, recharge the battery at 1.2 amps or less until the battery voltage is 12.8 or greater using the battery tender port .

RESTRICTION

When using an automatic charger, refer to the charger manufacturer's instructions for recharging. When using a constant current charger, use the following guidelines for recharging.

WARNING

An overheated battery may explode, causing severe injury or death. Always watch charging times carefully. Stop charging if the battery becomes very warm to the touch. Allow it to cool before resuming charging.

TIP

Always verify battery condition before and 1-2 hours after the end of charging.

State of Charge	Voltage	Action	Charge Time*
100%	12.8-13.0 volts	None, check at 3 mos. from date of manufacture	None required
75%-100%	12.5-12.8 volts	May need slight charge, if no charge given, check in 3 months	3-6 hours
50%-75%	12.0-12.5 volts	Needs charge	5-11 hours
25%-50%	11.5-12.0 volts	Needs charge	At least 13 hours, verify state of charge
0%-25%	11.5 volts or less	Needs charge with desulfating charger	At least 20 hours
*Using constant current charge @ standard amps specified on top of battery.

Off Season Storage

NOTICE

If the battery is stored during the winter months, electrolyte will freeze at higher temperatures as the battery discharges. The chart below indicates freezing points by specific gravity.

Specific Gravity of Electrolyte	Freezing Point
1.265	-75° F
1.225	-35° F
1.200	-17° F
1.150	+5° F
1.100	+18° F
1.050	+27° F

Lead Acid Conventional Battery Maintenance

Recharge the battery to its full capacity every 30 to 60 days.

If the battery is stored or used in a partially charged condition, hard crystal sulfation will form on the plates, reducing the efficiency and service life of the battery.

caution

NEVER add electrolyte to the battery once the battery is in service.

If necessary, only add distilled water to the battery .

Store the battery in the vehicle with the cables disconnected, or store the battery in a cool / dry location. Batteries will self discharge more rapidly when stored in extreme temperatures.

Dry Shipped AGM Battery Maintenance

caution

NEVER add electrolyte or distilled water to the battery once the battery is in service.

If you do not drive the vehicle for more than TWO weeks, maintain the Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery with the BatteryMINDer® 2012 AGM - 2 AMP charger (or a similar charger).

BatteryMINDer® 2012 AGM - 2 AMP battery charger

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If you plan to store the vehicle for ONE month or longer, remove the battery from the vehicle and store the battery in a cool / dry location. Continue to maintain the battery with the 2 AMP charger and inspect the battery every 60 days.

Lead Acid Low Maintenance Battery Maintenance

Recharge the battery to its full capacity every 30 to 60 days.

If the battery is stored or used in a partially charged condition, hard crystal sulfation will form on the plates, reducing the efficiency and service life of the battery.

caution

NEVER add electrolyte or distilled water to the battery. Doing so will damage the case and shorten the life of the battery.

Store the battery in the vehicle with the cables disconnected, or store the battery in a cool / dry location. Batteries will self discharge more rapidly when stored in extreme temperatures.

AGM Low Maintenance Battery Maintenance

caution

NEVER add electrolyte or distilled water to the battery. Doing so will damage the case and shorten the life of the battery.

If you do not drive the vehicle for more than TWO weeks, maintain the Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery with the BatteryMINDer® 2012 AGM - 2 AMP charger (or a similar charger).

BatteryMINDer® 2012 AGM - 2 AMP battery charger

2830438

If you plan to store the vehicle for ONE month or longer, remove the battery from the vehicle and store the battery in a cool / dry location. Continue to maintain the battery with the BatteryMINDer® 2012 AGM - 2 AMP charger (or a similar charger) and inspect the battery every 60 days.