2024 Battery Ratings Chart and Battery Maintenance Update

The latest Original Equipment (OE) Battery Ratings chart for the 2024 model year is now available under the Reference Charts menu for use when testing OE batteries. (Fig. 1)

 

Fig. 1

 

The chart includes SAE cold cranking amperage (CCA), amp hours (AH) and reserve capacity (RC) ratings along with battery type specifications. The 2024 model year chart, available below (Fig. 2), as well as charts for earlier model years can be easily printed using the browser’s print function.

 

Fig. 2

 

Entering the correct battery CCA ratings and battery type when using the EL-52800 Diagnostic Charge Battery Station (DCBS) or the EL-50313 Midtronics GR8 Battery Tester/Charger is critical for proper test results. If the original/factory battery has been replaced, access the current battery label to view the battery type and CCA, as it may not match the OE specifications. Selecting the incorrect battery type or CCA rating when using the DCBS or GR8 may result in battery damage or a “Battery is bad” result on a good battery, leading to a good battery being replaced unnecessarily.

For more information on replacement batteries, refer to the Electronic Parts Catalog.

For more details on proper battery testing, refer to the appropriate Service Information. Go to General Information > General Information > Specifications > 12 Volt Battery Usage for battery specs on 2019 and later model years.

Battery Testing Requirements

Keep in mind the following tips to ensure the proper processes are completed to support battery replacement and successful warranty claim submission.

• Validate whether the battery in the vehicle is the OE battery or a replacement battery, and then proceed with warranty handling accordingly.
• Accurately enter job card and vehicle information using the DCBS or GR8 battery tester.
• 6-digit BAC
• Last 8 or Full VIN (use VIN scan feature on the DCBS)
• Job card number
• Leading zero(s) must be added to job card numbers if needed in order to achieve the 5-digit minimum for the DCBS or 6-digit minimum character limit for the GR8. Do not enter leading spaces or letters. Example: If the job card number is 1234, the input would be 01234 in the DCBS or 001234 in the GR8.
• For job card numbers with a leading prefix, input only the values after the prefix and add leading zero(s) to achieve the minimum character limit of the job card field. Example: If the job card number is 01-2345, the input would be 02345 in the DCBS or 002345 in the GR8.
• Select the correct battery information (located on the label of the battery being tested).
• Battery Type (Flooded or AGM)
• Rated CCA
• Perform the battery test in Diagnostic Mode only, connecting directly to the battery posts.
• GR8 – Select Charging > Diagnostic > In Vehicle; and perform Out of Vehicle test.
• DCBS – Select Diagnostic > Trolley; and perform Battery Terminals test.
• Verify that the test result shows a 15-digit Warranty Code (GR8) (Fig. 3, A) or 20-digit Warranty Code (DCBS) (Fig. 3, B) prior to warranty battery replacement. Attach the printout to the job card.

 

Fig. 3

 

For more information on battery testing and warranty replacement requirements, refer to Bulletin #20-NA-132.

Battery Maintenance Report

U.S. dealerships should refer the Battery Maintenance Report to identify new vehicles in dealer inventory that require attention. The report, which is updated every day, indicates if a battery charge is needed or if a vehicle has remained dormant for an extended period and is no longer transmitting battery state of health (SOC) information. The report will identify the specific vehicles in dealer inventory that require action be taken —“Charge 12V Battery,” “Plug in High Voltage Charger,” or “Start and Move.”

GM recommends that dealerships monitor the report once per week, such as every Monday. The report is available through the Dealer Maxis application in GlobalConnect. In the app, select the Battery Maintenance Report tile. After taking action on a particular vehicle, it may take up to five days for the vehicle to be removed from the report.

If the battery SOC is less than 50% of its full capacity — approximately 12.1 volts — the VIN will appear on the report. Vehicles on the report that require a battery charge should be charged using the DCBS or GR8 battery tester/charger in the Diagnostic Trolley mode on the DCBS or the Diagnostic Charge mode on the GR8. Do not use the PDI mode to charge the battery. It will only charge for 20 minutes and will not provide enough charge.

TIP: GM recommends cycling the ignition every time after charging a vehicle to reset OnStar’s timeout counter. Without resetting the counter, OnStar will go into sleep mode after 30 days, which prevents battery SOC information from being transmitted to GM.

Vehicles with Stop/Start auxiliary batteries must be charged separately from the main battery while in dealer inventory. The auxiliary battery is not connected in a manner that will allow both batteries to be charged at the same time and must be charged individually, which will result in two battery test printouts.

Additional information about the Battery Maintenance Report and 12V battery charging can be found in Bulletin #22-NA-115.

– Thanks to Brett Holsworth, Marco Salcedo and Patti Marino