Replacement of the Battery Pack Desiccant, Electric Vehicle

wv mm 54.07.000

Battery pack desiccant replacement should be performed every 12 months. This procedure describes the steps to replace the battery pack desiccant in the battery packs of the electric vehicle. The battery pack desiccant may be replaced based on time in service or an indication that moisture has entered the pack. The salt plugs for the desiccant area have a built-in indicator for moisture contamination. See Fig. shows normal and contaminated plugs. If a plug has been exposed to moisture, it will be necessary to override spring tension when inserting an Allen wrench for removal. If a battery pack desiccant has internal leakage, indicated by the salt plug, this should be diagnosed and repaired before replacing the desiccant.

Note: A normal plug is yellow at the end; a contaminated plug does not appear yellow at the end.

  1. Normal Salt Plug

  2. Contaminated Salt Plug

Fig. 1, Normal and Contaminated Salt Plugs

  1. Park the vehicle on a level surface, shut down the engine, and set the parking brake.
  2. Ensure that the battery pack manual service disconnect is removed. See Fig..

    1. Battery Pack Manual Service Disconnect

    Fig. 2, Battery Pack Manual Service Disconnect

  3. Using a torque wrench with a 17 mm Allen socket, remove the salt plugs at each end of the battery pack desiccant chamber. See Fig..

    Note: Remove the salt plugs at each end of the battery pack desiccant chamber.

    1. Salt Plug

    Fig. 3, Removing the Salt Plugs

  4. Attach the hook end of a Jameson Glow Rod (or equivalent) to a straight section of rod. See Fig. and Fig..

    Fig. 4, Attaching the Hook to an Extension Rod

    Fig. 5, Assembled Hook and Extension Rod

  5. Locate the grommet on the end of the battery pack desiccant near the cooling loop. Grab the grommet with the hook-end of the Jameson Glow Rod (or equivalent) and pull the old battery pack desiccant out of the battery pack and discard it. See Fig..

    1. Grommet

    2. Extension Rod and Hook

    Fig. 6, Removing the Battery Pack Desiccant

  6. Starting at the end of the battery pack with the coolant loop, push the hooked end of the Jameson Glow Rod all the way through the pack until the hook exits the other side, as shown in Fig..

    Note: The hooked end exits the other side of the battery pack.

    1. Glow Rod

    2. Hook

    Fig. 7, Pushing the Hooked End of the Rod Through the Desiccant Chamber

  7. Attach the hook-end of the glow rod to the grommet of a new battery pack desiccant. See Fig..

    1. Glow Rod (hook-end)

    2. Grommet

    3. Battery Pack Desiccant

    Fig. 8, Attaching a New Battery Pack Desiccant to the Glow Rod

    8. Note: Two technicians are needed for the following step.

  8. Carefully push the new battery pack desiccant from one end of the battery pack and pull it from the other end, as shown in Fig..

    Fig. 9, Pulling Desiccant Through the Battery Pack

  9. Tuck both ends of the battery pack desiccant securely into the desiccant chamber of the battery pack. See Fig..

    1. Desiccant Chamber

    2. Battery Pack Desiccant

    Fig. 10, Ends of the Battery Pack Desiccant Tucked into the Desiccant Chamber

  10. Apply Vibra-Tite 42050 thread sealant as needed to the salt plugs that were removed earlier (or new salt plugs if they were replaced). See Fig..

    Fig. 11, Applying Thread Sealant to the Salt Plugs

  11. Install the salt plugs at each end of the battery pack desiccant chamber using a calibrated torque wrench with a 17 mm Allen socket. Tighten the plugs 22 lbf·ft (30 N·m). For reference, refer to Fig. and Fig..
  12. Install the battery pack manual service disconnect removed earlier. See Fig..
Note:
Parent topic: Electrical, Instruments, and Controls
Document Number: 0000116941
Manual Publication Date: 2024-05-14
Topic Publication Date: 2024-11-19