240
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
Battery care fEnsure that battery is securely mounted.
f Keep terminals and connections clean and
properly tightened.
Corrosion can be prevented by coating the ter-
minals and connections with petroleum jelly or
silicone spray.
f Ensure that vent caps ar e securely tightened to
prevent spillage.
Checking the electrolyte fluid level
f The acid level should be checked more fre-
quently by a qualified specialist workshop dur-
ing the summer months and in predominantly
warm countries. Battery charging
Automotive batteries loose their efficiency when
not in use.
The charge available in your battery can be meas-
ured with a battery hydrometer.
We recommend that the battery voltage be tested
by your authorized Porsche dealer who has the ap-
propriate equipment.
If the car is not driven for prolonged periods, the
battery must be charged at least every 6 weeks.
A discharged battery allows
rapid formation of sul-
fates, leading to premature deterioration of the
plates.
Warning!
Hydrogen gas generated by the battery
could cause an explosion, resulting in
serious personal injury or death.
f Charge battery in a well ventilated area.
f Never charge a frozen battery. It may explode
because of gas trapped in the ice. Allow a fro-
zen battery to thaw out first.
f If you get electrolyte, wh ich is an acid, in your
eyes or on your skin, immediately rinse with
cold water for several minutes and call a doc-tor. Slow battery charging
Your authorized Porsche dealer will be pleased to
advise you about a suitable charger.
1. Always observe the instructions of the charger
manufacturer.
Depending on the type of charger, the battery
may have to be disconnected.
In this case, always disconnect the negative
lead first, and then the positive lead – risk of
short circuit!.
Reconnect the leads in reverse order.
2. Before charging, cold batteries must be warmed up indoors.
3. Frozen batteries must be thawed out first before being charged.
4. When charging, ensure that there is adequate ventilation.
5. Connect the charger to the battery. Only plug into the mains and switch the
charger on when it is connected up correctly.
6. Switch on the charger.
7. After charging, switch off the charger first and then disconnect it.
8. Please see the chapter “PUTTING VEHICLE INTO OPERATION” on Page 241.
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
245
Emergency Starting with Jumper
Cables If the battery is discharged, e.g. in winter or after
the car has been parked for a long time, the bat-
tery of another car can be used for starting with
the help of jumper cables.
Make sure the voltage of both batteries is the
same. Both batteries must be 12 volt types.
The capacity (Ampere hours, Ah) of the booster
battery must not be substantially less than that of
the discharged battery.
The discharged battery must be correctly con-
nected to the vehicle’s electrical system.
f Please see the chapter “BATTERY” on
Page 239.
f Please see the chapter “EMERGENCY UNLO-
CKING OF THE FRONT LUGGAGE COMPART-
MENT LID” on Page 238.
Note
f Do not try to start the car by pushing or tow-
ing. Damage to the catalytic converters and
other components of the car may result.
Warning!
Risk of short circuit, damage and explosion,
resulting in serious personal injury or death.
f Use only jumper cables of adequate diameter
cross-section and fitted with completely insu-
lated alligator clips.
f Follow all warnings and instructions of the
jumper cable manufacturer.
f When connecting jumper cables, make sure
that they cannot get caught in any moving
parts in the engine compartment.
The jumper cables must be long enough so
that neither vehicles nor cables touch another.
f The vehicles must not be in contact, otherwise
current might flow as soon as the positive ter-
minals are connected.
f The cable clamps must not be allowed to con-
tact each other when one end of the jumper ca-
bles are connected to a battery.
f Ensure that tools or conductive jewelery (rings,
chains, watch straps) do not come into contact
with the positive jumper cable or the positive
battery post.
f Improper hook-up of jumper cables can ruin
the alternator. Danger of caustic burns from escaping acid.
f
Do not lean over the battery.
Danger of gas explosion.
f Improper use of booster battery to start a
vehicle may cause an explosion, resulting in
serious personal injury or death.
f Keep sources of ignition away from the bat-
tery, e.g. open flame, burning cigarettes or
sparking due to cable contact or welding work.
f A discharged battery can freeze even at 23 °F/
–5 °C.
Before connecting jumper cables, a frozen
battery must be thawed out.
