
Checking and refilling levels197
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
charge. Never short the battery terminals. High-energy sparks can cause
injury.
•A highly explosive mixture of gases is released when the battery is
under charge. The batteries should be charged in a well-ventilated room
only.•Keep children away from acid and batteries.•Before working on the electrical system, you must switch off the
engine, the ignition and all consumers. The negative cable on the battery
must be disconnected. When a light bulb is changed, you need only switch
off the light.•Deactivate the anti-theft alarm by unlocking the vehicle before you
disconnect the battery! The alarm will otherwise be triggered.•When disconnecting the battery from the vehicle electrical system,
disconnect first the negative cable and then the positive cable.•Switch off all electrical consumers before reconnecting the battery.
Reconnect first the positive cable and then the negative cable. Never
reverse the polarity of the connections. This could cause an electrical fire.•Never charge a frozen battery, or one which has thawed. This could
result in explosions and chemical burns. Always replace a battery which
has frozen. A flat battery can freeze at temperatures around 0 °C.•Ensure that the vent hose is always connected to the battery.•Never use a defective battery. This could cause an explosion. Replace a
damaged battery immediately.•For vehicles with the battery in the luggage compartment: Check that
the battery gas ventilation hose is securely attached.Caution
•Never disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched on or if the engine
is running. This could damage the electrical system or electronic compo-
nents.
•Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight over a long period of time, as
the intense ultraviolet radiation can damage the battery housing.•If the vehicle is left standing in cold conditions for a long period, protect
the battery from freezing. If it freezes it will be damaged.Checking the electrolyte level
The electrolyte level should be checked regularly in high-
mileage vehicles, in hot countries and in older batteries.– Open the engine bonnet and the battery cover ⇒ in “Safety
instructions on working in the engine compartment” on
page 183 ⇒ in “Warnings on handling the battery” on
page 196. For vehicles with the battery under the spare wheel,
open the tailgate and lift the floor covering. The battery is located
next to the spare wheel.
– Check the colour display in the "magic eye" on the top of the battery.
– If there are air bubbles in the window, tap the window gently until they disperse.The position of the battery is shown in the corresponding engine compart-
ment diagram ⇒page 235. The location of the battery in the luggage
compartment can be seen in ⇒page 235, fig. 160 .
The “magic eye” indicator, located on the top of the battery changes colour,
depending on the charge state and electrolyte level of the battery.
There are two different colours:•Black: correct charge status.
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels
200Tyre ser vice life
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre pressure, driving
style and fitting.
Wear indicators
The original tyres on your vehicle have 1.6 mm high tread wear indicators
⇒ page 200, fig. 124, running across the tread. Depending on the make,
there will be 6 to 8 of them evenly spaced around the tyre. Markings on the
tyre sidewall (for instance the letters “TWI” or other symbols) indicate the
positions of the tread wear indicators. The minimum tread depth required by
law is 1.6 mm (measured in the tread grooves next to the tread wear indica-
tors). Worn tyres must be replaced. Different figures may apply in export
countries ⇒.
Tyre pressure
Incorrect tyre pressure causes premature wear and could cause tyre blow-out.
For this reason, the tyre pressure should be checked at least once per month
⇒ page 199.
Driving style
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard braking all increase tyre wear.
Changing wheels around
If the front tyres are worn considerably more than the rear ones it is advisable
to change them around as shown ⇒page 200, fig. 125 . All the tyres will then
last for about the same time.
Wheel balance
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, various factors encoun-
tered in normal driving can cause them to become unbalanced, which results
in steering vibration.
Unbalanced wheels should be rebalanced, as they otherwise cause excessive
wear on steering, suspension and tyres. A wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tyre is fitted.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment causes excessive tyre wear, impairing the safety of
the vehicle. If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the wheel align-
ment checked by an Authorised Service Centre.
Fig. 124 Tyre tread wear
indicatorsFig. 125 Diagram for
changing wheels
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If and when
226Jump leads
Jump leads must comply with standard DIN 72553 (see manufacturer’s docu-
mentation). The wire cross section must be at least 25 mm
2 for petrol engines
and at least 35 mm
2 for diesel engines.
Note
•The vehicles must not touch each other, otherwise electricity could flow as
soon as the positive terminals are connected.•The discharged battery must be properly connected to the vehicle elec-
trical system.How to jump start: description
Jump lead terminal connections
1. Switch off the ignition of both vehicles ⇒.
2. Connect one end of the red jump lead to the positive terminal
⇒ fig. 154 or ⇒fig. 155 of the vehicle with the flat
battery .
3. Connect the other end of the red jump lead to the positive
terminal in the vehicle providing assistance .
4. On vehicles with no Start-Stop system , connect one end of the
black jump lead to the negative terminal in the vehicle
providing assistance ⇒fig. 154 .
5. On vehicles with the Start-Stop system , connect one end of the
black jump lead to a suitable ground terminal, to a solid metal
part bolted to the engine block or to the engine block itself
⇒ fig. 155 .
Fig. 154 Diagram for
connecting jump leads if
the vehicle providing
assistance the current is
not fitted with the Start-
Stop system: flat battery
and battery providing
current .AA
AB
Fig. 155 Diagram for
connecting jump leads if
the vehicle providing
assistance is fitted with
the Start-Stop system:
flat battery and
battery providing current .
AA
AB
A+
A+
AAA+
AB
A-
AB
AX
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Technical Specifications235
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Technical SpecificationsChecking fluid levelsFrom time to time, the levels of the different fluids in the
vehicle must be checked. Never fill with incorrect fluids,
otherwise serious damage to the engine may be caused.
Coolant expansion tank
Engine oil dipstick
Engine oil filler cap
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery
Windscreen washer fluid container
The checking and refilling of service fluids are carried out on the components
mentioned above. These operations are described in the ⇒page 183.
Overview
You will find further explanations, instructions and restrictions on the tech-
nical specifications as of ⇒page 231.Note
The layout of parts may vary depending on the engine.
Fig. 159 Diagram for the
location of the various
elements
Fig. 160 For vehicles with
the battery in the luggage
compartment.
A1A2A3A4A5A6
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