186 Checking and filling
-When disconnecting the battery, first
disconnect the negative cable and then
the positive cable.
- Before reconnecting the battery, make
sure all electrical consumers are switch ed off. Reconnect the positive cable first
and then the negative cable. Never inter
change the cables -this could start a fire!
- Never charge a frozen or a thawed-out
battery. It could explode!
If a battery has
frozen, then it must be replaced. A dis
charged battery can freeze over at 32 °F
(0 °C).
-Make sure the vent hose is always attach
ed to the opening on the side of the bat
tery.
- Never use batteries which are damaged.
Danger of explosion! Always replace a
damaged battery .
.&, WARNING
California Proposition
65 Warning:
- Battery posts, terminals and related ac
cessories contain lead and lead com
pounds, chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and reproduc
tive problems. Wash hands after han
dling.
(D Note
- Do not disconnect the vehicle battery
when the ignition is switched on or when
the engine is running, otherwise, you will
damage electronic components in the
electrical system.
- If your vehicle is going to stand for a
long period of time without being driven,
protect the battery from "freezing", oth
erwise it will be damaged and will then have to be replaced. Charging the battery
Connections for
charging the battery are lo
cated in the luggage compartment.
Fig. 147 L uggage compartment: battery cover
Fig. 148 Luggage compartment: connectors for a
charger and jump start cables
Do not connect the negative cable directly to
the negative terminal on the battery. Connect
it to a
jump start pin instead c:, fig. 148.
.,. Always read and heed all WARNINGS c:, A
in Working on the battery on page 185 and
¢ A -
... Switch off the ignition and all electrical con
sumers .
.,. Open the luggage compartment lid
c:>page42 .
.,. Remove the battery cover c:, fig. 147.
.,. Connect the terminal clamps from the
charger to the battery terminal (red= "posi
tive") and the jump start pin
c:, fig. 148
(black or brown= "negative") as specified.
.,. Only now plug the mains lead for the charg
ing equipment into the wall outlet and turn
it on .
.,. When the battery is fully charged: Turn the
charging equipment off and remove the
mains lead from the wall outlet .
.,. Now remove the clamps for the charging
equipment.
220 What do I do now?
connected to the battery of another vehicle,
using a pair of jumper cables to start the en
gine.
Both batteries must be rated at 12 volts. The
capacity (Ah) of the booster battery must not
be substantially less than the capacity of the
discharged battery.
Jumper cables Use
only jumper cables of sufficiently large
cross section to safely carry the starter cur
rent. Refer to the manufacturer's specifica
tions.
Use only jumper cables which have
insulated
terminal clamps and are properly marked for
distinction :
plus(+) cable: in most cases colored red
minus(-) cable: in most cases colored black
A WARNING
Batteries contain electricity, acid, and gas .
Any of these can cause very serious or fatal
injury. Follow the instructions below for
safe handling of your vehicle's battery.
- Always shield your eyes and avoid lean
ing over the battery whenever possible.
- A discharged battery can already freeze
at temperatures just below 32 °F (0 °C).
Before connecting a jumper cable, the
frozen battery must be thawed com
pletely, otherwise it could explode.
- Do not allow battery acid to contact eyes
or skin. Flush any contacted area with
water immediately.
- Improper use of a booster battery to
start a vehicle may cause an explosion.
- Vehicle batteries generate explosive gas
es. Keep sparks, flame and lighted ciga
rettes away from batteries.
- Do not try to jump start any vehicle with
a low acid level in the battery.
- The voltage of the booster battery must
also have a 12-Volt rating. The capacity
(Ah) of the booster battery should not be
lower than that of the discharged bat
tery. Use of batteries of different voltage or substantially different
"Ah" rating
may cause an explosion and personal in
jury.
- Never charge a frozen battery. Gas trap
ped in the ice may cause an explosion.
- Never charge or use a battery that has
been frozen . The battery case may have
be weakened .
- Use of batteries of different voltage or
substantially different capacity (Ah) rat
ing may cause an explosion and injury.
The capacity (Ah) of the booster battery should not be lower than that of the dis
charged battery.
- Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always read and heed all
WARNINGS
9 page 175, Working in the
engine comportment.
(!) Note
-Applying a higher voltage booster bat
tery will cause expensive damage to sen
sitive electronic components, such as
control units, relays, radio, etc.
- There must be no electrical contact be
tween the vehicles as otherwise current
could already start to flow as soon as the
positive(+) terminals are connected.
(D Tips
- The discharged battery must be properly
connected to the vehicle's electrical sys
tem.
- Switch off any car phone, or follow the
car phone instructions for this situation.
