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WARNING
Improper use of jumper cables when jump-starting a vehicle with a dead battery can cause the battery to explode, leading to serious personal injury. To help reduce the risk of battery explosion:
x All work on the batteries or the electrical system in your vehicle can cause serious acid burns, fires, or electrical shocks. Always read and heed the following WARNINGS and safety
precautions before working on the batteries or the electrical system ⇒ 12 Volt vehicle bat-tery.
x Always wear proper eye protection. Never lean over the vehicle battery.
x Attach the jumper cables in the correct order: first the positive cable, then the negative cable.
x Never connect the negative cable from the vehicle providing starting assistance to parts of the brake hoses or brake lines.
x Never allow the non-insulated parts of the battery clamps to touch.
x Never allow the jumper cable attached to the positive battery terminal to contact metal parts of the vehicle.
x Check the battery acid level indicator window on the vehicle battery. Use a flashlight, never a match, cigarette lighter, or other open flame. If you cannot see the color of the win-dow clearly, or if it is light yellow or colorless, do not jump-start the vehicle. Get expert assis-tance.
x Avoid electrostatic discharge in the vicinity of the vehicle battery. Sparks may cause the hydrogen gas escaping from the vehicle battery to ignite.
x Never jump-start a vehicle with a battery that is damaged or frozen or that was frozen and has thawed. The battery can explode. Replace the battery instead.
x Always follow the instructions of the jumper cable manufacturer.
x Always make sure that the battery providing starting assistance has the same voltage as the dead battery (12 V) and about the same capacity (see battery label).
x Batteries give off explosive hydrogen gas. Always keep fire, sparks, open flame and smok-ing materials away from batteries.
x Never connect the negative cable from the other vehicle directly to the negative terminal of the dead battery. The hydrogen gas from the battery is explosive.
x Never short out the battery terminals by connecting the positive (+) and negative (-) termi-nals with each other.
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WARNING
Towing a vehicle changes the way it handles and brakes. To help reduce the risk of an acci-dent and serious personal injury, note the following:
x The driver of the vehicle that is being towed:
– Since the brake booster also does not work when the electric motor is stopped, you will need to press harder on the brake pedal to slow down or stop. Always be alert so as not to rear-end the towing vehicle.
– Will have to use considerably more force to turn the steering wheel because the power steering is not working.
x The driver of the vehicle that is doing the towing:
– Must accelerate gradually and gently and avoid jerking movements.
– Must not brake hard or steer sharply.
– Must brake earlier and more gently than in normal driving.
NOTICE
x Be careful not to damage the paint when installing and removing the towing eye and the cover for the threaded hole behind the bumper.
Text messages
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WARNING
If the vehicle is towed even though the text message Towing damages electrical sys-tem. See owner's man.! appears in the instrument cluster, vibrations can occur in the electric drive and the front wheels can lock, especially on ice or wet roads. Locking front wheels can impair the steering functions and cause accidents and serious injuries.
x If the message Towing damages electrical system. See owner's man.! appears in the instrument cluster, only tow the vehicle in emergency situations at walking speed and for a maximum of 330 ft. (100 m).
NOTICE
If the vehicle is towed even though the text message Towing damages electrical system. See owner's man.! appears in the instrument cluster and walking speed is exceeded or it is towed further than 330 ft. (100 m), serious damage can be done to the to the electric drive.
A vehicle can be towed only if the electronic parking brake is switched off and the electronic steering column lock is released. In case of a power loss or malfunctions of the electrical system, the electric motor may have to be jump-started in order to release the electronic steering column lock and the electronic parking brake.
Installing the front towing eye
Fig. 184 In the right front bumper: Removing the cover.
