Jump-starting
GWARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over
the battery. Keep children away from batteries. Wash away battery acid immediately with
plenty of clean water and seek medical attention.
GWARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive gases can escape from the battery. There is a
risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating sparks and smoking. Ensure there is suffi-
cient ventilation while charging and jump-starting. Do not lean over a battery.
GWARNING
During the charging process, a battery produces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs or
sparks are created, the hydrogen gas can ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
RMake sure that the positive terminal of a connected battery does not come into contact with
vehicle parts.
RNever place metal objects or tools on a battery.
RIt is important that you observe the described order of the battery terminals when con-
necting and disconnecting a battery.
RWhen jump-starting, make sure that the battery poles with identical polarity are con-
nected.
RIt is particularly important to observe the described order when connecting and dis-
connecting the jumper cables.
RNever connect or disconnect the battery terminals while the engine is running.
GWARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at temperatures below freezing point. When jump-starting
the vehicle or charging the battery, gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an
explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before charging it or jump-starting.
!Avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Otherwise, the catalytic converter could be
damaged by the non-combusted fuel.
If, at low temperatures, the indicator lamps/warning lamps in the instrument cluster do not
light up, it is highly likely that the discharged battery has frozen. In this case you may neither
jump-start the vehicle nor charge the battery. The service life of a thawed-out battery may be
shorter. The starting characteristics can be impaired, particularly at low temperatures. Have
the thawed-out battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
168Jump-starting
>> Breakdown assistance.
Do not start the vehicle using a rapid charging device. If your vehicle's battery is discharged,
the engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a second battery using jumper
cables. Observe the following points:
RThe battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible,
jump-start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device.
RYou may only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust system are cold.
RDo not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
ROnly jump-start from batteries with a 12 V voltage rating.
ROnly use jumper cables which have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.
RIf the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start con-
nected for a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the battery slightly.
RMake sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that:
RThe jumper cables are not damaged.
RBare parts of the terminal clamp do not come into contact with other metal parts while the
jumper cables are connected to the battery.
RThe jump leads cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine is
running, such as the wiper rods or the fan.
XSecure the vehicle using the parking brake.
XTurn the key to position 0in the ignition lock and remove it.
XSwitch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window heating, lighting etc.
XOpen the service cover.
Position number 0083identifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-
starting device.
XRemove the protective cover from positive terminal 0043.
XConnect positive terminal0043on your battery to positive terminal 0044of donor battery 0083
using the jump lead. beginning with your own battery.
XStart the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
XConnect negative terminal 0087of donor battery 0083to negative terminal 0085of your battery
using the jump lead. Connect the jump lead to donor battery 0083first.
Jump-starting169
>> Breakdown assistance.
Z
XStart the engine.
XBefore disconnecting the jumper cables, let the engine run for several minutes.
XFirst disconnect the jump lead from negative terminal0085and negative terminal 0087and then
from positive terminal 0043and positive terminal 0044. Begin each time at the contacts on your
own vehicle first.
XAttach the protective cover to positive terminal 0043.
XHave the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
iJump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
iJumper cables and further information regarding jump starting can be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop.
Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or no longer available if:
Rthe engine is not running
Rthe brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning
Rthere is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or the vehicle's electrical system
When your vehicle is towed away or towed
started, you may require considerably more
effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of
an accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before being
towed away or tow started, make sure the
steering moves freely.
GWARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing the vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar.
GWARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehi-
cle and its weight is greater than the per-
missible gross weight of your vehicle, the:
Rthe towing eye could detach itself
Rthe vehicle/trailer combination could
rollover.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehi-
cle, its weight should not be greater than
the permissible gross weight of your vehi-
cle.
Information on your vehicle's gross vehicle
weight rating can be found on the vehicle
identification plate (
Ypage 205).
!Do not use the towing eyes for recovery
purposes as this could damage the vehicle.
If in doubt, recover the vehicle with a
crane.
!Drive slowly and smoothly when towing.
Excessive tractive power could otherwise
damage the vehicles.
!Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
!The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles (50km), the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be started by tow-starting. This
could otherwise damage the transmission.
170Towing and tow-starting
>> Breakdown assistance.
switched on, use the combination switch as
usual. In this case, only the indicator
lamps for the direction of travel flash.
After resetting the combination switch, the
hazard warning lamp starts flashing again.
Vehicles with automatic transmission: the
automatic transmission automatically shifts
to position Pwhen you open the driver's or
front-passenger door or when you remove the
key from the ignition lock. In order to ensure
that the automatic transmission stays in
position Nwhen towing the vehicle, you must
observe the following points:
XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock.
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XShift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
XLeave the SmartKey in position 2in the
ignition lock.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the parking brake.
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(Ypage 69).
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(
Ypage 170).
Transporting the vehicle
!
You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise,
the vehicle could be damaged.
XVehicles with automatic transmission:
turn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (
Ypage 87).
XVehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and select
neutral.
XShift the transmission to position N.
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded:
XPrevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the parking brake.
XVehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position P.
XVehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage
first or reverse gear.
XTurn the SmartKey to position0in the igni-
tion lock and remove it.
XSecure the vehicle.
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter for transporting
purposes.
Tow-starting (emergency engine start-
ing)
!
Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be started by tow-starting. This
could otherwise damage the transmission.
iYou can find information on "Jump-start-
ing" at (Ypage 168).
Before tow-starting:
Rthe battery must be connected
Rthe engine must be cold
Rthe exhaust system has cooled down.
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(Ypage 69).
XInstall the towing eye (Ypage 171).
XSecure the rigid towing bar or the towing
rope.
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock.
XDepress the clutch pedal fully, engage sec-
ond gear and keep the clutch pedal fully
depressed.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XTow-start the vehicle.
XRelease the clutch pedal slowly; do not
depress the accelerator pedal while doing
so.
XWhen the engine is started, immediately
depress the clutch pedal fully and select
neutral.
XPull over at a suitable place and stop the
vehicle safely, paying attention to road
and traffic conditions.
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away
with the parking brake.
XRemove the rigid towing bar or towing
rope.
172Towing and tow-starting
>> Breakdown assistance.