Battery (Vehicle); Important Safety Notes - SMART FORTWO Owner's Manual

Battery (vehicle)

Important safety notes

Work on the battery, e.g. removing or
installing, requires specialist knowledge
and the use of special tools. Therefore,
always have work on the battery carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop.
G
WARNING
Work carried out incorrectly on the battery
can lead, for example, to a short circuit and
thus damage the vehicle electronics. This
can lead to function restrictions applying
to safety-relevant systems, e.g the lighting
system, the ABS (anti-lock braking system)
®
or the ESP (Electronic Stability Program).
The operating safety of your vehicle may be
restricted.
You could lose control of the vehicle, for
example:
when braking
R
in the event of abrupt steering manoeu-
R
vres and/or when the vehicle's speed is
not adapted to the road conditions
There is a risk of an accident.
In the event of a short circuit or a similar
incident, contact a qualified specialist
workshop immediately. Do not drive any
further. Always have work on the battery
carried out at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Further information about ABS (
® Y
and esp ( page 61).
G
WARNING
Electrostatic build-up can lead to the cre-
ation of sparks, which could ignite the
highly explosive gases of a battery. There
is a risk of an explosion.
Before handling the battery, touch the
vehicle body to remove any existing elec-
trostatic build-up.
The highly flammable gas mixture is cre-
ated while the battery is charging and when
jump-starting.
Always make sure that neither you nor the
battery is electrostatically charged. Elec-
trostatic charge is created, for example:
by wearing synthetic fibre clothing
R
due to friction between clothing and the
R
seat
when you pull or push the battery across
R
carpet or other synthetic materials
when you rub the battery with a cloth
R
G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery pro-
duces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit
occurs or sparks are created, the hydrogen
gas can ignite. There is a risk of an explo-
sion.
Make sure that the positive terminal of a
R
connected battery does not come into
contact with vehicle parts.
Never place metal objects or tools on a
R
battery.
It is important that you observe the
R
described order of the battery terminals
when connecting and disconnecting a
battery.
When jump-starting, make sure that the
R
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
It is particularly important to observe
R
the described order when connecting and
Y
page 59)
disconnecting the jump leads.
Never connect or disconnect the battery
R
terminals while the engine is running.
G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of
injury.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or cloth-
ing. Do not breathe in any battery gases. Do
not lean over the battery. Keep the batter-
ies out of the reach of children. Immedi-
ately rinse off battery acid thoroughly with
Battery (vehicle)
225
Z