Mercedes-Benz Metris Operator's Manual page 251

immediately. Do not drive any further. You
should have all work involving the battery car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
Further information can be found under "ABS"
( page 62) and under "ESP
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G
WARNING
Electrostatic build-up can lead to the creation
of sparks, which could ignite the highly explo-
sive gases of a battery. There is a risk of an
explosion.
Before handling the battery, touch the vehicle
body to remove any existing electrostatic
build-up.
The flammable gas mix is produced when the
battery is charged or when the vehicle is jump-
started.
Always make sure that neither you nor the bat-
tery are electro statically charged. Electrostatic
charging results, for example, from:
wearing synthetic clothing
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friction between clothing and the seat
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dragging or pushing the battery across carpet
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flooring or any other synthetic materials
rubbing the battery with cloths or towels.
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Comply with the following safety precautions
and take protective measures when handling
batteries.
Risk of explosion. Explosive oxyhy-
drogen is produced when batteries
are being charged. Only charge bat-
teries in well-ventilated areas.
Fire, open flames and smoking are
therefore prohibited when working
on the battery. Avoid creating
sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid con-
tact with the skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear acid-proof protective gloves. If
skin or clothes are splashed with
acid, neutralize the splashes imme-
diately with soapy water or an acid
neutralizer, and then clean the affec-
ted areas with water. Consult a doc-
tor if necessary.
Wear eye protection. When mixing
water and acid, the liquid can splash
into your eyes. Rinse acid splashes
to the eyes immediately with clean
®
" ( page 64).
Y
water and contact a doctor immedi-
ately.
Keep children at a safe distance.
Children are not able to assess the
dangers posed by batteries and
acid.
When handling batteries, observe
the safety precautions and special
protective measures contained in
this Operator's Manual.
H
Environmental note
Batteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They
must be collected separately
and recycled to protect the
environment.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or a special
collection point for used bat-
teries.
Observe the following notes:
Recharge the battery more frequently, if you:
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predominantly drive short distances
-
predominantly drive at low outside temper-
-
atures
leave the vehicle parked for a lengthy
-
period
In order for the batteries to achieve their max-
imum possible service life, they must always
be sufficiently charged.
Consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Com-
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mercial Van Center if you wish to leave your
vehicle parked for a long period of time.
When you park the vehicle, remove the Smart-
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Key if you do not require any electrical con-
sumers. The vehicle will then use very little
energy, thus conserving battery power.
If your vehicle requires jump-starting, or if you
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wish to provide jump-starting assistance to
another vehicle, only use the jump-starting
Battery
249
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