BMW 5251 Service Manual page 7

001 General Warnings
and Cautions
PLEASE READ THESE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS
BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR WORK.
WARNINGS-
See also CAUTIONS
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Some repairs may be beyond your capability. If you lack the skills,
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Catch draining fuel, oil, or brake fluid in suitable containers. Do
tools and equipment, or a suitable workplace for any procedure not use foodor beverage containers that might mislead someone
described in this manual, we suggest you leave such repairs to
into drinking from them. Store flammable fluids away from fire
an authorized BMW dealer service department or other qualified
hazards. Wipe up spills at once, but do not store the oily rags,
shop. which can ignite and burn spontaneously.
.
Do not reuse any fasteners that are worn or deformed. Many fas-
Always observe good worRshop practices. Wear qoqqles when
teners are designed to be used only once and become unreliable you operate machine tools or work with battery acid:kloves or
and mav fail when used a second time. This includes, but is not other ~rotective clothino should be worn whenever the iob re-
limited io, nuts, bolts, washers, self-locking nuts or bolts, clrclips yires' working with harmful substances.
and cotter pins. Always replace these fasteners with new parts.
Greases, lubricants and other automotive chemicals contain toxic
.
Never work under a lifted car unless it is solidly supported on
substances, many of which are absorbed directly through the
stands desiqned for the purpose. Do not supeort a car on cinder skin. Read the manufacturer's instructions and warninos careful-
blochs, hollow tiles orotherbrops that may drurnbie undercontin-
uous toad. Never work under a car that is supported solely by a
iack. Never work under the car while the enqine is runninq.
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If you aregoing to work underacaron the ground, makesure that
the ground is level. Block the wheels to keep the car from rolling.
Disconnect the battery negative (-) terminal to prevent others
from starting the car while you are under it.
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Never run the engine unless the work area is well ventilated. Car-
bon monoxide kills.
Rings, bracelets and other jewelry should be removed so that
they cannot cause electrical shorts, get caught in running ma-
chinery, or be crushed by heavy parts.
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Tie long hair behind your head. Do not wear a necktie, a scarf.
loose clothing, or a necklace when you work near machine tools
or running engines. if your hair, clothing, or jewelry were to get
caught in the machinery, severe injury could result.
DO not attempt to work on your car if you do not feel well. You in-
crease the danger of injuryto yourseliand others
if
you are tired,
uDset or have taken medication or anv other substance that mav
keep you from being fully alert.
Illuminate your work area adequately but safely. Use a portable
iy. Use hand and eye protection. Avoid direct skin conGct.
Disconnect the battery negative (-) terminal whenever you work
on the fuel system orthe electrical system. Do not smokeorwork
near heaters or other fire hazards. Keep an approved fire extin-
guisher handy.
.
Friction materials (such as brake pads or shoes or clutch discs)
contain asbestos fibers or other friction materials. Do not create
dust by grinding, sanding, or by cleaning with compressed air.
Avoid breathing dust. Breathing any friclion material dust can
lead to serious diseases and may result in death.
Batteries giveoff explosive hydrogen gas during charging. Keep
sparks, lighted matches and open flame away from the top of the
battery. If hydrogen gas escaping from the cap vents is ignited, it
will ignite gas trapped in the cells and cause the battery to ex-
plode.
Connect and disconnect battery cables, jumper cables or a bat-
tery charger only wilh the ignition switched off. Do not disconnect
the battery while the engine is running.
Do not quick-charge the battery (for boost starting) for longer
than one minute. Wait at least one minute before boosting the
battery a second time.
.
.
safety lighiforworking lnsideor under the car. Make sure the bulb
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Do not allow battery charging vollage to exceed 16.5 volts. If the
is enclosed bv a wire caoe. The hot filament of an accidentallv
batten! beoins ~roducina oas or boilino violentiv, reduce the
broken bulb can ignite spilled fuel, vapors or oil.
,
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charglng rate. ~oostlng a sutfaled battery at a i g h charging rate
can cause an explosion.
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Continued on next page