Battery Disposal; Battery Charging; Wheels & Tyres; Caring For Your Tyres - Caterham Seven Owner's Handbook Manual

Battery disposal

Used batteries should be recycled. However,
batteries are hazardous – you should seek advice
about disposal from a Caterham representative or
your local authority.
WARNING!
•
Keep the battery upright at all times –
damage will be caused if the battery is tilted
more than 45 degrees.
•
DO NOT run the engine with the battery
disconnected, or disconnect the battery while
the engine is running.

Battery charging

Batteries generate
corrosive acid and produce levels of electric current
sufficient to cause serious injury. Whilst charging,
always heed the following precautions:
•
Before charging, disconnect and remove the
battery from the vehicle – charging the battery
with the cables connected may damage the
vehicle's electrical system.
•
Make sure the battery charger leads are
securely clamped to the battery terminals
BEFORE switching on the battery charger.
Do not move the leads once the charger is
switched on.
•
Whilst charging, shield your eyes or avoid
leaning over the battery and keep the area
around the top of the battery well ventilated.
•
Do not allow naked lights near the battery
(batteries generate
during and after charging).
•
When charging is finished, switch off the
battery charger BEFORE disconnecting the
leads from the battery terminals.
•
After charging, leave the battery for an hour
BEFORE reconnection to the vehicle – this
will allow time for explosives gases to
disperse, thereby minimising the risk of fire or
explosion.
NOTE: Be aware that a battery will take longer to
charge in a cold environment.
WARNING!
•
DO NOT charge the battery if it is connected
to the car – this may seriously damage the
electrical system.
•
DO NOT charge the battery if it is suspected
of being frozen.
Wheels & Tyres
WARNING!
DEFECTIVE TYRES ARE DANGEROUS!
explosive gases, contain
flammable hydrogen
DO NOT drive your car if any tyre is excessively
worn or damaged, or is inflated to an incorrect
pressure.
Incorrect tyres can affect the stability and handling
characteristics of your car – only fit replacement
tyres that are identical to the original specification.

Caring for your tyres

Always drive with consideration for the condition of
the tyres and frequently inspect the tread and side
walls for any sign of distortion (bulges), cuts or
wear.
The most common causes of tyre failure are:
•
Bumping against kerbs
•
Driving over deep pot holes
•
Driving with under or over-inflated tyres.

Tyre pressures

Correctly inflated tyres will ensure that you enjoy
the best combination of tread life, ride comfort, fuel
economy and road holding.
Check the pressures at least every week (including
the spare wheel if applicable), preferably when the
tyres are cold (be aware that the car can be driven
up to one mile (1.6 km), before the tyres start to
warm up).
Air pressure naturally increases in warm tyres; if it
is necessary to check the tyres when they are
warm (after the car has been driven for a while,
even in cold weather), you should expect the
pressures to have increased by between 4 and 6
psi. In this circumstance, DO NOT let air out of the
tyres in order
pressures.
The recommended pressures are shown in the
'Technical data' section of this book.
Remember; incorrectly inflated tyres may wear
rapidly or unevenly, are more easily damaged, and
can seriously
characteristics.

Tyre wear indicators

The tyres on your car have wear indicators
moulded into the tread pattern at several points
around the circumference and across the width of
the tyre.
When the tread has worn down to 1.6 mm, the
indicators will come to the surface of the tread
pattern, producing the effect of a continuous band
of rubber across the width of the tyre.
If running with increased front camber, the inside
edges will be more prone to wear and tyres may
need replacing sooner as a result if less than 75%
of the tyre is over 1.6mm
The indicators provide warning that there is
insufficient tread
traction, particularly on wet roads.
39
to match the recommended
affect the car's
remaining to provide
handling
good