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WARNING (continued)
•
A highly explosive mixture of gases is released when the battery is
under charge. The batteries should be charged in a well-ventilated room
only.
•
Keep children away from acid and batteries.
•
Before working on the electrical system, you must switch off the
engine, the ignition and all consumers. The negative cable on the battery
must be disconnected. When a light bulb is changed, you need only switch
off the light.
•
Deactivate the anti-theft alarm by unlocking the vehicle before you
disconnect the battery! The alarm will otherwise be triggered.
•
When disconnecting the battery from the vehicle electrical system,
disconnect first the negative cable and then the positive cable.
•
Switch off all electrical consumers before reconnecting the battery.
Reconnect first the positive cable and then the negative cable. Never
reverse the polarity of the connections. This could cause an electrical fire.
•
Never charge a frozen battery, or one which has thawed. This could
result in explosions and chemical burns. Always replace a battery which
has frozen. A flat battery can freeze at temperatures around 0°
•
Ensure that the vent hose is always connected to the battery.
•
Never use a defective battery. This may be fatally explosive. Replace a
damaged battery immediately.
Caution
•
Never disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched on or if the engine
is running. This could damage the electrical system or electronic compo-
nents.
•
Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight over a long period of time, as
the intense ultraviolet radiation can damage the battery housing.
•
If the vehicle is left standing in cold conditions for a long period, protect
the battery from frost. If it "freezes" it will be damaged.
Safety First
Operating instructions
Charging the battery
A fully-charged battery is important for reliable starting.
– Note the warnings ⇒
in "Important safety warnings for
handling a car battery" on page 224 and ⇒
– Switch off the ignition and all electrical equipment.
– Only if "fast-charging": both battery cables must be discon-
nected (first the "negative" cable, then the "positive" cable).
– Connect the charger cables to the battery terminals, noting the
colour code (red is used for "positive", black or brown for "nega-
tive").
– Now connect the battery charger to the power point and switch
on.
– After charging the battery: switch off the battery charger and
disconnect the power point cable.
– Finally disconnect the charger cables from the battery.
– If necessary, reconnect both battery cables to the battery (first
the "positive" cable, then the "negative" cable).
When charging with a low current (for instance with a small battery charger)
the battery does not normally have to be disconnected. However, both
battery cables must be disconnected before "fast-charging" the battery with
a high current. However, always follow the instructions given by the manufac-
turer of the battery charger.
Fast-charging a battery is dangerous ⇒
handling a car battery" on page 224, since it requires a special charger and
Practical tips
Checking and refilling levels
.
in "Important safety warnings for
Technical Data
225
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