BMW 5251 Service Manual page 8

I
General Warnings and Cautions
WARNINGS (continued)
.
The air conditioning system is filled with chemical refrigerant,
which is hazardous. The AIC system should be serviced only by
trained technicians using approved refrigerant recoverylrecycling
equipment, trained in related safety precautions, and familiar with
regulations governing the discharging and disposal of automotive
chemical refrigerants.
.
Do not expose any part of the AIC system to high temperatures
such as open flame. Excessive heat will increase system pres-
sure and may cause the system to burst.
Some aerosol tire inflators are highly flammable. Be extremely
cautious when repairing a tire that may have been inflated using
an aerosol tire inflator. Keep sparks, open flame or other sources
of ignition away from the tire repair area. Inflate and deflate the
tire at least four times before breaking the bead from the rim.
Completely remove the tire from the rim before attempting any re-
pair.
Cars covered by this manual are equipped with a supplemental
restraint system (SRS), that automatically deploys airbags and
pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners In the event o i a frontal or side
impact. These are explosive devices. Handled improperly or with-
out adequate safeguards, they can be accidently activated and
cause serious injury.
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The ignition system produces high voltages that can be fatal.
Avoid contact with exposed terminals and use extreme care when
working on a car with the engine running or the ignition switched
on. .
Place jack stands only at locations specified by the manufacturer.
The vehicle illtino iack su~olied with the vehicle is intended fortire
-.
,
.
changes only. A heavy duty floor jack should be used lo lift vehicle
before installing jacl( stands. See 010 General.
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Battery acid (electrolyte) can cause severe burns. Flush contact
area with water, seek medical attention.
Aerosol cleaners and solvents may contain hazardous or deadly
vapors and are highly flammable. Use only in a well ventilated ar-
ea. Do not use on hot surfaces (engines, brakes, etc.).
Do not remove coolant reservoir or radiator cap with the engine
hot. Danger of burns and engine damage.
CAUTIONS-
See also WARNINGS
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if you lack the slqills, tools and equipment, or a suitable worl(shop
for any procedure described in this manual, leave such repairs to
an authorized BMW dealer or other qualified shop.
BMW is constantly improving its cars and sometimes these
changes, both in parts and specifications, are made applicable to
earlier models. Therefore, part numbers listed in this manual are
for reference only. Always check with your authorized BMW deal-
er parts department for the latest information.
Before starting a job, make certain that you have all the neces-
sary tools and parts on hand. Read ail the instructions thorough-
ly, and do not attempt shortcuts. Use tools appropriate to the
work and use only replacement parts meeting BMW specifica-
tions.
Use pneumatic and electric tools only to loosen threaded parts
and fasteners. Never use these tools to tighten fasteners, espe-
cially on light alloy parts. Always use a torque wrench to tighten
fasteners to the tightening torque specification listed.
Be mindful of the environment and ecology. Before you drain the
crankcase, find out the proper way to dispose of the oil. Do not
pour oil onto the ground, down a drain, or into a stream, pond or
lake. Dispose of waste in accordance with Federal, State and
Local laws.
The control module for the anti-lock brake system (ABS) cannot
withstand temperatures from a paint-drying booth or a heat lamp
in excess of 203" F (95°C) and should not be subjected to tem-
peratures in excess of 185°F (8S°C) for more than two hours.
-
Before doing any electrical welding on cars equipped with ABS,
disconnect the battery negative (-) terminal (ground strap) and
the ABS control module connector.
-
Always make sure ignition is off before disconnecting battery.
Label battery cables before disconnecting. On some models, bat-
tery cables are not color coded.
Disconnecting the battery may erase fault code@) stored in control
module memory. Using special BMW diagnoslic equipment, check
lor iauit codes prior to disconnecting the battery cables. If the mal-
I.mct on ndicator Ignt (MIL) s
I.
..minaled. see OBD On-Board
Diaanostics Tl11s iant is iuenlfted as lne Check Ena~ne oht
(1997-2000 models j o r ~ e r v l c e Engine Soon light (2061 andlater
models). If any other system iaults have been detected (indicated
by an illuminated warning light), see an authorized BMW dealer.
If a normal or rapid charger is used to charge battery, the battery
must be disconnected and removed from the vehicle in order to
avoid damaging the vehicle.
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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.
* Connect and disconnect a battery charger only with the battery
charger switched off.
-
Sealed or "maintenance free" batteries should be slow-charged
only, at an amperage rate that is approximately 10% of the bat-
tery's ampere-hour (Ah) rating. .
Do not allow battery charging voltage to exceed 16.5 volts. If the
battery begins producing gas or boiling violently, reduce the
charging rate. Boosting a sulfated battery at a high charging rate
can cause an explosion.