BMW 3 1992 Service Manual page 7

Please read these warnings and cautions
before proceeding with maintenance and repair work .
WARNING- " Friction materials (such as brake pads or shorts or clutch discs)
contain asbestos fibers or other friction materials. Do not create
" See also Cautions on page viü
dust by grinding, sanding, or by cleaning with compressed air.
" Some repairs may
be
beyond your capability. If you lack the
Avoid breathing dust. Breathing any friction material dust can lead
skills, tools and equipment, or a suitable workplace for any proce-
to serious diseases and may result in death .
dure described in this manual, we suggest you leave such repairs
" Batteries give off explosive hydrogen gas during charging .
to an authorized BMW dealer service department or other quali-
Keep sparks, lighted matches and open flame away from the top
fied shop .
of the battery If hydrogen gas escaping from the cap vents is
" Do not re-use any fasteners that are worn or deformed in normal
ignited, it will ignite gas trapped in the cells and cause the battery
use . Many fasteners are designed to be used only once and
to explode .
become unreliable and may fail when used a second time. This
" Connect and disconnect battery cables, jumper cables or
a
bat-
includes, but is not limited to, nuts, bolts, washers, self-locking nuts
or bolts, circlips and cotter pins. Always replace these fasteners
with new parts.
" Do not quick-charge the battery (for boost starting) for longer
" Never work under a lifted car unless it is solidly supported on
than one minute . Wait at least one minute before boosting the bat-
stands designed for the purpose . Do not support a car on cinder
tery a second time .
blocks, hollow tiles or other props that may crumble under contin-
uous load . Never work under a car that is supported solely by a " Do not allow battery charging voltage to exceed 16 .5 volts. If the
jack. Never work under the car while the engine is running . battery begins producing gas or boiling violently, reduce the charg-
ing rate . Boosting a sulfated battery at a high charging rate can
" If you are going to work under a car on the ground, make sure
cause an explosion .
that the ground is level . Block the wheels to keep the car from roll-
ing . Disconnect the battery negative (-) terminal (ground strap) to " The air-conditioning system is filled with chemical refrigerant,
prevent others from starting the car while you are under it. which is hazardous . The A/C system should be serviced only by
trained technicians using approved refrigerant recovery/recycling
" Never run the engine unless the work area is well ventilated .
equipment, trained in related safety precautions, and familiar with
Carbon monoxide kills . regulations governing the discharging and disposal of automotive
" Finger rings, bracelets and other jewelry should be removed
so
chemical refrigerants.
tery charger only with the ignition switched off, to prevent sparks.
Do not disconnect the battery while the engine is running .
that they cannot cause electrical shorts, get caught in running
" Do not expose any part of the A/C system to high temperatures
machinery, or be crushed by heavy parts .
such as open flame. Excessive heat will increase system pressure
" Tie long hair behind your head . Do not wear a necktie, a scarf,
and may cause the system to burst .
loose clothing, or a necklace when you work near machine tools or
" Some aerosol tire inflators are highly flammable . Be extremely
running engines . If your hair, clothing, or jewelry were to get caught
cautious when repairing a tire that may have been inflated using
in the machinery, severe injury could result .
an aerosol tire inflator. Keep sparks, open flame or other sources
" Do not attempt to work on your car if you do not feel well . You
of ignition away from the tire repair area . Inflate and deflate the tire
increase the danger of injury to yourself and others if you are tired,
at least four times before breaking the bead from the rim. Com-
upset or have taken medication or any other substance that may
Pletely remove the tire from the rim before attempting any repair.
keep you from being fully alert .
" Illuminate your work area adequately but safety. Use a portable
safety light for working inside or under the car. Make sure the bulb
is enclosed by a wire cage . The hot filament of an accidentally bro-
ken bulb can ignite spilled fuel or oil .
" Catch draining fuel, oil, or brake fluid in suitable containers. Do
not use food or beverage containers that might mislead someone
into drínking from them . Store flammable fluids away from fire haz-
ards . Wipe up spills at once, but do not store the oily rags, which
can ignite and burn spontaneously.
" Always observe good workshop practices. Wear goggles when
you operate machine tools or work with battery acid . Gloves or
other protectioe clothing should be worn whenever the job requires
working with harmful substances .
" Greases, lubricants and other automotive chemicals contain
toxic substances, many of which are absorbed directly through the
skin . Read the manufacturer's instructions and warnings carefully .
Use hand and eye protection . Avoid direct skin contact
" Cars covered by this manual are equipped with a supplemental
restraint system (SRS), that automatically deploys an airbag(s) in
the event of a frontal ímpact . The airbag(s) is inflated by an explo-
sive device. Handled improperly or without adequate safeguards,
can be accidently activated and cause serious injury.
" 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 ígnition switched on .
" Place jack stands only at locations specified by manufacturer.
The vehicle lifting jack supplied with the vehicle is intended for tire
changes only. A heavy duty floor jack should be used to lift vehicle
before installing jack stands. See 010 Fundamentals for the Do- .
it-Yourself Owner.
" 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
area . Do not use on hot surfaces (engines, brakes, etc .) .
" Disconnect the battery negative (-) terminal (Ground strap)
" Do not remove coolant reservoir or radiator cap with the engine
whenever you work on the fuel system or the electrical system . Do
hot . Danger of bums and engine damage .
not smoke or work near heaters or other fire hazards . Keep an
approved fire extinguisher handy.
continued on next page
vii